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Verizon Pumps Billions Into East Coast Infrastructure

Verizon Communications pumped billions of dollars last year into its infrastructure on the East Coast. In three states alone, the company invested a total of more than $2.8 billion.

Verizon said it spent more than $1.4 billion on its landline network in the state where it is based: New York. 

The company continued to roll out its FiOS TV service over a fiber-optic network. At the end of the year, Verizon offered the service to 178 towns and villages. Verizon said it made the service available to another 180,000 households and businesses in multiple dwelling and tenant complexes.

In New York, the company provided further enhancements, such as the deployment of high-speed Internet service to additional communities, the availability of a new tier of broadband Internet service with download speeds of up to 15 Mbps and the deployment of fiber-optic links to wireless providers’ cell towers. 

Verizon revealed investing $814 million last year on its landline telecom infrastructure in Virginia. Among the improvements, the carrier increased coverage of high-speed Internet service and FiOS TV while opening two network operations centers that monitor the company’s global IP network and FiOS services nationwide. 

In Pennsylvania, Verizon invested $642 million on its infrastructure. Among other improvements, Verizon expanded its FiOS TV coverage and the availability of its high-speed Internet service in rural communities.

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Tags: Communications

The Comcast-NBC Merger: What Now?

California Progress Report
By Samuel S. Kang

The Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Justice recently moved to allow Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal, despite the concerns raised by many organizations and individuals. The good news is that we won important concessions, but serious concerns remain.

This merger results in the consolidation of the nation’s largest cable company and broadband subscriber, Comcast, with the nation’s oldest broadcast network, NBC.  For many reasons, this is a merger unlike any other.  In his lone dissenting vote, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps put it simply, “Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal is a transaction like no other that has come before this Commission–ever.”

Efforts and Results

Greenlining has been working diligently on this issue since rumors of the merger first surfaced in 2009.  Since then, and with the help of many others, Greenlining vigorously advocated to make sure that the merger would protect consumer choice, small business opportunities, diversity in the media, and fair competition.  We met with FCC Commissioners and their staff countless times, formed national coalitions, intervened formally at the FCC, met several times with the Justice Department, and even testified before Congress.

Thanks to these efforts, some of these goals were realized.  Comcast has either been ordered or agreed to the following:

• Voluntarily report its supplier diversity data to the California Public Utilities Commission, starting this year.

• Diversify its board of directors.

• Offer low-cost broadband services to modest income households and freeze the price of its “economy” broadband service for three years.

• Adhere to net neutrality principles so that the shows you watch won’t be disrupted if you’re not a Comcast customer.

• Expand news and local content for select NBC and Telemundo stations.

Greenlining advocated for all of these.  We didn’t get everything we wanted, but these steps are significant.

Worst Case Scenario?

Greenlining believes that a consolidated Comcast-NBC could present limitless potential for underserved and diverse communities across the United States.  However, there is much doubt that this potential will be realized.

For example, Commissioner Copps warns that this merger “confers too much power in one company’s hands.”  He goes on to say that the consolidation of these two giant media entities “further erodes diversity, localism and competition–the three essential pillars of the public interest standard mandated by law.”  If his worst fears are realized, the Comcast-NBC merger could be “a damaging and potentially dangerous deal.”

Unfortunately, Commissioner Copps may be correct.  Although his criticisms present a worst case scenario, that scenario could come true.  For example, a similar merger between AOL and Time-Warner disintegrated and took over a decade to fully unravel.  If Comcast-NBC follows this path, the impact would be disastrous   because, as Mr. Copps explained, this merger “reaches into virtually every corner of our media and digital landscapes and will affect every citizen in the land.”

For better or for worse, the new Comcast-NBC behemoth may have become “too big to fail.”  If it does fail, consumers, viewers and internet users will all feel the impact–severely.

What’s Next?

This is why the new Comcast-NBC company must collaborate with its customers and small businesses as no company has ever done before.  The scale of customer and small business collaboration must match the unprecedented magnitude of the new company.

The company is quite capable of doing this if it so chooses.  Comcast’s supporters and adversaries both agree that the company mounted a campaign for approval the likes of which have never been seen by even Capitol Hill veterans.  Comcast and NBC also garnered the support of hundreds of organizations across the country.

