New Skies Satellites launched 2nd digital video broadcast (DVB) platform to carry Internet traffic for India and plans to fly 3rd later this year. Company said “extremely strong demand” for service led to launching additional platforms.
Ill. regulators are impeding SBC from offering DSL services to consumers there, SBC Chmn. Edward Whitacre told key members of Congress in March 14 letter. He urged them to pass legislation that would remove regulation for provision of high-speed Internet services and thus solve problem in Ill. Whitacre said Ill. Commerce Commission had ordered SBC to unbundle facilities it was deploying to extend DSL to residential areas that were more than 12,000 ft. from central offices. Unbundling would require SBC to provide competitors with each portion of new DSL service, SBC said. Whitacre said Ill. order would cost SBC hundreds of millions of dollars to implement, making it “economically impossible” to deploy DSL in Ill. through remote terminals. SBC has been “forced to halt indefinitely further deployment and activation” of DSL facilities in Ill., he said. He said one million consumers who lived beyond distance limitation of central- office-provided DSL would be deprived of chance to get DSL at all. He said legislation to ease Telecom Act restrictions for data services would eliminate problem. Letter went to House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.), Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.), House Speaker Hastert (R-Ill.), Rep. Dingell (D- Mich.), Sen. Hollings (D-S.C.).
Broadband provider Williams Communications announced agreement with New Skies to provide latter with teleport facilities for Asia Pacific Satellite for combined fiber and satellite connections between N. America and Pacific Rim.
NextG Corp. requested that FCC determine Exempt Telecommunications Company status under Public Utility Holding Company Act. Incorporating in Nev., NextG said it would offer technical and administrative services to enable broadband interfaces for ESPs, DTV broadcasters and Internet service providers to install and use network interface equipment for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) and MPEG-4 DTV broadband Internet services. Application said NextG intended to provide: (1) Broadband Internet2 Third Generation (3G) wireless and landline products and services. (2) Video PDA and other information network interfaces through affiliate and nonaffiliated companies. NextG proposed to establish and operate on-premises equipment facility to provide R&D for IP v6 network Internet appliances, DTV MPEG 4 video cell phone products and services, broadband GPRS/CDMA/GSM interfaces for utility company wireless and landlines. Comments to FCC are due March 30.
Law firm Shalov, Stone & Bonner will file class action lawsuit against Globalstar for allegedly defrauding investors in struggling satellite telephone service. Lawsuit accuses Globalstar of corporate fraud.
FCC Consumer/Disability Telecommunications Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting March 26, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Commission meeting room. Committee is composed of 40 representatives of business, academia, consumer and disability organizations, Hispanic groups, Indian tribes. Intended to assist in serving consumers, including those with disabilities, committee is divided into 3 subcommittee working groups: (1) Consumer Protection and Education. (2) Access by People with Disabilities. (3) Availability and Affordability of Telecommunications Products and Services. Meeting, which is open to public, is chaired by consumer advocate Shirley Rooker, pres. of syndicated radio program Call For Action. Chmn. Powell and Comrs. Ness, Furchtgott-Roth and Tristani will make welcoming comments.
U.S. Air Force awarded $86 million contract extension to Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, TRW Space & Electronics Group and Boeing Satellites & Space for additional system design and development of Advanced Extremely High-Frequency satellite communications system.
PanAmSat announced Mon. it had signed agreement with Orbital Sciences to develop 3 next-generation Galaxy cable satellites at cost industry source estimated at $160 million. Deal appears to be change in standard operating procedure for PanAmSat, which formerly favored larger, more powerful geostationary satellites. Company said it would use smaller satellites for premier entertainment companies and Galaxy anchor customers, including ABC Cable Networks, ESPN, HBO, TBS and additional PanAmSat video services in N. America.
Lucent won $5 billion, 3 year contract to provide 3rd generation (3G) mobile network infrastructure to Verizon Wireless. Deal, which would increase Verizon’s capacity significantly, was seen as good news for financially battered Lucent. Lucent shares rose nearly 20% to $11.97 at market close Mon. Verizon said it would begin deploying first phase of 3G technology later this year, calling it first commercial 3G system in U.S. Upgrade could double existing network’s voice capacity and increase data transmission speeds by nearly 10 times, it said.
XM Satellite Radio may be ready to “rock” on schedule as Boeing-built XM-2 satellite, nicknamed “Rock,” successfully launched Sun. from Sea Launch platform. Satellite, to be positioned at 154 degrees W, is expected to have service life of 15 years. XM-2 is first of 2 satellites company plans to have providing satellite radio service by summer. XM-1, dubbed “Roll,” is to fly in May.