<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-10-03</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000087777</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266610</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOYD STEVEN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5030 SUGARLOAF PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAWRENCEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30044</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP and Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>433</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>Employee Benefit Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>12.57</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2003-02-11</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-02-11</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>12000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>22.10</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2002-02-16</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-02-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>15000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>23.3125</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1999-08-18</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2009-08-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>7500</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>31.78</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2003-09-29</value>
              <footnoteId id="F5" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2013-09-29</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>10000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>51.60</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2001-02-17</value>
              <footnoteId id="F6" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-02-17</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>8000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>51.7813</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2000-02-19</value>
              <footnoteId id="F7" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2010-02-19</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>11250</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Reflects equivalent shares held in Scientific-Atlanta's 401(k) plan based on October 3, 2003 statement and includes Company matches in the Scientific-Atlanta stock fund as of such date.  The number of shares may fluctuate up or down depending on the performance of the Scientific-Atlanta stock fund in the 401(k) plan.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Exercisable 25% per year beginning on February 11, 2003.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Exercisable 25% per year beginning 2/16/02.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">Exercisable 25% per year beginning 8/18/1999.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F5">Exercisable 25% per year beginning September 29, 2003.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F6">Exercisable 25% per year beginning 2/17/2001.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F7">Exercisable 25% per year beginning 2/19/2000.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks>Exhibit List</remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Steven D. Boyd</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-10-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