The evidence is overwhelming:  When it wants to, Comcast has the ability to move mountains.  The Comcast-NBC media giant now has the opportunity to do even more.  The question is, will it?

The answer may be that it has no choice.  Comcast-NBC may have to step up to the challenge.  This is because Comcast has voluntarily entrenched itself into a national web of regulatory obligations through this merger.  Local, state, and federal authorities will all be watching Comcast very closely.  As FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn stated, “I will be watching closely with my large megaphone in hand should these agreements be ignored.”

Indeed, we’ll all be watching very, very closely.

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Tags: Communications

Not-so-unlimited MetroPCS

The Federal Communications Commissions controversial new Net neutrality rules aim to stop broadband providers from discriminating against legal sites and services online, as well as to require more clarity about the providers terms and conditions. Now mobile phone carrier MetroPCS is presenting the first test: a $40 unlimited mobile broadband service that blocks video streams from all but one site, YouTube. The problem isnt really what MetroPCS is offering, however. Its what the company is telling consumers, and how the precedent it has set might redefine the meaning of Internet access.

MetroPCS $40 offering, announced last month, includes unlimited phone calls, text messages and Web access. What the company doesnt make clear in its promotional materials is that customers cant stream or download content from any site other than YouTube. Less limited services are available for $50 and $60 a month, although even those dont include access to Skype and other Voice over Internet Protocol services.

Five advocacy groups complained to the FCC last month, arguing that MetroPCS was blocking legal Internet content in violation of the new rules. The $40 offering gives a glimpse of the future of the mobile Internet, one in which carriers, not users, decide what content, applications and services are important and will be delivered, the groups argued in their letter. In response, MetroPCS asked a federal appeals court to throw out the commissions rules, claiming the FCC didnt have the authority to adopt them.

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Tags: Communications

MetroPCS Communications Trading Higher on 1.7x Above-Average Volume (PCS)

(via COMTEX News Network)–

Shares of MetroPCS Communications (NYSE: PCS) are trading up 1.5% to $13.13 today on above average volume. Approximately 9.2 million shares have traded hands today vs. average 30-day volume of 5.3 million shares.

Spikes in volume can validate a breakout or signify a potential turning point. As such, SmarTrend will continue to monitor shares of PCS to see if this bullish momentum will continue.

SmarTrend currently has shares of MetroPCS Communications in an Uptrend and issued the Uptrend alert on April 05, 2010 at $7.30. The stock has risen 77.1% since the Uptrend alert was issued.

In the last five trading sessions, the 50-day MA has climbed 0.77% while the 200-day MA has risen 0.84%.

In the past 52 weeks, shares of MetroPCS Communications have traded between a low of $5.62 and a high of $14.40 and are now at $12.98, which is 131% above that low price.

Write to Chip Brian at cbrian@tradethetrend.com

———————————————————————————————

SmarTrend analyzes over 5,000 securities simultaneously throughout the trading day and provides its subscribers with trend change alerts in real time. To get a free trial of our trading calls and maximize your trading results, please visit http://www.mysmartrend.com

Get exclusive, actionable insight into how the market is expected to trend prior to market open with our free morning newsletter. Sign up at: http://www.mysmartrend.com/signup

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Tags: Communications

Mississippi AG Hood supports monitoring communications in BP MDL

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has filed a motion supporting the plaintiffs request for monitoring alleged ex parte communications regarding the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), according to papers filed in the BP oil spill multidistrict litigation (MDL).

The motion and 17-page memorandum in support was filed Feb. 1 in US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

It states that Hood respectfully submits that court intervention and action is needed to compel BP to cure its failure to provide a claims process that fulfills the Oil Pollution Act (OPA).

The motion argues that, because no one could provide the court with information as to which GCCF claims were accepted and which were denied, Hood feels compelled to provide the Court with the following background facts regarding the sweeping deficiencies and violations of law that pervade the GCCF.

The motion states that the amount of damages suffered is far greater than what has been paid, and the number of claims not paid is staggering.

It further states that when viewed on an individual basis, the sums paid are only remarkable for how seemingly paltry they have been.

