Rouzbeh Yassini
Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Rouzbeh Yassini (Template:Langx) is an American engineer who is known within the broadband communications industry as "the father of the cable modem" for being the founder of LANCity, the first company to deliver a practical device.<ref name="m524">Template:Cite news</ref> He also helped establish cable modem industry standards (DOCSIS) through his work with Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs).<ref name="CED">Template:Cite news</ref> Yassini is executive director of the University of New Hampshire Broadband Center Of Excellence, founder and board member of the YAS Foundation, and is the author of several books.
Early life and education
Yassini was born in Tehran, Iran and attended the University of Pahlavi for one year before immigrating to the United States in 1977.<ref name="WVU-Bio" /> He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University in 1981.<ref name="CED" /><ref name="WVU-Bio" />
Career
After graduating, Yassini worked for General Electric, working on television and communications technology.<ref name="WVU-Bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1986 he moved to Proteon, a data networking company.<ref name="CED" /> In 1988 he joined Applitek, another data networking company, as the vice president of engineering.
In 1990, he acquired Applitek's assets and founded LANcity, directing the 13 employees who stayed on to condense 64 product variants into one single device which interfaced between a local Ethernet network and the outside cable TV network. To fund development, Yassini formed a deal with computing giant Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), offering product discounts and branding rights in exchange for cash and technology approval. LANcity's first offering cost between $15,000 and $18,000, was as large as a typical desktop computer, and took three months to install. The company's second model began shipping in 1993 for $5,000, and was smaller, more reliable, and easier to install. The third-generation "plug-and-play" devices sold for $500, and by 1995 the company's products accounted for 80% of the market. Later that year, the large telecommunications company Motorola announced its intentions to enter the still nascent industry, casting into doubt LANCity's ability to compete. In 1996, Yassini accepted a $59 million buyout deal from Bay Networks at the urging of his employees. Yassini said he chose the deal over other companies making higher offers because he thought Bay's CEO shared his vision for the technology. However, three months later, Bay brought in new leadership which Yassini said marginalized his strategic development role, and prompted him to quit the company.<ref name="m524" /><ref name="CED" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Yassini then joined CableLabs as a consultant, where he contributed to the development of DOCSIS, a standard for transmitting data over cable television systems.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At CableLabs, Yassini coordinated with manufacturers and operators of cable equipment and helped lead the organization's certification testing project. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> DOCSIS was later adopted as an interoperability standard through the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).Template:Cn
In the same period, Yassini established YAS Corporation, a Boston-based consulting and investment firm focused on broadband technologies.<ref name="YAS CEO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="author-bio-1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2008, he opened the Yassini Broadband Knowledge Center in Boston to support broadband research and technology demonstration.Template:Cn In 2013, its activities were transferred to the University of New Hampshire, where Yassini became executive director of the newly formed UNH Broadband Center for Excellence (UNHBCoE).<ref name="nexttv">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="UNHBCoE1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="UNHBCoE2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="NHunionleader">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The center focused on broadband expansion and interoperability research.<ref name="UNHBCoE5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Strafford">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Selected awards and achievements
- 2019: Inducted to Light Reading Hall of Fame class of 2019 <ref name="Light Reading 19">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 2013: Inducted to WVU Distinguished Alumni class of 2013.<ref name="Alumni13">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 2003: Honorary Ph.D. from West Virginia University <ref name="Yassini-Alma">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- 2000: Inducted as member of WVU Lane Department of Academy<ref name="Yassini-Alma" />
Publications
- Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard Accidental Network, (WVU Press, 2025), Template:ISBN
- Rouzbeh Yassini, Planet Broadband, (Cisco Press, 2004), Template:ISBN
- Rouzbeh Yassini, Internet Of People: The Future Of Broadband, Broadband Library, Winter 2014<ref name="BB Library">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Rouzbeh Yassini, Television White Spaces: Assessing TVWS for Rural Broadband Access, UNHBCoE, November 2014<ref name="TVWS Rural BB">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Rouzbeh Yassini, Broadband 2030: The Networked Future, Broadband Intelligent Series, UNHBCoE, December 2013<ref name="UNHBCoE4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Rouzbeh Yassini, Broadband 2020: Achieving Ubiquity, Broadband Intelligent Series, UNHBCoE, November 2013<ref name="UNHBCoE3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>