Also: Some Cisco/ClearAccess fallout; Videotron spreads the love; Comcast's new C-level exec; Comcast adds digital voice features

Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor

March 29, 2012

2 Min Read
Netgear Bug Slows Comcast's IPv6 Push

Today's cable news roundup starts off with a glitch in Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)'s IPv6 rollout.

  • Comcast has temporarily reversed part of its nationwide IPv6 deployment upon learning that a retail modem from Netgear Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR), the CMD31T, ships with an "uncertified version of firmware that exacerbates a critical IPv6-related defect," the MSO said on its IPv6 deployment page. Comcast expects Netgear to patch the problem soon. Mike Demler of EE Daily News brought the issue to light, as he was one of the Comcast customers in California that was stymied by the issue. Comcast's IPv6 migration is among the most aggressive; as of last week, the MSO planned to have deployed the technology in half its network by mid-year. (See Cable Giants Get Aggressive on IPv6.)

  • ClearAccess Inc. has tabbed VP of Solution Sales Jeff McInnis to be CEO of SmartRG, the gateway hardware company that will form after Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) completes its acquisition of ClearAccess and its software-based CPE management and monitoring portfolio. Ken Hood, ClearAccess's founder, is among the 22 ClearAccess employees that will join Cisco. (See Cisco to Buy SPIT Specialist .)

  • Cisco's not getting all the set-top spoils for Videotron Ltd. 's new digital video platform. Samsung Canada is also pitching in with HD clients and HD-DVR boxes to help power the service. (See Cisco, Alticast Box Up Videotron Deal .)

  • Comcast has launched two new features for Xfinity Voice -- text messaging and readable voice mail -- as it seeks new ways to sustain subscriber growth in the category. Comcast Executive Vice President of Data and Communications Services Cathy Avgiris recently discussed the new products with Light Reading Cable, acknowledging that it's time for the MSO "to change things up" with respect to its digital voice service.

  • Comcast has promoted D’Arcy Rudnay to the newly created post of chief communications officer. Rudnay, who joined Comcast in 2003, will retain her title of senior VP of corporate communications and report to Executive VP David Cohen, and work "closely on special projects" with Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts.

  • Visible World secured a targeted advertisement patent called "Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation for Addressable Content" that describes a technique designed to converge bandwidth when multiple commercials are packed into the same ad spot on a linear TV feed simultaneously.

    — Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable

About the Author(s)

Jeff Baumgartner

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Jeff Baumgartner is a Senior Editor for Light Reading and is responsible for the day-to-day news coverage and analysis of the cable and video sectors. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.

Baumgartner also served as Site Editor for Light Reading Cable from 2007-2013. In between his two stints at Light Reading, he led tech coverage for Multichannel News and was a regular contributor to Broadcasting + Cable. Baumgartner was named to the 2018 class of the Cable TV Pioneers.

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