Hood is asking the court to consider the following deficiencies and violations by BP, thru [sic] the GCCF claims process and then that by failing to pay interim claims, BP is in violation of OPA.

The suit alleges that BP, by requiring claimants seeking a final payment to waive any right to sue, is violating OPA.

OPA prohibits … foreclosing a claimants right to recover all damages, Hood wrote.

Hood recommends that the Court should direct that all GCCF claims be processed immediately, and all damages which are presently owed under OPA should be immediately paid.

It also states that the court should eliminate final claims and that BP and the GCCF should immediately cease and desist from using the Release as drafted.

In December, plaintiff attorneys filed a motion that sought to ensure that communications with putative classmembers [sic] are neither confusing nor misleading.

The motion claimed that GCCF administrator Kenneth Feinberg is an agent for the defense and, By all appearances, Mr. Feniberg … seems indistinguishable from a defense attorney attempting to settle cases on behalf of BP.

BP attorneys Don Haycraft, Keith Jarrett, Richard Godfrey, Andrew Langan and Robert Brock filed their opposition Jan. 26.

The defense motion cites a letter from New York University legal ethics professor Stephen Gillers to Feinberg which read, in part, that the suggestion that you are not independent because you are BPs lawyer is wrong. You are not BPs lawyer.

District Judge Carl Barbier, who is presiding over the oil spill MDL, did not take oral arguments during a Jan. 28 status conference, stating that all the arguments had been made in the plaintiff and defense motions.

Federal MDL 2:20-md-2179

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Tags: Communications

Jabra Brings Lotus Sametime Unified Communications To Headsets

Jabra expanded its headsets unified communications capabilities with Mondays release of the Jabra PC Suite Plug-In for IBM Lotus Sametime, a software capability designed to deliver integrated call-management capabilities to a number of the vendors headsets.

The plug-in adds capabilities such as call answer, call end, volume, mute, and remote ring detection to many Jabra corded and Bluetooth wireless HD2 headsets. These include the Jabra PRO 9470, Jabra GO 6470 series, and Jabra BIZ 2400 USB.

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Tags: Communications

FairPoint emerges from Chapter 11

As expected, FairPoint Communications (Other OTC: FRCMQ.PK) has finally completed its restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Through this restructuring process, FairPoint cut its outstanding debt by about 64 percent, down from the $2.8 billion to about $1 billion. The service provider also now has a $75 million revolving credit facility for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Despite concerns over reaching its broadband roll out goals in New England, FairPoint said that it had made progress in expanding the availability of broadband service and has completed its VantagePoint core network build in northern New England.

Part of FairPoints restructuring also included the appointment of a new Board of Directors. FairPoints new board includes Edward D. Horowitz (chairman), Todd Arden, Dennis J. Austin, Michael J. Mahoney, Michael K. Robinson, FairPoints new CEO Paul Sunu, David Treadwell and Wayne Wilson.

During a hearing on Jan. 13, the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed the service providers reorganization plan. Likewise, the Public Utilities Commissions in all required states in which FairPoint provides services also approved the restructuring package.

The story of FairPoints bankruptcy, which came after the company struggled to integrate Verizons former New England phone lines, is not an isolated incident. Fellow telco Hawaiian Telcom, which also bought out Verizons lines in Hawaii, also was driven to Chapter 11 restructuring but reemerged in October last year.

While it will take time to see how successful both FairPoint and Hawaiian Telcom will be in life after restructuring, the two companies experiences should serve as a cautionary tale for any telco conducting a large scale acquisition of another major carriers network infrastructure.

For more:
- see the release

Related articles:
FairPoint realigns restructuring plan, hearing scheduled for Jan. 13
FairPoints Chapter 11 plan gets support from creditors, lenders
Judge approves FairPoints reorganization plan
FairPoint wants extension for broadband expansion
FairPoint buys more time for reorganization
FairPoint will have to restate 2009 revenue
FairPoint files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

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Tags: Communications

VoX Communications Now Featured on Retail Ecommerce Site vontrump.com

WHITE PLAINS, NY, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Pervasip Corp.s (OTC Bulletin Board: PVSP) wholly-owned subsidiary, VoX Communications Corp., a leading cloud-based communications solutions, apps and services provider, is now the featured company on the ecommerce site http://www.vontrump.com/.

