Policy

Malone’s Liberty Global eyes Virgin Media

February 5, 2013 3:02 pm | by Mike Robuck | News | Comments

John Malone’s Liberty Global is in the process of cooking up a deal to buy Virgin Media. Virgin Media’s price tag could be in the range of $24 billion, while its market capitalization stands at $10.4 billion. Including debt, its enterprise value is around $19.4 billion.

FTC issues mobile privacy guidelines

February 4, 2013 3:19 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | Comments

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a set of guidelines for mobile application developers. While not legally binding, the new rules were released on the same day as regulators announced a settlement with social networking provider Path.

Ciciora's Corner - Should you get a patent?

February 4, 2013 12:16 pm | by Walt S. Ciciora, expert on cable and consumer electronics issues | Articles | Comments

Have you ever considered getting a patent yourself? Should you? This is not an easy decision. It’s a lot of work, and it is expensive. Done right, it’s very expensive. And that’s just the beginning. A patent is the right to exclude someone from making, using or selling your invention.

Engineering-Wise - United and prepped for battle

February 4, 2013 11:41 am | by Mark Dzuban, president and CEO of the SCTE | Articles | Comments

I’ve always been impressed by the coordination required to keep our country safe. From our nation’s earliest skirmishes to the invasion of Normandy and Operation Desert Storm, teamwork across all branches of the armed services has been essential to the protection of our nation, and the world. It’s much the same in our industry.

Capital Currents - Video quality assessment

February 4, 2013 11:26 am | by Jeffrey Krauss, president of Telecommunications and Technology Policy | Articles | Comments

The FCC has a proceeding underway to update its cable TV technical regulations. For the most part, there is agreement that the version of SCTE 40 adopted last year contains the appropriate technical specifications for digital cable systems. But the FCC also asked whether it should regulate the picture quality that is delivered to viewers.

Clearwire keeps deal talks open with Sprint, Dish

February 1, 2013 2:54 pm | by Ben Munson, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Clearwire said it is still considering acquisition offers from both Sprint Nextel and Dish Network. The WiMAX provider said the special committee reviewing the deal has not made any determination to change its current recommendation of the Sprint transaction.

Dish lays off Sprint-Softbank deal

January 30, 2013 2:16 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Dish Network told the FCC that it would not file to block Softbank's proposed $20 billion acquisition of Sprint Nextel. Dish had asked that the shot clock in the Sprint-Softbank proceeding be paused until Sprint's bid for Clearwire had been settled.

Verizon wants FCC's spectrum screen applied to Sprint-Clearwire deal

January 30, 2013 2:09 pm | by Ben Munson, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Verizon Wireless has joined the discussion on Sprint's potential acquisition of Clearwire. If the FCC applies a screen and finds the deal could pose spectrum aggregation concerns, it could result in a limit to how much of Clearwire's spectrum Sprint is allowed to use.

Canadian guidelines for wireless fees, unlocking phones proposed

January 29, 2013 2:49 pm | by Ben Munson, Wireless Week | News | Comments

After the Library of Congress made it illegal to unlock cell phones in the United States, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has drafted a "wireless code" that would set limits on early termination fees and require providers to unlock phones under "reasonable terms."

U.N. group OKs new video format to save bandwidth

January 28, 2013 2:20 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The U.N. telecommunications agency says its members have agreed upon a new compression format that could dramatically cut the amount of Internet bandwidth currently used by video files. The ITU says the format, or codec, known as H.265 would require just half the amount of data needed by its predecessor, H.264.

FCC actions aim to accelerate broadband deployment

January 28, 2013 2:14 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | Comments

The FCC announced a number of new actions that it hopes will help accelerate the deployment of wireless broadband by removing barriers from a number of areas in the build-out of new networks. New rules would make it easier to modify an existing wireless tower or base station.

Loudness correction in compressed streams

January 28, 2013 9:10 am | by RGB Networks | White Papers | Comments

The CALM Act requires video service providers (VSPs) to meet specific audio leveling standards. This paper reviews a best-of-breed solution that enables VSPs to solve loudness problems and avoid penalties, without compromising the audio experience.

Verizon, AT&T agree to spectrum deal

January 25, 2013 2:53 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | Comments

Verizon Wireless said that it will sell 39 lower 700 MHz B-block licenses to AT&T in exchange for a payment of $1.9 billion and the transfer by AT&T to Verizon Wireless of AWS (10 MHz) licenses in certain western markets, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Fresno, Calif., and Portland, Ore.

DTS, RGB collaborate on quality audio

January 24, 2013 1:53 pm | by Brian Santo | News | Comments

DTS and RGB Networks said they will integrate the former’s audio solutions into the latter’s multi-screen IP video delivery products. The result is a product that video distributors can use to control program and advertising sound levels in conformance with the CALM Act.

AT&T agrees to buy Atlantic Tele-Network for $780M

January 22, 2013 1:49 pm | by Andrew Berg, Wireless Week | News | Comments

AT&T announced that it has signed an agreement to buy Atlantic Tele-Network (ATNI) to acquire the company’s U.S. retail wireless operations, operated under the Alltel brand, for $780 million in cash. AT&T will acquire wireless properties, including licenses, network assets, retail stores and approximately 585,000 subscribers.