TiVo and the CCI Byte

[Chris Miller]

There's an interesting article on Tivo Blog about dealing with Comcast to change the CCI (Copy Control Information) byte so that it's no longer set to Copy Once (0x02). Apparently it can be done, that was reported on Twitter by Tery Durkin. I wonder if we can get this changed at TWC Albany.

[hurnik]

I doubt it. I got a call from a Gary (I won't post the #) after I sent a letter to their "head" support dept. They're checking into it. Just got a VM back from the other guy (can't remember his name). It's a Corporate Policy and they're all set to 0x02 except for the local broadcasts. I'll hopefully speak to him tomorrow. I have contacted the CiC folks (Cable in the Classroom) but will probably take some time to hear back. I honestly don't think TW cares at all. I'll see if I can get more information. Perhaps if a bunch of us emailed the same address with the same complaint we'd MAYBE get somewhere?

Oh, filing a complaint with the FCC is useless. So is the NYS PSC. They just say they don't regular Cable, only satellite.

[Skaggs]

I'm up for an email campaign. I'm guessing there are 15 people who have TiVos who care. :-(

[hurnik]

I used the email address that was posted here:

consumerist.com/5076294/reach-time-warner-cable-executive-customer-service

[e-mail]

[Chris Miller]

Count me in. My wife is a teacher, the CIC issue is a valid point.

[Skaggs]

Here's the tweet I sent to @jefftwc:

@jefftwc Could you tell me where I can find Corporate TWC's policy on setting the CCI byte that restricts the ability to copy recorded prog?

He immediately replied back:

@albanyhdtv Wow. I can try, but it's going to take me a little bit. Let me get back to you.

I followed up with this tweet:

@jefftwc Local TWC engineers state setting the CCI byte as 0x02 or "copy once" is a TWC Corporate Policy. This eliminates transferring prog

[hurnik]

I got a call from Roy. He has been checking with Corporate and they sent him a list supposedly that says everything should be 0x02 (except for the HD locals and the PPV/HBO stuff).

He said that the list they gave him was like from 2006 and that he's requested a more recent list and he agreed with me about the CiC thing, but we'll see what can be done since it's at a Corporate level.

I thanked him for at least following up and his continuing to check into this.

If others are going to pursue, here's the 3 arguments I used:

1) If I use my Tivo Series 2, I can copy freely for all channels 2-78 (or whatever they are). But if I use a cable-card device, TW decides I can no longer copy freely THOSE SAME CHANNELS. Seems to me if they are deliberately being inconsistent and sabotaging Cable Card devices that can support copy/transfer of shows.

2) All of the channels that TW has set to 0x02 (except the locals) AND that do participate in CiC, TW has deliberately violated the CiC which is to allow for fair use and copy freely.

3) Lastly, Neither Comcast, nor Verizon FIOS TV (not the FIOS triple play which has DirecTV) set the CCI byte to 0x02 for all channels. Thus proving that this is NOT a decision of the content provider (exceptions of course for HBO, SHOW, etc. in which all providers have set the bit correctly).

Whether or not TW Corporate can be convinced is a diff. story. I am not aware of any other major national Cable chain that has set all channels to 0x02 like TW has, but I could be wrong.

[hurnik]

Here's the link for CIC to contact them:

www.ciconline.org/contactcic

I got a reply today from CIC regarding TW and 0x02 CCI Byte:

Thank you for contacting Cable in the Classroom. I am happy to assist you.

Unfortunately, this is the first time we have heard of this issue and will need to do some investigating. Please be sure that we will look into the matter and someone will get back to you as soon as there is some information to share.



Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any further questions or if I can be of any other assistance.



Thank you,

Giset Cepeda

Cable in the Classroom