The retail web site is offering several VoX products, and includes detailed descriptions, photos and videos to help the customer understand the benefits and features of the VoXs mobile VoIP app and video phone service.

VoXsChief Executive Officer, Paul Riss, noted, We are very excited about the VoIP apps and the Ojo video phone that we are selling, and we are working to display these products on a variety of web sites. The vontrump.com ecommerce site is currently running an ad on Facebook that includes a free shipping coupon for the Ojo Vision Digital Video phone, to help drive more consumers to the vontrump site and to help generate more video phones sales. As noted previously this week, we are also using Facebook to advertise our mobile VoIP application. Our goal is to educate people about our mobile VoIP so they realize how convenient and inexpensive it is to protect their privacy or become more organized with multiple telephone numbers on their mobile phone. Our VoX mobile app is the same high quality cloud-based telephone service that is enjoyed by our large wholesale customers.

VoX phone numbers can be downloaded to hundreds of popular handsets and mobile devices, such as the iPhone, iPad, Windows Mobile phones, Symbian phones, Palm and Android phones. A VoX virtual number can be permanent, or it can be changed whenever it is appropriate to do so. Consumers can have dozens of phone numbers ringing to the same mobile phone.

About VoX Communications:

VoX Communications Corp. delivers voice over IP (VoIP) telephone services to consumers over mobile broadband connections and to the residential and small business markets over fixed broadband connections. VoX differentiates itself through a unique combination of high quality voice services, flexible back-office capabilities and automated provisioning systems. It offers a feature-rich, low-cost, high-quality alternative to traditional phone services. For more information, please visit www.voxcorp.net. or visit VoX Communications on Facebook.

Forward-looking statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Pervasips actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, among others, certain risks and uncertainties over which the company may have no control.For further discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the discussions contained in Pervasips Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2009 and any subsequent SEC filings.

SOURCE Pervasip Corp.

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Tags: Communications

Earnings In Focus (Verizon Communications, CRS, CSX)

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) shares surged 1.56% to $35.79 on very high volume after the company said it earned 54 cents a share on an adjusted basis on revenue of $26.4 billion in its fourth-quarter, missed analyst estimates of profit of 55 cents a share on revenue of $27.1 billion.

Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) is a provider of communications services. Verizon operates in two segments: Domestic Wireless and Wireline.

Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE:CRS) slumped 5.50% to $40.51 after the company said it earned 21 cents a share on revenue of $375.6 million in its fourth quarter, missed analyst estimates of 24 cents a share on revenue of $350.2 million.

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Tags: Communications

TiVo’s Charter Deal & Multi-Room Clues

TiVos gone ahead and inked themselves another deal with a cable provider:

Charter Communications, Inc. and TiVo Inc., today announced that Charter is setting its strategy for the next generation of television into motion with TiVo Inc. Charter and TiVo have finalized a multi-year agreement that will leverage the TiVo user interface to bring a new and enhanced entertainment experience to customers using a hybrid platform that leverages traditional cable and next generation IP technologies.

This shouldnt come as any surprise given the US cable market and TiVos telegraphed strategy. But, unlike the sputtering along Comcast-branded TiVo service, Charter will be following in RCNs footsteps when they offer customized Premiere hardware later this year.

Multi-room viewing during the initial phase of Charters collaboration sounds quite similar to existing MRV functionality found in retail TiVo DVRs:

View a common list of recordings and playback recorded content throughout the home, pause a recorded program in one room and resume playback in another, use trick-play functions on recorded content and delete recordings from any room. Only video programming without copy restrictions may be transferred using multi-room viewing or TiVoToGo.

The recording deletion feature may be a slightly beefed up version of what we see now. Or, it could merely refer to deleting a copy of a recording from the DVR you happen to be sitting at. Also unclear is the transport mechanism have we graduated to MoCA or does this utilize the existing Ethernet and wireless connectivity? Given the initial phase terminology and short lead time (for TiVo), Im going to assume its basically MRV and connectivity as we know it. However, it appears a more sophisticated whole-home TiVo offering is under development that Charter intends to leverage

upcoming multi-room and non-DVR platforms

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Tags: Communications