CableLabs(R) CW 45 Results in Milestone Qualifications.

LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- Two major milestones were achieved during the recently concluded Certification Wave 45 at CableLabs(R). Symmetricom, Inc.'s TimeCreator 1000 DOCSIS(R) Timing Interface Server became the first modular CMTS (M-CMTS) qualified device. In addition, Cisco Systems' DOCSIS 2.0 HWIC-CABLE-D-2 became the first qualified embedded cable modem module (eCMM) device.

The DTIS (DOCSIS Timing Interface Server), M-CMTS core and edge QAM comprise the three essential components of the M-CMTS architecture. The DTIS provides a mechanism for distributing accurate phase-aligned 10.24 MHz clock and DOCSIS timestamp to the M-CMTS core and the edge QAM. This clock and timestamp are critical to synchronize the downstream modulators in edge QAM devices to the upstream MAC layer and burst receiver components in the M-CMTS core. It is a key enabler of DOCSIS 3.0.

An eCMM is a cable modem that is intended to be embedded into another device, and has a vendor-specific CPE interface rather than the DOCSIS-required Cable Modem Customer Premise Equipment Interface (CMCI).

In addition, during the certification wave CableLabs also:

--Certified a eCMM-based DOCSIS 2.0 device from Cisco Systems;

--Certified PacketCable(TM) 1.5 embedded multimedia terminal adapters, one each from Ambit and Thomson;

--Verified for interoperability a DOCSIS 2.0 set-top gateway from Motorola;

--Certified a CableHome(R) 1.1 device from Scientific-Atlanta;

--Recertified a DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem from Thomson;

--Qualified a policy server for PacketCable Multimedia from Siemens.

CableLabs(R) certified(TM) or CableLabs qualified means that the device has passed a series of tests for compliance with the indicated version of the CableLabs specification and has thus demonstrated interoperable functionality with any additional "CableLabs certified/qualified" device. Many of these devices provide additional functions or are designed to comply with other specifications, in each case tailored by the manufacturer to meet the growing needs of consumers or cable operators in an evolving communication/entertainment sector.

While CableLabs encourages such innovation and diversity, the phrase CableLabs certified/qualified should not be understood as an endorsement of these additional attributes (or that the product is certified to other specifications or versions), which are solely the responsibility of the company making the additional claims.

Founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry, Cable Television Laboratories is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those advancements into their business objectives. Cable operators from around the world are members. CableLabs maintains web sites at www.cablelabs.com; www.packetcable.com; www.cablemodem.com; www.cablenet.org; and www.opencable.com.

CableLabs(R), DOCSIS(R), CableHome(R), PacketCable(TM), OpenCable(TM), OCAP(TM), CableCARD(TM), DCAS(TM), Go2Broadband(SM), M-Card(TM) and CableNET(R) are marks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.