Nearly eight months after Level 3’s IP interconnection dispute with Comcast exploded (CP: Toll-gate: Level 3-Comcast traffic dispute explodes into Net Neutrality controversy), Level 3 apparently has managed to see eye-to-eye with at least one cable operator, announcing an IP interconnection deal last week with Cox Communications as part of a broader agreement for Cox to purchase a variety of services and network facilities from Level 3. (more…)
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Congress considers tapping Universal Service fund for deficit reduction
It’s fortunate that the telecom industry has organizations like the U.S. Telecom Association and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners keeping an eye on Congress. Both organizations took quick action last week when they learned that Congress was considering tapping the Universal Service fund for deficit reduction. According to one press report, the proposal calls for pulling as much as $1 billion from the Universal Service fund. (more…)
Warwick Valley Telephone’s Alteva purchase makes more sense than you might think
The announcement today that Warwick Valley Telephone would be acquiring Alteva must have left a few people scratching their heads. WVT is a 100-year old telco (CP: A new start in Warwick Valley) and Alteva (CP: Regional cloud VoIP providers form nationwide alliance) claims to be the nation’s largest provider of enterprise hosted VoIP, offering service in all 50 states. (more…)
FCC proposes action against cramming
The FCC’s release of its proposed “cramming” rules this week was a bit anti-climactic, considering that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has touted the proposed rules quite heavily over the last few weeks. Like any sharp politician Genachowski knows how to take credit for policy moves that are likely to have strong popular support-—and the new cramming guidelines certainly fall into that category. (more…)
FCC opens Technology Experience Center–equipment manufacturers invited to lend a hand
Rock bands can gain some free publicity and years of exposure to Hard Rock Café visitors by donating gold records, guitars, stage outfits and the like to the people who run the increasingly ubiquitous dining destinations. And telecom equipment manufacturers now may now be able to achieve a similar goal by donating devices to the FCC for a new “Technology Experience Center” that opened today. (more…)
Austin, Texas, booster brainstorms how to market the mobile wallet
It’s hard to tell which one Michael Koploy is more enthusiastic about—near-field communications or his home town of Austin, Texas. (more…)
Forbes blogger on rural broadband: ‘Don’t bother’
“High-speed rural broadband: Don’t bother to build it” is the headline for a recent Forbes blog post. In it, a Forbes blogger argues that:
“Infrastructure does not make us rich. People using infrastructure to do new things, or to do old things better or more cheaply might, but the cables, roads, railways and bridges of infrastructure do not, in and of themselves, impart wealth. Of course they don’t, for they are a cost. We do have to pay to build them after all.” (more…)
Telcos and cable companies take action against illegal content downloads—but assigning guilt will prove challenging
AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon announced yesterday that they have agreed to participate in a Copyright Alert System aimed at curbing illegal content downloads. But as they implement this program, they face a problem similar to that of cities that have installed red light cameras—they know someone did something wrong and they know what device was used to do it, but they don’t know who actually did it. (more…)
One Economy CEO: 4G service deals could increase broadband subscribership
The 100 million or so U.S. households that do not subscribe to broadband today are the focus of an opinion piece written by P. Kelley Dunne, CEO of One Economy Corporation and posted at www.broadbandcensus.com. One Economy specializes in increasing broadband adoption and literacy in areas where broadband services are available but where a high percentage of residents do not subscribe to those services. (more…)
FCC offers advice on Net Neutrality compliance
Telco personnel involved in regulatory compliance had something to ponder as they roasted franks and marshmallows this past weekend. Just prior to the Fourth of July holiday, the FCC issued six pages of advice for service providers about how to comply with Net Neutrality guidelines that were issued earlier this year. (more…)