Conexant Systems introduced new digital cable set-top box chip that it said featured both cable modem functionality and interactive TV service capability. Conexant said new single-chip transceiver also could support multiple broadcast demodulation for personal video recorder (PVR) functionality. Company said it would start shipping set-top box chips, priced at $45 each in quantities of 100,000 units, in 2nd quarter.
Cox Radio completed previously announced acquisition of WDYL(FM) Richmond and WJMZ(FM)/WPEK(FM) Greenville-Spartanburg for $52.5 million, it said. Cox also signed joint sales agreement with Honolulu Bcstg. for WARV(FM) Richmond.
Senate Communications Subcommittee Chmn. Burns (R-Mont.) will unveil his Tech 7 agenda for 107th Congress in news conference Wed. Spokesman said 3 items are “brand spanking new,” but wouldn’t elaborate beyond telling us one was “an Internet issue,” one “a spectrum issue” (that spokesman said would be “an enormous undertaking) and “the last one is largely telephony.” Among returning issues, Burns will discuss 4 bills under heading of “high-speed Internet access": (1) Eliminating regulations on 2% telcos, which serve less than that proportion of nation’s access lines. (2) Removing interim caps on size of telephone universal service fund. (3) Allowing low-power TV stations to offer high- speed access. (4) Giving tax incentives for broadband deployment to underserved areas, as recently proposed again by Sen. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.). Other returning issues will include spam, privacy, e-govt.
Telecom companies may find stake in Internet tax debate, which will be renewed this week when 2 lawmakers known for supporting tax-free Internet will introduce new bill that promises comprehensive but controversial approach to many divisive questions. Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Cox (R-Cal.), who last year pushed original Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), are preparing bill that would extend moratorium on discriminatory Internet taxes for 5 years past current Oct. 31 deadline. It would create fast-track process for states to gain authority from Congress to tax online sales, but attach strict conditions on how states must simplify their taxing systems to do so.
Coalition of 12 CLECs and Cal. Office of Ratepayer Advocate in joint petition asked Cal. PUC to reopen and “refresh” record in Pacific Bell’s request for PUC endorsement of Sec. 271 bid for interLATA long distance authority. Coalition said last comprehensive update was in Sept. 1999 and much had changed in industry in Cal. in ensuing 18 months. Coalition also said current record was “woefully inadequate” because it didn’t take into account recent PUC activity in several areas with direct relevance to 271 process including colocation, geographic loop deaveraging, line sharing, operation support system adequacy and performance incentives, nor recent federal court decisions on FCC’s terms for approval of parent SBC’s merger with Ameritech.
Tenzing signed agreement with Hughes Global Services to offer inflight broadband communication services, companies announced Mon. Alliance allows Tenzing to integrate broadband capabilities into existing onboard systems, company said. By end of 2001, airline passengers will be able to choose their connectivity and surf Web in real time in addition to sending and receiving e-mail from behind corporate firewalls via onboard virtual private network.
Ending months of speculation, Rep. Markey (D-Mass.) announced he would remain ranking minority member on House Telecom Subcommittee. He had option of becoming ranking minority member of full Resources Committee, where he still will be senior member. Telecom Subcommittee “is where the major economic issues of our time are debated and decided,” Markey said. His decision could have important policy ramifications. If Markey had chosen otherwise, Rep. Boucher (D-Va.) would have become ranking member. Boucher is considered far friendlier to Bell companies on matters such as reciprocal compensation and allowing companies to carry data traffic across LATA lines.
NAACP failed to show that renewal of license of WWSB (Ch. 40, ABC) Sarasota-Bradenton was inconsistent with Commission precedent, FCC said in order denying petition for review. NAACP and others had alleged pattern of discrimination by station, but FCC said individual complaints that hadn’t been upheld by EEOC didn’t provide adequate evidence. Commission did say it would “take cognizance of any final determination by the EEOC” or other govt. agency.
International Launch Services agreed Feb. 5 to fly 2 EchoStar DBS satellites with spot-beam technology. EchoStar 7 is expected to be launched from Cape Canaveral in 4th quarter on Lockheed Martin Atlas III and EchoStar 8 in first quarter next year on Proton K from Baikonur.
Ex-NTIA Dir. Greg Rohde will head new consulting firm, e- Copernicus.com, that he’s forming with govt. relations firm Dutko Group. Firm will specialize in business strategies for emerging technology and Internet-based businesses and companies engaged in electronic and mobile commerce, Rohde said.