BRIEFS

Cable World, Nov 3, 2003

HEY, WE WOULD HAVE BEANED MIKE PIAZZA TOO

Although that Orbitz baseball game is kind of neat - it's fun to plunk the batter in the head with a high heater a la Roger Clemens - in terms of sheer aggravation, nothing pushes our buttons more persistently and annoyingly than Internet pop-up ads. So it's a shame that we're not a Cox Communications HSD sub, because they're doing their part to eliminate said ads with a blocking scheme from Smith Micro Software. Cox will offer Smith Micro's CheckIt 86 plug-in free of charge, although before exercising that option we recommend that readers throw at least one fastball up and in. It's totally cathartic.

TWC TAPS S-A FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN

Time Warner Cable of New York City has licensed a new disaster recovery system from Scientific-Atlanta that will minimize service interruptions in the event of an emergency. The S-A system will be housed in a remote TWC facility in the hinterlands (i.e., outside of Manhattan), which will allow for continuous cable service, blackouts and other shakeups notwithstanding.

COMCAST UPS CSR RESPONSE

Comcast has given its customer service reps a boost by deploying a software platform that makes for faster, more efficient communications between CSRs and HSD subs. SupportSoft's LiveAssist software will allow CSRs and customers to interact in real time via an enhanced online chat app and Web push functionality. Comcast also uses SupportSoft's Service Automation Suite and its HomeNet software to facilitate home network configurations and installs. The MSO averages more than 3,000 customer chat sessions per day.

NO, SERIOUSLY, WE WERE JUST CUTTING SOME ONIONS

This issue marks the final appearance of Digital Pipeline in Cable World. While we'll continue on at CableFax Daily, we'll certainly miss helming what one propellerhead pal characterized as "an experiment gone horribly awry." We'll also miss all the e-mail from readers who seemed rather concerned that "the wheels are coming off." (Sniff. We told ourselves we wouldn't cry.) From here on in, we can be reached at acrupi@pbimedia.com. By all means, keep in touch.