Internet streaming video surged 215% to more than 900 million streams accessed in 2000, study by DFC Intelligence reported. It said broadband Internet access carried nearly 29% of video streams, and 15% of streams carried ads -- www.dbpwebcasttrack.com.
Mercedes Walton, ex-AT&T, appointed pres.-COO, Applied Digital Solutions… James Toupin, ex-U.S. International Trade Commission, named gen. counsel, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office… Larry Beerman, ex-Tellabs, named vp-business development, NexTone Communications… Timothy Kelly, ex-tickets.com, appointed pres., National Consumer Organization, Sprint…Kathy Jia promoted to gen. mgr., MediaWave Advertising… Appointed to e.spire Communications board: Dennis Freely, Telecom Group; Stanton Williams, NTL… Reed Hundt, ex-FCC chmn., elected to Brience board… Andrew Rosen, regional vp-sales, Clear Channel, adds exec. vp-mktg., replacing John Fullam… Robert Gerrard promoted to exec. vp-gen. counsel, Scripps Networks… Promotions at ACT Teleconferencing: Robert Aubry, to regional managing dir.-N. America, replacing Eugene Warren, who was promoted to COO; Mark Kelly to chief technology officer, replacing Iain McKeracher, retired.
“Robust discussion” of results of latest DTV testing followed presentation of results to more than 150 broadcasters in Washington Thurs., we're told. Closed-door meeting reportedly was told that VSB standard out-performed COFDM on 30-ft. outdoor antennas, COFDM did better on 6-ft. outdoor antennas and neither did very well on indoor antennas, as expected (CD Jan 11 p2, Jan 10 p2). Broadcasters also were told that COFDM would make DTV available to about 6% fewer households and same power level would give stations 14% smaller viewing area. Officials of COFDM supporter Sinclair Bcst. reportedly repeatedly made their claim that testing was flawed because it used COFDM receiver without needed filter. Broadcasters also were said to have repeatedly criticized cable and set-makers for not accelerating DTV rollout. Boards of NAB and MSTV are to meet Jan. 14-16 to decide what to recommend to FCC based on test results.
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) counsel David Sobel said location technology for wireless phones has “issues that need to be addressed soon.” Sobel said there “is very spotty legislation” in this area. Most important is question of legal standards required for law enforcement to gain access to location information, he said.
Mich. Gov. John Engler appointed Laura Chapelle as new PSC chmn., succeeding John Strand, who recently resigned to head Mich. Legislative Advisory Council. Chapelle, who was Engler’s deputy legal counsel, will serve out 6 months remaining in Strand’s term. Her background is in energy regulation and legislation. Nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Small Business in Telecommunications (SBT) told 3-judge panel of U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., Thurs., that many small businesses chose not to participate in 1997 800 MHz specialized radio auctions because of financial uncertainty and because FCC definition of small business was unclear at time of auction. However, when questioned by judges, SBT counsel Robert Schwaninger was unable to name single entity that claimed to have suffered from what SBT termed “uncertainty.” SBT was defending petition for review it filed on 2 FCC orders rejecting company’s petitions for reconsideration of its 800 MHz lower channel report and order and its upper channel report and order. Court said it had no jurisdiction on upper channel appeal since it wasn’t mentioned in SBT’s petition for review. Lower channel appeal dealt chiefly with issue of Small Business Administration approval of small business definition. Judge David Tatel questioned SBT attorney repeatedly, trying to establish, among other things, where in SBT pleadings certain claims made in its petition for review could to be found. All 3 judges said they were unable to find several assertions in SBT’s petition in proceeding’s earlier record.
If competition is subsidized it can become artificial, said White Paper released Thurs. by National Telecom Coop Assn. (NTCA). “The Cost of Competition” argues that competition doesn’t necessarily work in rural areas and it shouldn’t be forced. Bottom line is “permit competition to develop in rural areas but don’t subsidize it,” NTCA said in news release. Authored by economist Dale Lehman, White Paper questioned wisdom of making universal service funds available to competitive entrants, saying that might undermine viability of broadband deployment by incumbent rural LEC. There isn’t real strong business case for broadband deployment in rural areas in first place, report said. Solution might be to increase universal service fund so more money would be available to all carriers, Lehman concluded -- www.ntca.org.
Arianespace Flight 137 finally got off ground Jan. 10 as Eurasiasat 1 was launched into orbit from Kourou after 4 delays. Launch originally had been scheduled for Dec. 8.
Citing weakness in fixed wireless industry, equipment manufacturers Adaptive Broadband and Western Multiplex called off planned merger Thurs. “From a stock market point of view, fixed wireless specifically and telecommunications stocks in general, have really taken a beating, making it very difficult to put a monetary valuation on this transaction at this time,” said Adaptive Broadband Pres. Daniel Scharre. Adaptive recently lowered revenue forecast for quarter ended Dec. 31 to $8 million from $31 million. Company said it was “evaluating its financial model” for fiscal 2001, “especially the potential impact of customer issues” involving CLECs, which are its main U.S. market.
Seven states have requested more delegated authority from FCC to allow them to implement number conservation measures. FCC is seeking comments on requests of Ind., Minn., Mo., Okla., Tenn., Vt., W.Va. Comments are due Feb. 12, replies Feb. 28 (CC 96-98, 99-200).