Lockheed Martin announced Tues. that its Linkway satellite networking products now offer Internet Protocol Quality of Service. Users can establish priority for competing applications on Linkway-operated networks. Standard IP-based networks deliver traffic on “best effort” basis, establishing no priority for applications, Lockheed said.
Correction: We incorrectly identified Pegasus vp-legislative affairs George (Chip) Tangen (CD March 20 p7).
Editing Technologies Corp. (ETC) said it would install Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system (OS) across line of broadcast editing equipment by year-end. Addition of new OS is major change for ETC, which previously focused on DOS-based gear that it will continue to carry as “long as there is a market for it,” Pres.-CEO Arnold Taylor said. ETC introduced first of its Windows-based products -- file server controller (FSC 1000) -- earlier this year at $25,000-$30,000 and plans to extend OS to nonlinear editing products and broadcast delay systems ($14,000- $15,000), he said. Windows-based products carry $5,000-$7,000 premium over similarly features DOS devices, Taylor said. “The marketplace seems to think that Microsoft is the answer to all the problems,” he said. “For us, the transition was not something we desired, but something that our customers requested.” While Windows has made inroads in file server market, DOS continues to dominate in nonlinear editing. Since being acquired by real estate developer Leis Industries in Jan., ETC has embarked on new strategies including expanding worldwide sales network to 12-15 resellers from 3, Sales & Mktg. Vp Rollin Sanford said. It also may enter new distribution channels including postproduction, he said. Previously, ETC focused on sales to TV networks including CBS, NBC, Fox.
Attorney Sarah Kirk, ex-Nicholson, Graham & Jones, joins London office of Arnold & Porter… Bradley Holmes, ex-State Dept. coordinator and dir.-international communications and information policy, named senior vp-regulatory & govt. affairs, ArrayComm… Juliet Gilliam, dir.-sponsorship management & promotions, ESPN/ABC Sports Customer Mktg. & Sales, will receive ABC Black Achiever in Industry award at N.Y. Hilton Hotel & Towers March 22… Michael Barras promoted to pres.-gen. mgr., KLFY-TV, Lafayette, La., replacing Joseph Varholy, retiring… Brooks Jewell, ex-Blue Sky Studios, named senior publicist, trade and media relations, Showtime Networks… Promotions at Discovery Networks, Europe: Patrick Hoerl to gen. mgr., replacing Oskar von Preussen; Alexander Schwarz to deputy gen. mgr… Named leaders of Booz- Allen & Hamilton’s Global Media and Entertainment Group: Vps Reginald Van Lee, N.Y., and Adam Bird, Munich… New at Leap Wireless Data Development Group: Richard Robinson, ex-GTE, as vp- mobile entertainment; Keith Halford, ex-Tritel Communications, as vp-wireless content… Joseph Augenbraun promoted to senior vp- engineering, WorldGate… Gregory Coleman, ex-Reader’s Digest Assn., named exec. vp-N. American operations, Yahoo… Janet Scardino, ex-Disney, joins AOL as senior vp-international mktg… Sanford Litvack, ex-Disney vice chmn., becomes of counsel, Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood, remaining at Disney part- time… Mark Gercenstein, ex-InterDigital Communications, appointed pres.-CEO, Tachyon…James Meenan, ex-AT&T Canada, named chmn., Castek Software Factory; Stephen Carson, ex-Claremont Technology Group, appointed pres.-COO… Lisa Short, ex-FedEx, named vp-solution mktg., ADexact… Changes on Women in Cable & Telecommunications Foundation board: Kathleen Dore, pres., Bravo Networks, elected chmn., succeeding Erica Gruen, pres.-Erica Gruen Consulting, who takes title of immediate past chmn.; Kathleen Marron, partner, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, becomes vice chmn.; Ann Montgomery, senior vp-operations, Adelphia, appointed secy.; Nancy Murphy, dir.-regulatory affairs, AT&T Broadband, named treas.
Qwest Communications is looking at enforcement options following AT&T’s rejection of its request for “equal access” to latter’s cable networks in Colo. and Wash., Qwest Senior Vp-Policy & Law Steven Davis told us. Citing 9th U.S. Appeals Court, San Francisco, ruling that cable-delivered Internet access was telecom offering, Qwest in Dec. had sought interconnection with AT&T equipment and transmission facilities that underlay its cable modem services (CD Dec 18 p3). Qwest had been told by AT&T’s regulatory lawyers that it wouldn’t be possible to comply with request, Davis said. Enforcement options being considered include state PUCs and FCC, he said. Legal action is another but slower option. Qwest’s seeking equal access to underlying transport facility had nothing to do with AT&T ISP choice trial in Boulder, Colo., which was open access trial. Qwest spurned offer to participate there. AT&T spokesman said there was “no provision of law or regulation” that required company to comply with Qwest’s request. He said AT&T was interested in talks on commercial arrangement and wanted Qwest to become part of Boulder trial.
International Launch Services (ILS) said it would launch Boeing-built satellite for New ICO in June. Flight from Cape Canaveral will be on Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket.
High Speed Access Corp. (HSA) rolled out its fast Internet access service on Charter Communications cable systems in 6 states, adding 250,000 cable homes. With move, HSA said it now would pass more than 4 million cable homes, mostly in small markets. New Charter markets include: Clarksville and Jackson, Tenn.; Decatur, Ala.; Grand Island, Neb.; Madisonville, Ky.; Bradford, Pa.; Camden, S.C.
Gemstar-TV Guide International and Wink Communications signed deal that will place Wink’s interactive TV (ITV) service in same digital cable set-top boxes that already carry Gemstar’s interactive program guide. Companies said agreement would put Wink’s elementary ITV service in at least another 6 million digital cable homes, more than tripling Wink’s subscriber base, by integrating its software with Gemstar’s in Motorola’s DCT-2000 digital set-tops. Currently, Wink is available in 2.5 million cable, DBS and WebTV households, with DirecTV supplying lion’s share. Deployment is scheduled to start by fall.
Charter Communications signed pact to buy cable systems in 3 states from Cable USA for $99.5 million. Spread across Colo., Minn. and Neb., systems have total of 32,000 cable customers. Charter said it particularly would get boost in Neb., where it will take over 29,000 subscribers. Companies expect deal to close in 2nd or 3rd quarter. Separately, Charter said it would buy several hundred thousand km of fiber from Corning to boost network performance, price not announced.
Federal appeals court upheld state of Ill. practice of letting each state prison select one phone company to provide exclusive service. Suit by prison inmates and their families charged that result was exorbitant rates because exclusive provider jacked up rates and shared proceeds with prison. Seventh U.S. Appeals Court, Chicago, upheld lower court ruling but for different reasons. Lower court had dismissed case, saying it didn’t have jurisdiction because issues such as filed-rate doctrine came into play. Filed rate doctrine forbids court from revising tariffs filed by utilities and common carriers. Appeals court disagreed on using jurisdictional grounds but affirmed ruling on merits. In decision issued Mon., court said plaintiffs’ complaint really was that state had acted as monopoly “exercising… an iron control over access to the inmate market” and requiring inmates to pay higher than competitive price. However, court decided: “States and other public agencies do not violate the antitrust laws by charging fees or taxes that exploit the monopoly of force that is the definition of government” (Case number 00-1777).