* Cable Center launches planned giving program
By Traci Patterson

The Cable Center has launched a planned giving program, which gives donors different donation options – from simple bequests, gifts of real estate and retirement plan assets, to charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities. More information can be found here.

And in conjunction with the launch of the program, the Center has also announced the formation of its Signals Society, which honors donors who have included The Cable Center in their estate plans.

This week, the center announced the industry executives that will speak at its Cable Mavericks Lecture Series this spring (story here).

* Verizon repurchasing stock; FiOS TV expands in N.Y.
By Traci Patterson

Verizon’s board of directors has authorized the telco to repurchase up to 100 million shares of its common stock.

The board also determined that no additional shares may be acquired under a previously approved program to repurchase up to 100 million shares, Verizon said. Under the previous program, which was due to end Feb. 28, 2010, approval remained to purchase approximately 30 million shares. About 2.9 billion shares of Verizon common stock are outstanding.

Additionally, Verizon has received an agreement authorizing the telco to offer its FiOS TV service in the Long Island, N.Y., village of East Hills. This vote brings to 95 the total number of New York communities that have approved video franchises for Verizon.

* Bar-Cohen new COO, president of Narrowstep
By Mike Robuck

Internet TV provider Narrowstep announced that Barak Bar-Cohen has been named as the company’s president and COO. Prior to the promotion, Bar-Cohen was Narrowstep’s GM of European operations.

Bar-Cohen previously served as VP of marketing, customer service and public relations with RCN. 

* Acme Packet’s CFO to retire
By Traci Patterson

Acme Packet Inc. announced that Keith Seidman, the company’s CFO and treasurer, plans to retire from the company. He will continue in his current role until a new CFO has been appointed and a successful transition period has been completed. 

Seidman has served as Acme Packet’s CFO since February 2001. The Company plans to retain an executive search firm to assist in the recruitment process.

More Broadband Direct:

• TWC escalates HD war with HD on Start Over 

• Insight ramps up broadband speed to 20 Mbps for some customers 

• Verizon gets bent about Corning fiber 

• BigBand Networks posts 4Q loss of $13.8 million 

• Solekai delivers test tool to CableLabs 

• Motorola hooks up with Arris, Harmonic for CableLabs demo 

• Broadband Briefs for 2/08/08