Federation of Internet Solution Providers of the Americas (FISPA) urged FCC to extend today’s (Wed.) deadline for submitting reply comments on Commission’s cable open access inquiry. FISPA, which mostly represents smaller ISPs in Fla. and other states, asked agency to push deadline back 30 days to Feb. 9 to allow its members and other parties more time “to analyze the initial comments, evaluate the important legal, policy and operational issues regarding high-speed Internet access and prepare reply comments which will aid the Commission in its consideration of the questions raised in the notice of inquiry.” In 3-page filing with FCC last Fri., FISPA also argued that “the significance of these questions, their complexity and the large number of thoughtful and insightful comments filed in the initial round” weigh in favor of “a modest extension of time.”

Arbitron Co. said it has placed Portable People meters (PPM) with first 50 consumers for its upcoming Philadelphia market trial. Arbitron plans to install meters in another 250 homes over next 6 to 8 weeks. Company said 54 radio, broadcasting and cable outlets are now encoding their signals in preparation for trial, with at least another 16 expected to be added to list.

NCube Corp. filed patent infringement suit against SeaChange International Mon., charging that latter’s video-on-demand (VoD) products violated one of nCube’s interactive TV patents. NCube said it was seeking permanent injunction against SeaChange’s shipping its allegedly infringing products. In earlier court battle on other patents, Del. jury ruled in SeaChange’s favor in Sept., but nCube is challenging that decision.

WorldCom went live with 1.6 terabit Nortel optical network Mon. N.Y.C.-Washington leg is first section of highest capacity network in world to be lit, Nortel said. Network is Nortel Networks’ OPTera long-haul 1600 optical line system using dense- wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) to split light into as many as 160 channels. “This is the initial phase of a 5-phase migration to the use of optical equipment,” WorldCom spokeswoman said.

LAS VEGAS -- FCC Comr. Powell endorsed free market vs. govt. regulation, pleasing consumer electronics officials at the CES here Sat. But reaction was more muted when he also indicated reluctance for govt. to move aggressively to spur DTV transition. Powell, who is widely rumored to become next chmn. of FCC, was interviewed one-on-one by CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro, also rumored to be candidate for position in new Bush Administration, despite recently signing new 10-year contract with CEA.

EchoStar said Mon. it now was offering Starband Internet service for DISH satellite TV and Starband subscribers. Customers can receive 2-way, high-speed Internet and satellite TV with same dish. DISH network retailers are offering service. Company also unveiled DISH Pro 501 satellite TV receiver that features 30 hours of digital video recording and other personal TV services, as well as Pro 301 TV receiver.

White House formally renominated FCC Comr. Ness again for new term, throwing her bid to stay on Commission back to Senate Commerce Committee for consideration. Ness was renominated last year, but Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) never scheduled confirmation vote, and she currently functions under recess appointment that expires as soon as another commissioner is appointed. If cleared by Committee, Ness’s 5-year term would start from July 1, 1999, expiration of her last one. However, Commerce Committee spokeswoman said panel would concentrate on confirming Bush cabinet members before considering Ness’s situation.

Gemstar International Group took fresh shot at Time Warner (TW as FCC continued to ponder AOL’s pending acquisition of TW. In 2-page letter to FCC Thurs., Gemstar, which has been sparring with TW over MSO’s temporary blocking of Gemstar’s electronic program guide on TW cable systems last year, warned Commission that cable operator easily could do same thing again because it had shown no remorse. Despite TW’s June “decision to desist from stripping,” Gemstar said, TW “neither acknowledges that stripping is a violation of the FCC’s rules and policies, nor undertakes that it will not resume stripping without awaiting definitive FCC action.” Gemstar urged Commission to “deal with the issues” raised “regarding the anticompetitive nature of Time Warner’s behavior” before approving AOL-TW deal. Specifically, Gemstar wants agency to impose conditions on AOL-TW prohibiting it from discriminating against rival interactive TV content providers.

PASADENA -- Threatened strike against TV networks this spring by Writers Guild of America (WGA) and other unions (see separate item, this issue) was a major topic of conversation here as Pax TV, UPN and WB kicked off semiannual round of questions and answers with TV critics. “Everyone that’s involved on both sides says there’s going to be a strike,” WB CEO Jamie Kellner said. “I have no involvement whatsoever, so I say there’s not going to be a strike. I think there’s going to be a lot of reasons to avoid a strike.” He and UPN executives said they had contingency plans in place in case there was strike, including at least 4 “reality” programs under development by WB, plus advantage of being able to add movie night by using affiliate Turner Bcstg.’s huge library of films.

Verizon met or exceeded “key operating targets” for 4th quarter and full-year 2000, CEO Ivan Seidenberg said Mon. at Salomon Smith Barney conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. Among them: (1) Company ended year with about 540,000 DSL subscribers, exceeding 500,000 target. (2) It had 1.4 million long distance customers in N.Y. at year’s end, gaining 20% share of state’s residential long distance market. (3) Verizon Wireless had net gain of about 1.2 million new customers in quarter and ended year with about 27.5 million. He also announced that Verizon had $535 million in merger-related expense savings in 2000 following formation of Verizon Wireless and Bell Atlantic-GTE merger.