| 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. Charter recruits Time Warner Cable and Cablevision veterans Adams and Mayo
2. Comcast expands 305 Mbps tier to Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, D.C.; touts fastest wireless gateway
3. Time Warner Cable to sell Clearwire stake
4. FCC lifts restrictions on cable/CLEC mergers, acquisitions
5. SCTE appoints Time Warner Cable, CableLabs, CommScope, Comcast execs to board Also Noted: Acme Packet
Spotlight On... How ubiquitous is TV Everywhere?
Bright House Networks to deploy Fujitsu 100G gear; blinkx tests video search engine 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. VoIP quality standards can't wait
2. Study details global IPTV outlook to 2016; 5 IPTV-capable systems being built in Argentina
3. Netflix, A&E Networks apparently at loggerheads over content licensing
| 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. Charter recruits Time Warner Cable and Cablevision veterans Adams and Mayo
Charter Communications (Nasdaq: CHTR) said Monday that it named former Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) executive Tom Adams EVP of field operations and Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) veteran Kathleen "Kip" Mayo EVP of customer operations. New Charter CEO Tom Rutledge, who resigned his post as Cablevision COO in December, has recruited several of his Cablevision lieutenants for top posts at Charter. The MSO, based in St. Louis, is opening a New York office for Rutledge and his leadership team. Mayo resigned from Cablevision in March after 15 years at the company, where she had been EVP of consumer operations. Charter said Mayo's appointment was effective Monday. Adams worked for 17 years at Time Warner Cable, most recently as regional VP of operations for Wisconsin. Charter said he'll join the company on Oct. 1. Both Adams and Mayo will report to John Bickham, the former Cablevision executive who was named COO at Charter in April. Additional Cablevision veterans who have landed at Charter include chief marketing officer Jonathan Hargis and EVP of network operations Scott Weber. For more:
- see the Charter release Related articles:
Charter CEO recruits former Cablevision colleague Bickham for COO post
Another former Cablevision exec, Jonathan Hargis, lands as CMO at Charter
Cablevision EVPs Blackley and Mayo resign; MSO looks to fill dozens of jobs
Who will join Rutledge, Bickham and Hargis at Charter's New York office? Read more about: Cablevision
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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. Comcast expands 305 Mbps tier to Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, D.C.; touts fastest wireless gateway
Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) said Tuesday that it expanded the availability of its $299.95 monthly Extreme 305 Mbps wideband Internet service to several major markets in the Northeast, including Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Hartford, Conn., and Harrisburg, Pa. The MSO also boasted that tests conducted by Allion Test Labs found that its new Xfinity Wireless Gateway is capable of delivering about 155 Mbps of wireless bandwidth to subscribers accessing its network through WiFi connections. Comcast said that the tests indicate that its gateway, which is manufactured by Technicolor and other hardware vendors, is faster than wireless gateways distributed by AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ). Comcast launched the 305 Mbps tier in July. It is launching the service in markets where Verizon is offering its FiOS Internet subscribers a 300 Mbps tier. Comcast hasn't yet said when it may expand the 305 Mbps tier to additional markets. For more:
- see the release Related articles:
Comcast launches 305 Mbps Xfinity Platinum Internet tier, doubles speed of 'Blast!' and 'Extreme' packages
Verizon to double speed of premium FiOS Internet tiers
Ericsson to acquire Technicolor for $25M Read more about: Comcast
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3. Time Warner Cable to sell Clearwire stake
Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) plans to sell its 7.8 percent stake in Clearwire (Nasdaq: CLWR), as it focuses on using its partnership with Verizon Wireless to offer subscribers mobile products rather than resell access to Clearwire's WiMAX network. "It seems like an opportune time to start to sell the shares in light of the company's arrangements with Verizon Wireless," Time Warner Cable spokesman Justin Venech told Bloomberg on Monday. The nation's second largest cable MSO stopped marketing the InelliGo mobile hotspot device that offered access to Clearwire's network soon after it signed spectrum and joint marketing deals with Verizon last December. Clearwire stock dropped about 5 percent to $1.54 on Monday. Time Warner Cable has lost about nearly $500 million on its investment in Clearwire. It spent $550 million on Clearwire stock in 2008, and those shares were valued at $71.5 million after the stock market closed on Monday. Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) and Bright House Networks also own stakes in Clearwire, but those MSOs are expected to sell their shares. There has also been speculation that DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) could invest in Clearwire. Time Warner Cable disclosed its plans to sell the Clearwire stock in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday. For more:
- Bloomberg has this story
- see the SEC filing Commentary: 4G hotspot devices disappear from Time Warner Cable exhibit at New York State Fair Related articles:
