| This week's sponsor is Overture. |  | eBook: Finding New Gold in Copper This eBook from FierceTelecom will explore the ever-changing dynamics of service providers' copper networks and how they are using these new technologies to deliver a wider set of services to consumers and businesses. Download for free today. |
Today's Top Stories
1. Comcast to test new data cap plan in Tucson
2. Cablevision names Sandra Kapell EVP of human resources
3. Shazam expands Shazam for TV service; companion app integrates with Facebook, Twitter
4. Comcast offers to deliver cable to Chappaquiddick for $1,526 per home
5. CenturyLink sets video sights on Centennial, Colo. Also Noted: Acme Packet
Spotlight On... Comcast expands VoiceEdge service to California
Son of Cox VP killed in plane crash; Arris deploys switched digital video solution in South Korea and much more... On the Hot Seat:
 Willner: Pay-TV distributors will let subscribers transfer programming from DVRs to tablets, smartphones
Former Insight Communications CEO Michael Willner says he expects major pay TV distributors to begin offering products later this year which will allow subscribers to transfer programs stored on a DVR to tablet computers and smartphones. Willner, who with Insight co-founder Sidney Knafel recently bought a controlling stake in IP video software developer Penthera Partners, talks with FierceCable about Penthera's strategy and moves he expects cable operators to make in offering subscribers advanced mobile video products. Read more ...  Follow @FierceCable on Twitter!
News From the Fierce Network:
1. XO continues to find new fortunes in Ethernet over Copper
2. Windstream's Gardner: We're getting better at Fiber to the Tower
3. House to hold hearing on FCC's role in granting LightSquared waiver
| This week's sponsor is Qualcomm. |  | Webinar: The 1000x challenge; More Spectrum - How, how much and from where?
Tuesday, September 18th, 12pm ET / 9am PT In our quest for solutions to the 1000x mobile data challenge, the next stop is to explore options for more spectrum. Join us to understand where you can get more of it, at which bands and what innovative methods are needed to unlock it. Register Today! |
| Sponsor: Akamai FierceLive! Webinars > Implementing Connected Solutions: M2M and the Connected Life - Wednesday, September 19, 11am ET / 8am PT
> The 1000x challenge; More Spectrum - How, how much and from where? - Tuesday, September 18th, 12pm ET / 9am PT
> Telco-OTT: the Good, the Fast and the Nimble - Thursday, September 27, 11am ET / 8am PT
Events > Fierce Innovation Awards 2012 - An Operator- Reviewed Awards Program From the Publishers of FierceWireless, FierceTelecom, FierceCable
> Video World Conference & Expo 2012 - October 3-5 - Austin, TX
> TVNEXT - October 10-11 - Santa Clara, CA
> CTAM Summit & CTAM Insights Conferences - October 14-16 - Orlando, FL
> Content and Communications World (CCW) - November 14-15 - New York, NY
Marketplace > Research: LTE: a real disruptive technology and business opportunity?
> Whitepaper: Online Video Publishing Buying Tips
> Whitepaper: How to Master the Art of Content Marketing
> Whitepaper: Leveraging Website Marketing: Top 10 Website Solution Capabilities
> EBook: Unified Communications, Where it is, Where it's Going
> Whitepaper: Improving Content Publishing Workflow Efficiency for Multi-Device Delivery
> Whitepaper: Case Study: 4G Operator Maximizes Revenue with Flexibile, and Discovery-driven Audit Capabilities
> Whitepaper: Rethink IP/Optical Core Management
> EBook: The New Data Center
> EBook: Finding New Gold in Copper
> Whitepaper: Kabel Deutschland Uses Lavastorm Analytics' Flexibility to Optimize Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management Processes
* Post a classified ad: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here | Today's Top News 1. Comcast to test new data cap plan in Tucson
Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) plans to test a new high-speed Internet usage plan on its Tucson, Ariz., system, where subscribers will be offered larger data usage allowances if they take faster broadband tiers. In May, Comcast raised its monthly data cap nationwide from 250 GB to 300 GB, and said it would experiment with charging subscribers fees for exceeding the cap. Beginning Oct. 1, subscribers in Tucson who order its Blast tier will receive a cap of 350 GB. Xfinity Internet subscribers who take its Extreme 50 Mbps tier will get a 450 GB monthly cap, and customers who order its Extreme 105 Mbps tier will see their monthly cap set at 500 GB. DSL Reports first reported news of the Tucson test last week. Comcast began experimenting with a different usage model in July on its system in Nashville, Tenn., charging subscribers who exceed its 300 MB cap incremental fees of $10 for every 50 GB that exceeds the cap. For more:
- DSL Reports has this story Related articles:
Comcast to charge $10 for 50 GB to subscribers who bust data cap
Comcast suspends 250 GB data cap; will create tiered plans
FCC to study data caps, and may raise broadband speed threshold
Mediacom rolls broadband caps; charges subscribers fees for excess usage Read more about: Xfinity, usage caps
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| This week's sponsor is Akamai. |  | "Shifting Performance Strategies and Solutions for Mobile and Web Delivery" Discover ways to improve web and mobile performance with less cost and complexity in this new independent study commissioned by Forrester Consulting. Download Now.
