Quoted from Patches

Verizon is no better.....added charges everywhere.....and TWC .....stinks.....3.95 more a month for a modem??/

need to get another cable service in here quick.......

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Recovery Act Broadband Initiatives
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law on February 17, 2009. The Broadband Initiatives funded in the Act are intended to accelerate broadband deployment in unserved, underserved, and rural areas and to strategic institutions that are likely to create jobs or provide significant public benefits.

In addition to the National Broadband Plan, there are many other broadband programs ongoing at FCC, NTIA, USDA, and other Federal agencies. This section includes links to these other important programs. If you would like your program to be included on our list, please contact us.

NTIA BTOP
NTIA Public Meetings
NTIA Ex Parte Meetings
Mapping Broadband

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Devices

The FCC should initiate a proceeding to ensure that all multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) install a gateway device or equivalent functionality in all new subscriber homes and in all homes requiring replacement set-top boxes, starting on or before Dec. 31, 2012.
On an expedited basis, the FCC should adopt rules for cable operators to fix certain CableCARD issues while development of the gateway device functionality progresses. Adoption of these rules should be completed in the fall of 2010.

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4.2 DEVICES

Back to Top
Innovative devices fundamentally change how people use broadband. Smartphones have allowed millions of Americans to use mobile e-mail, browse the Internet on-the-go, and—more recently—to use hundreds of thousands of mobile applications that did not exist a few years ago. Before smartphones, personal computers with graphical user interfaces and growing processing power enabled the emergence of the Web browser, which led to the widespread adoption of the Internet.

Competition, often from companies that were not market leaders, has driven innovation and investment in devices in the past and must continue to do so in the future. When one examines the three main types of devices that connect to broadband service provider networks—mobile devices, computing devices and set-top boxes—one finds that there are many mobile and computing device manufacturers offering hundreds of devices with a dizzying assortment of brands, features and price levels. Whole new device classes, such as tablets, e-book readers and netbooks continue to emerge, shifting firms’ market positions and enabling entrants to capture market share. Mobile devices are rapidly incorporating technology such as Global Positioning System, accelerometers, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, enhanced graphics and multi-touch screens. By any measure, innovation is thriving in mobile and computing devices.

The same is not true for set-top boxes, which are becoming increasingly important for broadband as video drives more broadband usage (see Chapter 3).96 Further innovation in set-top boxes could lead to:

Greater choice, lower prices and more capability in the boxes, including applications.97
More competition among companies offering video content (MVPDs).98
Unlimited choice in the content available—whether from traditional television or the Internet—through an integrated user interface.99
More video and broadband applications for the TV, possibly in conjunction with other devices, such as mobile phones and personal computers (PCs).100
Higher broadband utilization.101
BOX 4-1: BROADBAND MODEMS AS AN ANALOG FOR INNOVATION IN SET-TOP BOXES
Broadband modems offer an example of how to unleash competition, investment and innovation in set-top boxes and other video navigation devices for consumer benefit. For standard residential broadband connections, even though there are numerous delivery technologies (including cable, fiber, DSL, satellite and fixed wireless broadband), a customer must use an interface device, such as a cable modem. That device performs all network-specific functions. It also connects via a standardized Ethernet port to numerous devices consumers can buy at the store—including PCs, game consoles, digital media devices and wireless routers. Innovation can happen on either “side” of that device without affecting the other side. Service providers are free to invest and innovate in their networks and the services they deliver. Because the interface device communicates with consumer devices through truly open, widely used and standard protocols, manufacturers can create devices independently from service providers or any related third parties (e.g., CableLabs). For example, PC manufacturers do not need to sign non-disclosure agreements with broadband service providers, license any intellectual property selected or favored by broadband service providers or get approval from any broadband service providers or any non-regulatory certification bodies to develop or sell their PCs at retail or enable consumers to attach them to service provider networks through the interface device.

Establishing an interface device for video networks that serves a similar purpose to modems for broadband networks could spark similar levels of competition, investment and innovation.

