• SCTE calls for SEMI forum, CBL&D papers
By CED staff

The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers is calling for papers (with a deadline of Aug. 6) for its next Smart Energy Management Initiative (SEMI) forum, set for Nov. 17 in Herndon, Va. Technical presentations will cover issues such as efficiency improvements in plant powering, workforce communications tools that reduce energy usage and viability of alternative-fuel vehicles.

The SCTE is also asking for proposals (with a deadline of June 25) for educational, learning and development, and human performance improvement-related topics to be presented at its 2010 Conference on Broadband Learning & Development (CBL&D), which will be held Oct. 19 in New Orleans.

The SCTE CBL&D Program Committee is interested in proposals that address these topics: mobile learning, new product and technology training, training the front-line trainer, technical supervisor development and professional online community of practice.

• Key senator wants conditions on Comcast-NBC deal
By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – A key member of the Senate Judiciary Committee is calling on federal regulators to attach a long list of conditions if they allow Comcast Corp. to take control of NBC Universal.

Sen. Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat, sent a letter to the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday urging the agencies to adopt strong conditions "to avoid the risk of injury to competition and consumers" if they clear the deal.

Comcast is seeking Justice Department and FCC approval to buy a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co. for $13.75 billion. Kohl's letter figures to carry weight with the agencies because he chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights.

• Netflix standardizes on PlayReady
By Brian Santo

Netflix has selected Microsoft PlayReady technology and the Protected Interoperable File Format (PIFF) for use in new Netflix-ready devices and applications.

Netflix already uses PlayReady to enable all instant streaming on Windows-based PCs and Macs. The agreement now extends to include all other devices, such as TVs and Blu-ray players.

The first Netflix-ready devices other than computers to incorporate Microsoft PlayReady are expected as early as this summer.