Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-120
STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER BRENDAN CARR
Re: Cable Television Technical and Operational Standards, MB Docket No. 12-217
As technology evolves, our rules need to evolve with it.  This means that we should not 
reflexively apply legacy regulations from the analog era to digital technology.  Instead, we must always 
take a fresh look at our rules in light of today’s technologies and marketplace realities.  This Order does 
just that.  
First, while we update our signal quality rules as directed by Congress, we do so without placing 
unnecessary burdens on digital cable operators.  For example, the Order declines to impose extensive 
testing, certification, and recordkeeping requirements on these providers.  This light-touch approach make 
sense.  Digital signals are inherently more reliable than analog signals, and competition in today’s MVPD 
marketplace creates strong incentives for digital cable operators to deliver quality signals to consumers.  
Second, we bring our cable signal leakage rules into the digital age without imposing needless 
costs on providers.  For instance, we ensure that digital cable operators can comply with our rules without 
being forced to buy costly new signal leakage detection equipment.  We also minimize paperwork and 
other burdens on all-fiber-optic cable providers given the minimal risk of signal leakage posed by their 
systems.
For these reasons, I support this Order and I look forward to working with my colleagues on 
similar efforts.  Finally, I would like to thank the Media Bureau staff for their hard work on this item.