Comcast 2013 Annual Report Download - page 11

Table of Contents
Other Revenue Sources
We receive revenue related to cable franchise and other regulatory fees. We also receive revenue related to our digital media
center, commissions from electronic retailing networks, and fees from other newer services, such as our home security and
automation services. Our cable franchise and regulatory fees represent the fees required to be paid to federal, state and local
authorities that we pass through to our customers. Under the terms of our franchise agreements, we are generally required to pay
to the cable franchising authority an amount based on our gross video revenue. Our home security and automation offerings
provide home monitoring services to our customers, as well as the ability to manage other functions within the home, such as
lighting and climate control, through XFINITY.comcast.net or our mobile apps for smartphones and tablets.
Technology
Our cable distribution system uses a hybrid fiber-
optic and coaxial cable network that we believe is sufficiently flexible and scalable
to support our future technology requirements. This network provides the two-
way transmissions that are essential to providing
interactive video services, such as On Demand, and high-
speed Internet and voice services. We are also leveraging our network to
develop and deliver innovative services to our customers efficiently and in an accelerated fashion.
We continue to focus on technology initiatives, such as:
•
developing and launching next-
generation media and content delivery platforms, such as our X1
platform, that use IP technology and our own cloud network servers to deliver video and advanced
search capabilities and allow access to certain third-
party apps via the Internet, such as Pandora and
Facebook
•
enabling a variety of consumer electronic devices, including computers, tablets, smartphones and
Internet-
connected televisions, to view and control certain live programming and other content we
provide to our video customers
•
expanding the use of our network to launch new services, including providing services to medium-
sized
businesses and offering home security and automation services
•
developing and launching wireless options such as Wi-
Fi to extend our services outside the home to
provide mobility through the use of apps for smartphones and tablets
•
developing and deploying wireless gateways in the home that enable our residential high-
speed Internet
customers to receive higher Internet speeds and to improve the use of multiple Internet-
enabled devices
at the same time, and to allow for more activity on these devices
•
deploying multiple tools to recapture bandwidth and optimize our network, including using advanced
video encoding and digital compression technologies and DOCSIS innovations, including DOCSIS 3.0
and 3.1
•
developing and deploying technology and software that allow us to better identify and resolve problems
with our cable services and provide for better integration of our software with third
-party software
•
developing and deploying technology and software that allow customers to subscribe to cable services
via the Internet, perform self
-
diagnostics and resolve problems with our cable services
Comcast 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K
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