New 20.20 series communications satellite from Space Systems/Loral is latest in series of extra-large birds with more transponders and more power. Satellite will allow use of multiple frequencies from same orbital location, said Daniel Collins, senior vp-worldwide mktg. and sales. Limited number of orbital slots and Ka-band power requirements triggered need for larger, more powerful satellites capable of carrying high numbers of transponders, Collins told us: “This is envisioned to be a product of the future. We in the industry want to put more communications capacity on the satellite.”
La. PSC members elected Comr. James Field as new chmn. and Comr. Jack Blossman vice-chmn… Scott Petre promoted to vp-gen. mgr., Cox Business Services-Kansas… John Buckley, ex-Fannie May, becomes corporate vp, AOL Time Warner… Sanford Litvack, ex-vice chmn., Disney, elected to Compaq board… Derrick Oien promoted to senior vp-COO, MP3.com… Promotions at Snell & Wilcox: Tom Lang to vp-gen. mgr.-eastern region, Eloy Chairez to vp-gen. mgr.- western region… Departure of Democratic staffers at NTIA continues, with 2 more to leave Feb. 2, both starting their new jobs Feb. 5: Communications Dir. Art Brodsky, also ex-Warren Communications News, joins Simon Strategies as senior vp Feb. 5; Congressional Affairs Dir. Cinnamon Rogers joins Sen. Boxer (D- Cal.) as senior policy adviser… Dan Mattoon, ex-National Republican Congressional Committee and former BellSouth lobbyist, becomes partner at Podesta.com, which will be renamed Podesta/Mattoon… Frank Principi, ex-House Commerce Committee, named senior legislative associate for telecom and technology issues, National Governors’ Assn.
Three-month sting by office of Ariz. Attorney Gen. and Maricopa County Sheriff resulted in 12 arrests for alleged pirating of satellite TV signals and selling illegal access cards. Investigators said suspects marketed products in newspaper classified ads, fliers, Internet, by word-of-mouth. Access cards from existing satellite equipment boxes were reprogrammed with special software that allowed users to receive unlimited service at no cost, law enforcement officials said. Cards were sold on black market at $100-$400 each. DirecTV spokesman said sting “underscores the importance of protecting the intellectual property rights” of DirecTV and programming affiliates. “Would-be purchasers of illegally modified access cards need to know that the unauthorized viewing of DirecTV programming is theft.” Meanwhile, DirecTV said it used its satellites to stymie “signal pirates” who used counterfeit technology to watch unauthorized programming. “We took countermeasures to black out unauthorized users,” DirecTV spokesman said.
PanAmSat wouldn’t comment Fri. on rumor company might be sold to European operator SES Astra of Luxembourg. PanAmSat spokesman said rumor “is nothing new,” saying it first “came up at the end of last year,” but company had policy of not making comments on “speculation.” No other details about sale were offered by source, but SES executive representative in U.S., Dean Olmstead, told us in brief interview he couldn’t say whether SES was negotiating with Hughes for PanAmSat, but if company were on market, SES definitely “would be interested.”
N.C. Utilities Commission will keep permanent records of negotiated local interconnection agreements in electronic form only, starting next month. Paper copies will be used for reference during approval process but will be discarded after filing parties verify that approved paper and electronic texts match. Where new agreement supersedes previous agreement, electronic copy must list provisions and amendments that new filing makes obsolete and those that will remain in effect. Agency said growing number and size of negotiated interconnection agreements made it hard to keep track of superseded and current agreements and created “significant storage problems.” Parties can file agreements on magnetic disc or CD-ROM.
Wi-LAN signed 3-year agreement to supply T-Speed Broadband Communications with equipment for latter’s nationwide fixed wireless broadband network. T-Speed said it would offer symmetrical Internet connections at speeds of up to 8.5 Mbps.
WRAL-TV Raleigh will start newscasts in HDTV Jan. 28, with sponsorship by Panasonic, companies said. They said they were believed to be first regularly-scheduled newscasts in HDTV.
Changes at CTIA: Bruce Cox, ex-AT&T vp-congressional & regulatory affairs, joins as vp-regulatory policy and law; Robert Roche promoted to vp-policy & research… Howard Levitas joins Industrial Telecommunications Assn. as chief information officer of management information systems… Neil Hoffman, ex-WGN Cable, becomes senior vp-planning, scheduling & acquisitions, Lifetime Entertainment… Mark Taylor, ex-WWAV Rapp Collins Media, named vp, dir. of sales-Europe, Hallmark Entertainment Networks… John Nelson, ex-Apple Computer, appointed vp-human resources, EMMIS Communications… Stephanie Brownlee, ex-United Video, becomes vp- interactive TV sales, SeaChange International…Eric Brewer, co- founder and chief scientist of Inktomi Corp., joins Asta Networks board… Larry Watkins, ex-LCC, appointed CTO, SPEEDCOM… Darius Withers, ex-FCC, named associate, Kelley, Drye & Warren.
Two Mo. state lawmakers called for legislature to oust Mo. PSC Chmn. Sheila Lumpe and Comrs. Connie Murray and Dianne Drainer, accusing regulators of incompetence and dereliction of duty for failing to protect utility ratepayers from “devastating” rate increases. Outcry was result of PSC’s 3-2 vote Wed. to approve 44% gas rate increase requested by state’s 2nd largest gas company, Mo. Gas Energy, for 492,000 customers in Kansas City area. State Rep. Dennis Bonner (D-Independence) and state Sen. Ronnie DePasco (D-Kansas City) said they expected PSC also would approve pending 38% gas boost for Laclede Energy, which could go into effect next week for 633,000 customers in St. Louis and southeastern Mo. State law allows legislature to remove PSC members from office on 2/3 vote in each chamber. Commissioners said they had little choice but to approve 44% increase because company had open-and-shut case that soaring wholesale gas prices justified significant retail boost and persuasive evidence supporting claim that it would lose $20 million each month without requested rate increase. PSC “can’t force the companies to sell gas to the consumer at less than they have to pay for the commodity,” and has no jurisdiction over wholesale gas prices, Murray said. Dissenting Comrs. Robert Schemenauer and Kelvin Simmons wanted more investigation of utility’s loss projections and phase-in of any rate increase over several months instead of single big jump. PSC majority also voted to review agency’s processes for handling cost-based energy rate increases because of predictions of even more volatility in wholesale energy markets.
Broward County, Fla., regulators are in talks with AT&T and Comcast on settlement of open access dispute, giving rise to possibility that county would drop its appeal against U.S. Dist. Court, Miami, ruling overturning its open access ordinance (CD Nov 14 p1). “A draft agreement is in circulation,” Asst. County Attorney Anitra Lanczi told us. Declining to provide details or terms of talks, she said county would go forward with appeal in 11th U.S. Appeals Court, Atlanta, if settlement weren’t reached. Asked why county now favored settlement, she said: “Nobody wants to litigate. It’s expensive and time-consuming.” AT&T spokeswoman wouldn’t provide terms of talks, either, but confirmed that company was negotiating with county: “We are continuing to talk with them and hope to reach an amicable settlement.”