London-based GlobalWave said it signed its first major partner for its Wavecast service, which uses portion of broadcast signal to deliver data services to PCs. First partner is eJay, European digital music publisher, which will supply music content to be distributed via Wavecast. GlobalWave said Wavecast allowed secure digital content -- including pay-per-view movies, music, games, sports, news and software -- to be delivered to PCs.
Copyright Office Feb. 12 opened 6-month voluntary negotiation period for determining royalties for public performance of sound recordings by new subscription services. Under Digital Millennium Copyright Act, “new subscription service” is defined as one that performs sound recordings by means of noninteractive subscription digital audio transmissions and that isn’t preexisting subscription service or satellite digital audio radio service. Negotiation period allows parties opportunity to agree on rates and terms for new subscription services. Parties wanting to participate in negotiations should notify Copyright Office by March 1, it said -- 202-707-8380.
Streaming media firm Quokka Sports announced major restructuring aimed at reducing costs, citing “the current financial challenges faced by all media companies in the Internet marketplace.” Firm, which handled NBC Web content during Olympics among other things, said it would focus on event-centric programming, including producing live sports events for Web.
New Skies Satellites had net income of $31.7 million and revenue of $198.3 million last year, improvement over 1999’s $135.5 million revenue and $2.2 million net loss. Earnings of $116.5 million before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization beat ABN Amro forecast of $113.3 million.
FCC asked for comments on separate requests to stop providing services filed by WorldCom and OpTel. Agency said comments are due March 2 on WorldCom request to discontinue its Metromedia, MFS Intelenet, Online and Travel card services. WorldCom said it doesn’t have any customers enrolled in those services. Comments are due Feb. 22 on OpTel’s request to stop providing telephone operations in Ariz., Cal., Colo., Fla. and Ind. because it’s in bankruptcy reorganization.
TV Azteca is soliciting shareholder consent to spin off its Unefon investment to stockholders, it said. Shareholders would receive stock valued at $177 million.
CompTel urged Md. House to hold hearings promptly on bill (HB-597) that would require structural separation of Verizon into separate wholesale and retail business operations. CompTel said structural separation was only way to address Verizon’s overwhelming market dominance and resulting incentives to discriminate against local competitors. It said separation also would reduce need for regulation as increasing competition lowered need for such oversight. Bill would impose structural separation regime similar to that ordered for Verizon by Pa. PUC.
Lockheed Martin said Comsat Mexico rolled out Securedge product line. Among features, it allows user to order, remotely configure, provision, monitor and manage network of end-to-end services with existing PC using multiplatform software.
Several wireless carriers told FCC that any steps to pave way toward development of secondary wireless market should rely on simple leasing rules, not existing limits such as spectrum cap restrictions. They strongly urged agency not to apply spectrum cap or unjust enrichment rules to lease deals. One theme among smaller carriers is that leasing arrangements can give them entree to truly compete in auctions because they could use proceeds from transactions to build out markets while retaining license ownership. Commenters on notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on secondary wireless markets differed on details, including how regulatory requirements of original licensee should apply to lessees.
NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft successfully landed on Eros asteroid at 3:05 p.m. ET Mon. and continued to send signals despite scientists’ predictions that would be unlikely. Craft was not designed to land on asteroid and design of antennae and topography and orbit of asteroid had been expected to block any signal from craft.