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2. Cablevision names Sandra Kapell EVP of human resources
3. Shazam expands Shazam for TV service; companion app integrates with Facebook, Twitter
Shazam said Monday that it is expanding efforts to allow smartphone and tablet owners to use the devices to tag shows they are watching, announcing that the app can identify programming from 160 U.S. cable and broadcast networks. The company, whose app relies on automatic content recognition (ACR) technology, said it is also making it easier for users to share information about what they are watching with Facebook friends. Shows and movies that are tagged by Shazam users will appear in their Facebook timelines, Shazam said. It also integrated the app with Twitter and Google+ so users can share information about what they are watching on those social networks. Shazam's companion app lets users access more information about TV shows and movies they are watching, including cast information and trivia. Viewers watching sporting events can receive stats and scores on their mobile phones or tablets. Some major cable MSOs are also experimenting with integrating Shazam's ACR technology with their digital cable platforms. Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) demonstrated at The Cable Show convention in May how it could integrate Shazam with its Xfinity X1 platform to let subscribers identify music videos, and search for related content through its interactive program guide. Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) and t-commerce technology vendor Delivery Agent teamed up with Shazam during NBC's coverage of the Super Bowl in February to allow Cablevision subscribers to buy Super Bowl merchandise with their remote controls though its iO TV Market Showcase Channel. Shazam said Monday that it counts more than 250 million users worldwide. For more:
- see the release Related articles:
Comcast, Shazam offer glimpse at future
NBC Sports signs Shazam to deliver interactive Olympics programming
Will Shazam's ACR technology leave cable's ExpandTV platform in the dust? Read more about: ACR, Shazam
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4. Comcast offers to deliver cable to Chappaquiddick for $1,526 per home
Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) has offered to deliver cable TV, high-speed Internet and phone service to the Massachusetts island of Chappaquiddick, but only if residents there help cover its $1.58 million in construction costs. The town of Edgartown, Mass., which includes Chappaquiddick, has been using its franchise renewal talks with Comcast to pressure the MSO to expand its network to the island, which is located off Martha's Vineyard. It is best known as the island where the late Sen. Ted Kennedy drove a car off a bridge in 1969, in an accident that resulted in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. Under Comcast's 10-year franchise proposal, the MSO is asking Chappaquiddick residents to pay $824,000 to cover half of the costs of extending its network to the island. It would cost $1,526 per home if every home signed up for Comcast service, according to The Martha's Vineyard Times. But some island residents have said they are concerned that it may cost them even more to receive Comcast's triple play, since the MSO says it would charge additional fees to residents whose homes are located more than 250 feet from its cable plant. Chappaquiddick Island Association president Roger Becker has suggested that Comcast create a monthly "Chappy surcharge," in which it could spread the construction costs out over a period of several years. For more:
- The Martha's Vineyard Times has this story Related articles:
Upstate New York town rejects Time Warner Cable's request for 15-year franchise
Contracts force Time Warner Cable, Cablevision to pay NYC customers for missed appointments
Comcast insists it faces effective competition in Boston Read more about: Chappaquiddick, Comcast
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5. CenturyLink sets video sights on Centennial, Colo.
CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) wants to set up an IPTV video franchise in Centennial, Colo., according to a municipal official who said the telco/IPTV service provider expressed interest in the city at the end of August but hasn't yet submitted official paperwork. According to an article in the Denver Post, however, that's just another step in a process that's going to go forward as CenturyLink starts to make its video mark in the Denver/Colorado Springs area. In fact, in a move that cable old-timers are bound to consider heresy, Denver officials also apparently met with the telco and said the city--once considered cable's capital before Comcast started buying up everything--would be interested in negotiating a deal. "In this age of deregulation of cable service, cities including Denver like residents to have true competitive choices for their video services," Darryn Zuehlke, director of Denver's cable franchising division, told the newspaper. "Having CenturyLink as a true wireline cable service competitor to Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), we think will provide more programming choices and hopefully stability of rates." That hasn't always been the case. It will be interesting to see what sorts of restrictions the cities put on CenturyLink when they come to franchise agreements. For the most part, cable companies that were first in were expected to cable entire cities and provide service to all neighborhoods. Some latecomers have not had those exacting demands, leading cable operators to occasionally howl about cherry-picking. Anyway, CenturyLink has already secured agreements in Colorado Springs and is "in the process" of renewing a franchise agreement with Douglas County, where the former Qwest--prior to its acquisition by CenturyLink--offered cable service to the Highlands Ranch neighborhood until 2008. CenturyLink had told the newspaper in August that it would launch its TV service in one legacy Qwest market by the end of the year but didn't disclose that market. Now there are at least two in the running. For more:
- the Denver Post has this story Related articles:
CenturyLink broadband, IPTV business up even as legacy wireline declines
Tacoma telecom Click unhappy with CenturyLink sales tactics
CenturyLink to challenge Comcast in Colorado Springs Read more about: Colorado
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Also Noted | This week's sponsor is Acme Packet. | 
| Webinar: Telco-OTT: the Good, the Fast and the Nimble
Thursday, September 27, 11am ET / 8am PT
Service providers have been in a perennial battle with "over-the-top" internet vendors who leverage bandwidth but often do not play by the same regulatory or financial rules. Does it need to be a battle of us vs. them? Register Today! |
SPOTLIGHT ON... Comcast expands VoiceEdge service to California Comcast began marketing its cloud-based Business VoiceEdge product to commercial customers in California. The MSO said the VoIP-based product eliminates the need for business customers to install on-site PBX equipment. Comcast is offering VoiceEdge in Northern and Central California, including San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno, Monterey and Stockton. The product allows users to receive copies of voicemail messages in their email accounts. Read more Cable industry news from across the web: > David Schorr, the son of Cox Communications VP Steve Schorr, was killed in a small plane crash in Georgia on Thursday. He was 40. Article > Arris said that South Korean independent operator Areum Broadcasting Network deployed its switched digital video solution. News release > DirecTV said that CEO Mike White will give a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference on Friday. News release > Aurora Networks said it will showcase its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) products at the FTTH Conference & Expo next week in Dallas. News release > Comcast kicked off the second year of availability for its Internet Essential service in Florida at an event in Fort Lauderdale that was attended by Comcast VP of community investment and Comcast Foundation President Charisse Lillie. News release > AT&T said it is looking to fill more than 55 jobs in Mississippi, including technicians and customer service representatives. News release And finally… Fitch Ratings assigned its "B-" rating to the $500 million in senior unsecured notes due 2022 that Cablevision plans to sell. News release > Implementing Connected Solutions: M2M and the Connected Life - Wednesday, September 19, 11am ET / 8am PT Within the next decade, billions of new Connected Life and M2M devices will be connected to mobile networks, providing consumers and businesses with an expanding array of applications, services and experiences. This webinar will provide a practical, in-depth look at how businesses today are realizing the opportunity presented by M2M and the Connected Life. Register Today! > The 1000x challenge; More Spectrum - How, how much and from where? - Tuesday, September 18th, 12pm ET / 9am PT In our quest for solutions to the 1000x mobile data challenge, the next stop is to explore options for more spectrum. Join us to understand where you can get more of it, at which bands and what innovative methods are needed to unlock it. Register Today! > Telco-OTT: the Good, the Fast and the Nimble - Thursday, September 27, 11am ET / 8am PT Service providers have been in a perennial battle with "over-the-top" internet vendors who leverage bandwidth but often do not play by the same regulatory or financial rules. Does it need to be a battle of us vs. them? Register Today!
