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Daily news and top headlines for broadband communications engineering and design professionals
MEF unveils new service operations committee
May 24, 2013 12:17 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsThe Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) recently formed its services operations committee, which was designed to define, streamline and standardize processes for buying, selling, delivering and operating MEF-defined services. Allan Langfield, senior director of product development at Comcast Business, and Shahar Steiff, AVP business operations at PCCW Global, were tabbed as the co-chairs of the service operations committee.
Canoe licenses BlackArrow ad management tool
May 23, 2013 1:44 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsCanoe has licensed BlackArrow Affiliate, the toolset from BlackArrow that enables programmers to manage ad avails in video on demand (VOD) services. MSOs can use BlackArrow Affiliate to schedule ad campaigns by criteria including day of week, time of day, and by program or series.
FCC kicks off Phase II of Connect America Fund
May 23, 2013 1:32 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsThe FCC announced Phase II of the Connect America Fund, extending the program designed to encourage the extension of broadband networks to reach unserved and underserved Americans, mostly in rural areas. The announcement was hailed by phone companies, but was met with disappointment by the smaller cable operators who typically provide services in the areas targeted by the fund.
Overture snags $8 million in funding
May 23, 2013 12:43 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsCarrier Ethernet vendor Overture Networks announced this morning that it had secured an initial equity investment of $8 million, with an opportunity to raise up to $11.7 million. Overture will also be opening two new development centers in Westford, Massachusetts and Bangalore, India to support its existing engineering team in its Research Triangle Park, North Carolina headquarters.
Clearwire board likes new Sprint bid
May 22, 2013 1:52 pm | by Ben Munsen, Wireless Week | News | CommentsClearwire’s board of directors is recommending its shareholders vote in favor of Sprint’s revised bid to buy out the wireless wholesaler. Only hours before Clearwire’s shareholders were scheduled to vote Tuesday on Sprint’s offer to buy the nearly half of Clearwire it doesn’t already own, Sprint boosted the offer. Sprint’s new bid of $3.40 per share represents a 14 percent premium over the previous offer of $2.97 per share.
Broadband adoption up in Q1
May 21, 2013 2:03 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsBroadband adoption continues to increase, with the biggest Internet service providers in the U.S., estimated to have attracted a net of 1.1 million additional subscribers in the first quarter of 2013. Meanwhile, the most recent quarter’s results indicate total video subscribership may actually be shrinking.
Comcast Business’ VoiceEdge dials up Denver
May 21, 2013 12:34 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsComcast Business’ VoiceEdge, which is a cloud-based VoIP and unified communications platform, is now available in the Denver area. Launched last year, VoiceEdge allows mid-sized business to replace their legacy PBX equipment while adding unified communications features without the need for on-site gear.
Netflix's Hastings: People don't love linear TV
May 20, 2013 2:06 pm | by The Canadian Press | News | CommentsSpeaking in Canada, the Netflix CEO says his biggest challenge there is competition from the likes of Videotron, Rogers and perhaps the combination of Bell and Astral should that merger happen. Netflix recently published an 11-page letter to shareholders entitled "Netflix Long Term View," outlining how the company believes it will thrive in the years ahead at the expense of conventional broadcast TV.
Total video subs decline for first time
May 20, 2013 1:54 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsIn aggregate, the 13 largest multichannel video program distributors (MVPD) in the U.S. added about 195,000 net additional video subscribers in Q1 2013. But the number of new subscribers in the most recently completed quarter was not enough to offset customer losses in the second and third quarters of 2012.
Mansour boards Cablevision as EVP, customer service
May 20, 2013 12:48 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsWith the hiring of Frank Mansour as its new executive vice president for customer service, Cablevision continued to tweak its executive team. The announcement of Mansour’s hiring this morning came on the heels of James Nuzzo’s promotion to senior executive vice president, operations and business planning last week.
Britt: McCain's bill should open a discussion
May 17, 2013 1:38 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsTime Warner Cable chairman and CEO Glenn Britt threw his support behind updating the rules and regulations that govern communications services providers, and also reiterated guidance on some of the company’s business priorities for the next year and beyond.
Rogers Business Solutions extends network with Cologix
May 17, 2013 12:53 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | CommentsRogers Business Solutions completed a point-of-presence (PoP) deployment within Cologix's new data center in downtown Toronto. Through its PoP, Rogers Business Solutions can now offer connectivity services on its network to enterprises and carrier organizations globally.
Arris reorganizes following Moto purchase
May 16, 2013 2:30 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsArris announced a reorganization following its purchase of Motorola Home from Google. The company will establish two major divisions, a Network & Cloud unit and a CPE (customer premise equipment) unit. Arris execs asserted that even though Motorola Home has been struggling, it is set to bounce back.
Service provider segment powers Cisco's Q2
May 16, 2013 1:36 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsCisco reported that second quarter revenue in its Service Provider Video segment grew 30 percent year over year, in its Wireless segment by 27 percent, and in its Data Center segment 77 percent; the average for the company as a whole was 5 percent.
Cranky broadcasters could get their licenses yanked
May 15, 2013 2:08 pm | by Brian Santo | News | CommentsTV broadcasters who pull their signals off the air might risk forfeiting their spectrum licenses, Sen. Mark Warner this week warned. Fox CEO Chase Carey last month vowed to pull Fox off the air and distribute exclusively through pay TV services if Aereo were allowed to proceed with its current business model.
