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Daily news and top headlines for broadband communications engineering and design professionals
Nortel cuts 10,000 more jobs; issues warning
June 14, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsNortel Networks' dismal second-quarter update says it will lay off another 10,000 workers by the end of September, suspend dividend distribution after June 29 payments and show a high-than-expected loss. The company says it also will discontinue certain access operations, including its narrowband and broadband access solutions, over the next year.
WOW hand-files Ameritech forms in four cities
June 14, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsWideOpenWest says today that it completed the transfer application forms for 115 Ameritech New Media franchises. All forms were filed by hand delivery to each local franchise authority earlier this week, WOW says. The filings come as part of WOW's May 23 agreement to purchase Ameritech's cable systems in the Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit and Chicago metro areas.
CityNet wires Indianapolis via sewers
June 13, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsCityNet Telecommunications Inc. launched a last-mile fiber optic network through Indianapolis' existing sewers. The company is using its Sewer Access Module robot to hook the system up. Under the agreement, CityNet will install the in-sewer system, monitor the sewers' condition after installation and pay the city 2.
OpenTV to acquire Static for $59 M
June 13, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsOpenTV agreed to acquire Static, a privately held ITV media and entertainment company in London, for about $59 million. Under the stock-and-cash agreement, OpenTV will get all of Static's stock, although about 14 percent of the gross deal value, in ordinary shares, will be held back for certain earn-out provisions, OpenTV reports.
Judiciary votes down Cannon-Conyers, 19-15
June 13, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsThe House Judiciary Committee yesterday defeated 19 to 15 the Cannon-Conyers bill. HR2120 was sponsored by representatives Chris Cannon (R-Utah) and John Conyers (D-Mich.) in response to provisions of the Tauzin-Dingell bill. Observers say the outcome of the two bills will determine the industries' antitrust issues and how those will be handled in the future.
Court grants Teligent two-week credit extension
June 13, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsTeligent received approval from a bankruptcy court for a two-week extension of its credit, which allows the company to continue operating, according to court documents. Teligent filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 21 and was delisted from NASDAQ June 7. Its chair resigned in late May, after less than a month on the job.
TI touts cable modem reference design
June 12, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsTexas Instruments Inc. released a cable modem reference design it says will help OEMs develop cable data modems for CableLabs certification. The TNETC405 has complete DOCSIS 1.1-ready hardware and software, flexible residential distribution peripherals and a communications processor, TI says. The company adds that the systems' DOCSIS software API architecture and modular hardware design allow c...
Alopa release may up installs by 20%
June 12, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsAlopa Networks says its new MetaServ QuickStart will allow cable operators to package, bundle and deliver new or customized services, and increase their daily technical installs by up to 20 percent. The product is an upgrade to the company's MetaServ Provisioning Platform and is "designed to allow the seamless upgrade to full functionality of the (original platform).
Judiciary gives Tauzin-Dingell negative referral
June 12, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsThe House Judiciary Committee is sending an amended version of the Tauzin-Dingell bill, or the Internet Freedom and Broadband Deployment Act of 2001, to the Committee on Rules with a negative referral. The Rules Committee will vote whether or not the bill will go to the House floor. The negative referral means the committee amended the bill and still determined it "didn't have the power to chan...
20 companies join CableLabs' IPR pool
June 12, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsCableLabs says 20 companies have joined its royalty-free pool for intellectual property rights in the CableB2B program. The initiative creates specifications to support automating everyday business communication between cable system operators and Internet content providers. The program is modeled after two others at CableLabs, one each for DOCSIS, CableHome and PacketCable.
TV Cabo orders Pace home gateways
June 11, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsTV Cabo has placed an initial order for 55,000 Di6000 home gateways from Pace Micro Technology plc, Pace reports. The Di6000 is being developed for the Portugese cable operator and will integrate Microsoft TV Advanced in an embedded custom hardware product. Dollar amounts and rollout dates were not disclosed.
Intel/Comcast to develop home network set
June 11, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsIntel Corporation and Comcast Cable Communications Inc. will develop a set of home networking products, and will jointly promote and market their respective products and services, the two report. The system includes a new residential broadband gateway, wireless network adapter and cable modem, which would allow users to share a single broadband Internet connection, printers and drives, and tran...
AP Engines starts partner program
June 11, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsAP Engines launched a partner program for hardware manufacturers, software developers and systems integrators serving the same OSS and network environments as it does. The "multitiered venture" is intended to give a shot at developing complete OSS integration solutions, AP says. The company says it's already partnered with several tech partners and built an adaptor library with interfaces to cu...
S-A system bolsters Comcast rollouts
June 11, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsScientific-Atlanta will help with the installation, integration and digital launch support of Comcast Cable's video-on-demand rollouts in undisclosed locations. The deal is part of Comcast's goal to provide VOD access to 500,000 digital cable subscribers by the end of the year. S-A will supply its Explorer digital set-top boxes, interactive two-way networks, MQAMs and support, Comcast says.
Philips/Narad tout speed over existing networks
June 10, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsPhilips Broadband Networks Inc. and Narad Networks Inc. will pair products into a switched Ethernet technology that allows next-generation broadband IP services over existing HFC infrastructure. Philips will contribute its fiber optic and "other broadband-enabling technologies" and Narad will include its Virtual Fiber architecture, a product that allows advanced services over the existing netwo...