| > Fierce Innovation Awards 2012 - An Operator- Reviewed Awards Program From the Publishers of FierceWireless, FierceTelecom, FierceCable This program is designed to recognize the innovative companies and products that are defining the future of the broadband communications industry. Submissions will be judged based on effective application of and performance in networks, innovative approach, and contribution to revenue & profitability. Submit your application today! > Video World Conference & Expo 2012 - October 3-5 - Austin, TX The first-of-its-kind event focuses on the identification of opportunities, creation of strategies and monetization of new & enhanced video products for business & consumers. We’ve assembled the best & brightest industry minds to provide attendees the knowledge to boost their video IQ. Register now. > TVNEXT - October 10-11 - Santa Clara, CA Social TV, TV Apps, Cloud TV, Broadband TV, and more... It's all part of the re-imagining of TV happening only at the 6th annual TVNEXT in October. Hear from over 50 top-notch speakers and networks with hundreds of the "who's-who" in the TV and entertainment industry. Learn more! > CTAM Summit & CTAM Insights Conferences - October 14-16 - Orlando, FL Discover what consumers crave with speakers from Trendrr, Zoove & Hill Holliday. Additional Speakers: Deepak Chopra, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and NBC’s David Gregory. Additional Topics: Second Screen TV apps, Mobile Marketing and Amazing Sensory Research Tools. Register for one conference and access both! Register Today and bring a colleague at $595 Guest Rate! > Content and Communications World (CCW) - November 14-15 - New York, NY Thousands of attendees and exhibitors alike participate in the ever-changing conversation surrounding content creation, management and distribution/delivery. Join them! Register today with VIP Code CCEY8 to receive your free pass!
| > Research: LTE: a real disruptive technology and business opportunity? WiTech's latest Report "LTE: a disruptive technology and business opportunity" presents an in-depth analysis about the promising technology LTE by taking into account not only technology aspects but also business aspects. It points out the key drivers that are continuously changing the Telecom Market. Download this report today! > Whitepaper: Online Video Publishing Buying Tips Technology in the online video publishing industry is changing quickly and figuring out which features you need and don't need can be challenging. Help your solution grow by reading this checklist of the top 10 things you must consider before buying an online video platform. Download now. > Whitepaper: How to Master the Art of Content Marketing "How to Master the Art of Content Marketing" discusses how to create a sustainable content marketing program with the flexibility to adjust to changing market dynamics. Gain the keys to excite audiences and drive business results. Download Now. > Whitepaper: Leveraging Website Marketing: Top 10 Website Solution Capabilities In this report you will learn how today's WCM platforms are fusing the best marketing automation practices with content management, allowing marketers to leverage content in new and innovative ways. Discover 10 of the top capabilities you should be considering for your website. Download Now. > EBook: Unified Communications, Where it is, Where it's Going This eBook from FierceEnterpriseCommunications will provide an update on the various facets of Unified Communications, look at how premise-based versus hosted solutions measure up, and include a look at what's expected to come down the road. Download for free today! > Whitepaper: Improving Content Publishing Workflow Efficiency for Multi-Device Delivery Discover how choosing a solution to provide multi-screen delivery of your content can have a major impact on the efficiency of your publishing workflow and bottom line. Download Now. > Whitepaper: Case Study: 4G Operator Maximizes Revenue with Flexibile, and Discovery-driven Audit Capabilities A US 4G operator was perfectly suited to handle the predicted annual doubling of global mobile data traffic. But as the company faced exponential subscriber and network usage growth, they realized they needed to better monitor that usage. Learn how this US 4G operator realized 13x ROI for its retail business in the first six months. Download Today! > Whitepaper: Rethink IP/Optical Core Management Are You Ready to Rethink Your Network With the Alcatel-Lucent 1830 Photonic Service Switch? It's time to integrate the IP and optical layers of your network infrastructure and ensure optimal efficiency. Learn more about how you can rethink IP/Optical core management by downloading our whitepaper. > EBook: The New Data Center In this FierceTelecom eBook we'll discuss the strategies service providers are taking to build a sustainable and profitable data center business. To read more click here to download. > EBook: Finding New Gold in Copper This eBook from FierceTelecom will explore the ever-changing dynamics of service providers' copper networks and how they are using these new technologies to deliver a wider set of services to consumers and businesses. Download for free today. > Whitepaper: Kabel Deutschland Uses Lavastorm Analytics' Flexibility to Optimize Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management Processes Learn how Kabel Deutschland achieved quantifiable ROI in less than one year, accelerated detection of fraudulent activity by more than 2000 percent, and improved customer satisfaction. Download this case study today. | |
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