Broadband

FCC sets spectrum auction

March 22, 2013 1:27 pm | by Ben Munsen, Wireless Week | News | Comments

The FCC plans to auction licenses in the 1695-1710 and 1755-1780 MHz bands as early as September 2014. The NTIA recently picked out the 1695-1710 MHz band of spectrum to be reallocated for non-federal use.

Genachowski resigns as FCC chairman

March 22, 2013 1:17 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The outgoing chairman’s tenure coincided with continued adoption of broadband and ever higher Internet connection speeds, especially on the wireless side. He approved Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal, while blocking AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile.

GCI begins whole-home services

March 21, 2013 1:04 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

GCI has begun offering whole-home service, using DVRs from TiVo. The operator will provide its customers with the TiVo Premiere Q 4-tuner gateway DVR and TiVo Mini low-cost IP set-tops, with plans to offer the 6-tuner Pace XG1 gateway later this year.

Cox adds cloud-based storage for iPhone, Android devices

March 21, 2013 12:36 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Cox Communications has added in a free cloud-based storage element for iPhone and Android devices through its Cox Secure Online Backup. Cox Secure Online Backup is free to all of the cable operator’s data customers. The service lets subscribers store, share and backup files in a cloud.

Haigh steps over to Charter from Midcontinent

March 21, 2013 12:31 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

After more than 10 years at Midcontinent Communications, David Haigh will start his new job on Monday as Charter Communication’s regional vice president of inside plant. Haigh will be based in Madison, Wis. and will report to Sean Gallagher, vice president of corporate ISP.

Sigma Designs bows next-gen Z-Wave home control platform

March 21, 2013 12:19 pm | by Mike Robuck | Products | Comments

System-on-a-chip (SoC) vendor Sigma Designs introduced its next-generation product portfolio, which is based on the Z-Wave wireless protocol, that was designed to improve the performance of home control devices. Sigma’s Z-Wave Next Gen product portfolio was designed for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and service providers interested in developing home control products and services.

SeaChange reveals another Adrenalin customer

March 20, 2013 1:48 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Com Hem in Sweden will be using SeaChange’s Adrenalin back office system to support its forthcoming multiscreen service due for rollout later this year. Com Hem will use TiVo technology to deliver broadcast TV channels, VOD, catch-up TV and start-over for TiVo set-tops, LAN set-tops, smartphones and tablets.

Comcast to open doors on new customer support center in Pa.

March 20, 2013 12:30 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Comcast announced this morning that it will open a new, state-of-the art customer support center this summer in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, which is near Harrisburg Pa. Comcast will fill 425 new jobs at the facility, which brings its total number of employees across the state to 12,000.

Comcast strikes up free Wi-Fi at Citizens Bank Park

March 20, 2013 12:24 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

Baseball fans can tap into Comcast’s Wi-Fi access points for free during Phillies games at Citizens Bank Park. In its hometown of Philly, baseball fans at the games can access the hotspots with their wireless devices even if they’re not Comcast Xfinity Internet subscribers.

AT&T announces 30-, 40- and 50 GB shared data plans

March 19, 2013 2:48 pm | by Ben Munsen, Wireless Week | News | Comments

The plans start at $300 per month—plus a $10-$30 per device fee, depending on the type of device—and go up to $500. In addition, AT&T will now offer new data-only plans for business customers bringing more than 25 devices into the fold.

Intel offers reference for IPTV set-top

March 19, 2013 2:34 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Intel has a new reference design kit for set-top boxes and media servers based on its own Atom CE5300 processor, Futarque’s DVB-T2/T/C broadcast and media sharing stacks, Videon Central’s aVia media engine, and Hillcrest Labs’ Freespace Motion Engine software.

Broadpeak ups capacity of cache servers

March 19, 2013 2:20 pm | by Brian Santo | Products | Comments

The company cranks up the streaming capacity of its BkS400 to a new maximum of 30 Gbps. The software upgrade to the company’s BkS400 video cache server and the attendant capacity expansion improves operators’ ability to deliver video content.

Liberty Media plunks down $2.62 billion for 27% stake in Charter

March 19, 2013 12:08 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

John Malone’s holding company, Liberty Media, has bought a 27.3 percent stake in Charter Communications for about $2.62 billion. The deal is slated to close in the first half or second quarter of this year. Liberty expects to fund the purchase with a combination of cash on hand and new loan arrangements.

Disney, News Corp. finalizing plans for Hulu

March 18, 2013 2:14 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

At issue is whether Hulu should completely dedicate itself to the free streaming of TV shows with ads, or whether its value lies in paid subscriptions for viewers. Disney is said to prefer the ad-supported model, while News Corp. prefers a paid service. The two might put the operation back up for sale.

Vandals bedevil Suddenlink in NoCal

March 18, 2013 2:02 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Suddenlink has experience a rash of vandalism that has cut off service in parts of northern California. Local law enforcement believes the same people are responsible for all the crimes, and suspect the the vandals are would-be thieves, looking for copper that could be sold for scrap.