Congress wanted to stimulate competition and innovation in set-top boxes and other video navigation devices in 1996 when it added Section 629 to the Communications Act. Section 629 directed the FCC to ensure that consumers could use commercially available navigation devices to access services from MVPDs.102 Lawmakers pointed to innovative uses of the telephone network, related to new phones, faxes and other equipment, and said they wanted to create a similarly vigorous retail market for devices used with MVPD services.103

The FCC adopted its First Report and Order to implement the provisions of Section 629 in 1998.104 The order established rules requiring MVPDs to separate the system that customers use to gain access to video programming, called the conditional element, from the device customers use to navigate the programming. Section 629 nominally applies to all MVPDs. The FCC, however, has applied its rules only to cable operators. It either directly exempted other MVPDs, such as satellite TV operators, or implicitly excluded them by taking “no action” against an operator.105

Operators and other stakeholders agreed on a proposed solution for cable—called CableCARD—to separate the conditional access element. The CableCARD is about the size of a credit card and roughly similar in function to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card used in mobile phones. Cable operators supply the CableCARD, which is inserted into a set-top box or television set that a consumer buys at a store to authenticate the subscriber. To ensure adequate support for CableCARDs, the FCC required cable operators to use CableCARDs for set-top boxes leased to consumers.

The first devices from third-party manufacturers using CableCARDs hit the retail market in August 2004, six years after the FCC’s First Report and Order. Three years later, in July 2007, cable operators began using CableCARDs in their leased set-top boxes.106

Despite Congressional and FCC intentions, CableCARDs have failed to stimulate a competitive retail market for set-top boxes. The top two cable set-top box manufacturers in North America, Motorola and Cisco, together captured a 95% share of unit shipments over the first three quarters of 2009. That’s up from 87% in 2006.107 A national or global market with relatively low costs of entry, like that for many consumer electronics markets, should support more than two competitors over time.108 The two companies continue to control both the hardware and the security on the cable set-top box through their proprietary conditional access systems. By contrast, the top two cable set-top box manufacturers in Europe, the Middle East and Asia  (EMEA) where open standards are used for conditional access accounted for a market share of approximately 39% between 2006 and the third quarter of 2009.109

There are 0.5 million CableCARDs deployed in retail devices today,110 which represents roughly 1% of all set-top boxes deployed in cable homes.111 Only two manufacturers, TiVo and Moxi, continue to sell CableCARD-enabled set-top boxes through retail outlets.

Other alternatives are starting to emerge. For example, several innovators are attempting to bring Internet video to the TV.112 Their devices often cannot access traditional TV content that consumers value—content that is not available or difficult to access online. Without the ability to seamlessly integrate Internet video with traditional TV viewing, Internet video devices like Apple TV and Roku have struggled to gain a foothold in U.S. homes.113

Retail set-top boxes have been competing on an uneven playing field. The barriers have been well-documented in multiple proceedings 114 and have prompted some companies not to enter the market at all.115 To level the field, the FCC should adopt the recommendation that follows. To maximize the likelihood that the recommendation will succeed, it should apply to all MVPDs. Extending the rule to all MVPDs will enable consumer electronics manufacturers to develop products for a larger customer base and allow consumers to purchase retail devices that will continue to function even if the consumer changes providers. Today, four out of the top 10 MVPDs are not cable companies and represent 41% of MVPD subscribers.116

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The broadband and cable giant recently announced it will begin charging customers $3.95 per
month to lease a cable modem. Time Warner joins a list of other Internet biggies to do so, including
Cox, Comcast, and Bright House. Although Time Warner and other companies allow customers to
purchase and install their own modems outright, less-tech-savvy folks might be reluctant, assuring
the companies a steady stream of extra revenue.

Quoted from Tommy

I just bought a top of the line wireless model (Motorola SBG6580) on Ebay for $55.
It's used, but TW just gives you used ones anyway.
Modems don't wear out, as there are no moving parts. They either work, or they don't.

Quoted from Libertarian4life

Are you using it now?

Did Time Warner give you a hard time?

Tell us what we need to know to do it.

Quoted from Cel

I just wonder...like having a router when you call for tech support they put the blame on the router.  Now if you call them they will say they are not responsible for modem and the problem is the modem

A year or so back I was having problems surfing so I did a TW speed test it showed a significant slow down. http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/speed-test.html  I called and they confirmed it and a little while later it was fixed   I don't believe that quick response will ever occur today with how they are doing things now.

I don't believe the speeds they say I have but it is useful to identify if there is a significant issue going on.