Policy

AT&T, T-Mobile swap PCS spectrum

October 10, 2012 3:08 pm | by Maisie Ramsay, Wireless Week | News | Comments

AT&T is snapping up a handful of AWS, PCS and 700 MHz spectrum through separate deals with T-Mobile USA and Peregrine Spectrum. According to documents released by the FCC, Peregrine is selling AT&T three lower 700 MHz B-block licenses spanning Florida, Minnesota and Puerto Rico.

U.S. House: Chinese communications vendors pose security threat

October 9, 2012 3:28 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The House Intelligence Committee issued a report that recommends that American companies avoid sourcing network equipment from China's two leading technology firms – Huawei Technologies and ZTE – because they pose a national security threat to the United States.

FCC seeks input on Liberty bid to control Sirius

October 3, 2012 2:10 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Federal regulators opened up a public comment period on an application by John Malone's Liberty Media Corp. to take control of satellite radio company Sirius XM Radio, in which Liberty already has amassed the equivalent of a 47.3 percent stake.

iControl adds bridge to energy usage data

October 1, 2012 5:58 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

iControl Networks said its OpenHome software platform will enable home security and broadband service providers to integrate energy usage data into their service offerings. OpenHome now provides direct access to Green Button information about energy consumption.

LightSquared's latest LTE plan: share Federal spectrum

October 1, 2012 3:59 pm | by Maisie Ramsay, Wireless Week | News | Comments

LightSquared wants the FCC to let it share spectrum with the federal government under a new plan for its LTE network, which has been stymied by problems with GPS interference. It wants to swap a slice of spectrum it now has a license to for spectrum used for government weather balloons.

IPTV: Coming soon to a town near you

September 30, 2012 12:18 am | by Brian Santo | Articles | Comments

With IP-based video technology maturing, there is a growing number of smaller companies able to provide subscribers in their typically exurban-to-rural areas with services and features that include larger packages of top-ranked channels (with more of those channels in HD), multi-room DVR, TV Everywhere-type services and hybrid features like Caller ID on TV.

$Billions up for grabs in SIP trunking

September 29, 2012 7:34 pm | by Doug Wadkins, chief technical officer of Edgewater Networks | Articles | Comments

Cable operators may have a golden opportunity in the business services market. Old-style PBXs in the enterprise equipment market are gradually being updated to IP PBXs. On the one hand, some new IP-based services are possible with these new systems. On the other hand, however, TDM trunking of those IP PBXs is still the predominant method of interconnection.

Ciciora's Corner - Patent wars

September 29, 2012 5:59 pm | by Walt S. Ciciora, expert on cable and consumer electronics issues | Articles | Comments

Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to establish patent and copyright laws. Because it’s a constitutional issue, patent cases are tried in federal court and can be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. A patent is the right to exclude someone from making, selling or using a patented invention.

Capital Currents - Cell phone standards and antitrust behavior

September 29, 2012 4:59 pm | by Jeffrey Krauss, president of Telecommunications and Technology Policy | Articles | Comments

As those of us who participate in industry standards development are continually reminded, since standards have strategic and competitive importance, they must be developed using fair methods by committees that allow wide participation and consider all proposals.

CPE: Digital transport adapters expand their horizons

September 28, 2012 2:39 pm | by Mike Robuck | Articles | Comments

In the family of customer premises equipment (CPE), digital transport adapters (DTAs) may lack cachet when compared with the latest set-top boxes, digital video recorders (DVRs) and gateways, but DTAs are playing an increasingly important role in cable operator deployments.

Hacking on the rise

September 28, 2012 2:07 pm | by Brian Santo | Articles | Comments

There have always been hackers, but as computer and telecom networks merge and become more extensive and interconnected, it seems that the incidence of hacking is increasing. But the point is that no organization should feel cocky about its security.

Dish satellite broadband set for Oct. 1 launch

September 27, 2012 3:34 pm | by Maisie Ramsay, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Dish Network said it will launch a satellite broadband service targeted at rural consumers with slow Internet connections. The service is based on a satellite launched by Dish’s sister company EchoStar earlier this year. The dishNet service will be available in both rural and suburban areas.

AT&T's WCS plans to get FCC green light

September 27, 2012 3:32 pm | by Maisie Ramsay, Wireless Week | News | Comments

The FCC is poised to allow LTE service in the long-unused 2.3 GHz Wireless Communications Services (WCS) band, clearing the way for AT&T's plan to use the spectrum for its LTE network. Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski's office said the agency would vote on revisions to its WCS rules at its next open meeting.

Cisco CEO's pay package dipped 9% in past year

September 27, 2012 3:20 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Cisco Systems trimmed CEO John Chambers' pay package by 9 percent as concerns about growth at the maker of computer networking equipment weighed on the company's stock. The value of Chambers' compensation totaled $11.7 million, down from nearly $12.9 million.

Cox seeks caps on programming discounts for Big Four

September 26, 2012 3:26 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

Larger MVPDs have always had the leverage to negotiate programming fees lower than those charged to smaller companies – sometimes far lower. This has been an ongoing source of disgruntlement for many smaller companies, that chafe at being charged far more for programming.