Thinking inside the box

The set-top box, the locus of next-generation television and always-on Internet access, is at the center of intense business and regulatory interest, even though the new devices and applications are still nascent.

Cable industry rides PC-TV wave news analysis Once content to string cable in monopoly markets, the long-staid cable TV industry is caught up with PC-TV convergence. TCI moving slowly on telephony The cable giant's plan for phone service is still a work in progress. TCI gets into new media news analysis Thanks to the convergence of TV and computing, the company increasingly is marrying its cable network with Net content. TCI, United Video buy TV Guide Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation will sell TV Guide to United Video and a unit of cable giant TCI. FCC: Cable boxes must be sold update In a move with broad industry impact, the agency requires the commercial sale of cable set-top boxes now leased.