The discussion surrounds the weekend deadline for the cable business to begin offering boxes with separable security, an effort that's tied to the so-called set-top box integration ban. Last Friday, the Media Bureau at the FCC granted some waivers to the ban and dismissed others.

Independent cable got into the action Monday, criticizing the agency's move not to grant some relief from the set-top box integration ban for small MSOs.

"At a time when consumer prices are rising, it is inexplicable that the FCC Media Bureau would deny small cable operators' waiver requests and force their subscribers to pay $2 to $3 or more per month for new cable boxes," said Matt Polka of the American Cable Association, which represents small, independent operators. "Policymakers at the FCC appear out of touch with consumers in underserved areas whose cable companies are already trying to manage the costs of upgrading their facilities to provide advanced voice, video and data services, and to prepare for the digital transition." green coffee bean extract side-effect

Also, some in Washington, D.C., were eyeing temporary waivers from the set-top integration ban granted to Verizon, Qwest, CenturyTel and several small phone and cable companies. Those companies are set to roll out all-digital systems no later than Feb. 17, 2009, the date of the nation's transition to digital TV.

"The relief was not a surprise, but it was still a welcome development for the companies - particularly Verizon, which now has over 500,000 video customers and otherwise had no device solution in sight," stated a note from the analysts at Stifel Nicolaus.

That includes a view from Down Under.

Paul Budde of Budde Communication, based in Australia, touted how the iPhone could free users from the mobile operators' "heavily guarded walled garden business models." Budde called it a true smart phone, with features such as web browsing, camera, VoIP and music.

"Add to this the ability for software developers to come up with a range of other applications for the iPhone and it becomes clear that, in theory at least, this disruptive product has great potential," he said.

But the iPhone may have a few downsides. Asked Budde, "What can you do with a phone like this without a network?

"There has been a certain amount of lip service paid by some operators, indicating that they welcome the iPhone, but that really is only lip service, as they are not going to provide an interesting pricing package that would allow iPhone users to maximize the features of the device," he said.

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