Redesigning EchoStar’s new K77 set-top box to accommodate...
Redesigning EchoStar’s new K77 set-top box to accommodate an analog tuner would require 12 to 16 months, increase its size by 33 percent and its price by up to $30, the company told staff from the Media Bureau and acting…
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FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn’s office in a meeting Tuesday, said an ex parte filing Thursday (http://bit.ly/13qyKzB). EchoStar urged the commission to “expeditiously” approve a proposed waiver of its analog tuner requirement for the device. The K77 was originally designed for the U.K. There analog tuners are not required, the company said. The K77 would allow “budget-conscious consumers” to view and record over-the-air TV content, access online video, and use it as a DVR while avoiding subscription fees, EchoStar said. If a waiver isn’t granted by Sept. 9, EchoStar won’t be able to offer the K77 at big-box retail stores for the holidays, said the filing. If not granted by Oct. 17, “the entire product could be in jeopardy as key dates for online holiday sales, production runs, and the right go-to market timing would be missed,” EchoStar said. To address bureau concerns about informing the public that the K77 doesn’t contain an analog tuner, EchoStar promised to provide information to retailers and in product guides clearly stating that it can’t receive analog broadcast signals. Customers who buy the K77 “under the mistaken assumption” it can receive analog over-the-air signals will be eligible for a full refund for 30 days, EchoStar said. The bureau granted a similar waiver to TiVo earlier this month (CD Aug 12 p15).