EarthLink, Clearwire team on 4G LTE broadband play
Will DirecTV team up with Clearwire? Read more about: WiMAX, Comcast
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4. FCC lifts restrictions on cable/CLEC mergers, acquisitions
The Federal Communications Commission on Monday paved the way for cable operators to purchase CLECs to expand their business service footprints by granting forbearance from Section 652(b) of the Communications Act. By granting limited forbearance from Section 652(b) of the Communications Act, the FCC said it would "harmonize the rules that apply to transactions between competitive LECs and cable operators regardless of which entity acquires the other." Section 652(b) prevented a cable operator from acquiring more than a 10 percent stake in local exchange carriers that provide service in their franchised areas unless all impacted local franchising authorities agree to a waiver of the provision. Since section 652(a) only applies to acquisitions by LECs that were providing telephone exchange service as of January 1, 1993, the FCC said that the "definition effectively excludes acquisitions by most or all competitive LECs, as they were not providing such service by that date." In its order, the FCC said that "mergers between cable operators and competitive LECs, both of which usually are non-dominant providers of telecommunications services, potentially serve many pro-competitive goals and appear consistent with the purpose and history of section 652. Streamlining the regulatory approval process for such transactions--without eliminating the important safeguards of the Commission's review of such mergers--can enhance facilities-based competition and spur technological innovation and investment that will benefit consumers." Rumors of the FCC ruling to grant forbearance on 652(a) emerged last week in a Stifel Nicolaus report indicating that the FCC would approve the NCTA's request for forbearance request from Section 652. However, individual states and the FCC would still state regulators would examine deals to see if they are in the public interest. This ruling follows a petition that the National Telecommunications & Cable Association (NTCA) made last August with the FCC that said CLECs and cable operators should not be subject to the Telecom Act's cross-ownership prohibitions. The Broadband Coalition, a competitive telecom industry group, hailed the FCC ruling. "Everyone wins when there is more competition in the marketplace," said Chip Pickering, a former U.S. Congressman and spokesman for The Broadband Coalition, in a statement. "This decision today strengthens the position of broadband providers to compete with ILEC services. When competition thrives in the broadband marketplace, innovations occur benefiting businesses of all sizes. This is true for new innovations such as cloud technology." While cable operators haven't been as aggressive on the M&A side as some of the traditional ILECs, Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) have made a few notable deals in recent years to enhance their business services presence. Comcast, while still a relative newcomer in the business services arena, enhanced its ability to target larger businesses by purchasing both acquiring both Cimco and NGT Telecom. Coupled with their own aggressive build out of fiber facilities and Ethernet, the Cimco acquisition immediately gave it an entree into the medium-sized business market, while NGT Telecom acquisition gave it enhanced VoIP services. No less compelling was Time Warner Cable's acquisition of NaviSite, a provider of enterprise-class hosting, managed application, messaging and cloud services. Cable operators may lack the pull of a large telco, but one of the things they do have is an aggressive spirit and a lack of legacy services that, for example, telcos must cannibalize when they earn a new Ethernet customer.
For more:
- see the FCC document
- here's the Broadband Coalition release On the Hot Seat: Powell: Cable is on cusp of innovation that will revolutionize the industry Related articles:
Report: FCC to relax rules for cable-CLEC M&A
Cable industry wants more freedom to buy CLECs
Comcast wraps acquisition of Cimco
Comcast's Bill Stemper leads journey into the enterprise market Read more about: Broadband Cable, FCC
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5. SCTE appoints Time Warner Cable, CableLabs, CommScope, Comcast execs to board
The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers named its board of directors for the 2012-2014 term, which includes executives from Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), CableLabs and CommsScope. SCTE said Monday that Time Warner Cable EVP and CTO Mike LaJoie, who is a current board member, was reappointed as a director. The board includes four news appointees: CableLabs CTO Ralph Brown, Time Warner Cable group VP and chief learning officer Pat Crull, CommScope SVP of global broadband sales Jim Hughes and Comcast SVP and chief learning officer Martha Soehren. In addition to the five directors appointed by SCTE, the group named eight regional directors that were elected for one-year terms. Those directors are Midcontinent Communications lead engineer David Haigh, Mediacom Communications director of area operations Tommy Hill, Armstrong Cable Services senior engineer Roger Hughes, Buckeye Cablevision EVP and CTO Joe Jensen, Suddenlink VP of technical operations Bob Legg, Comcast Cable VP of engineering and operations Ed Marchetti, Charter manager of network operations Nick Segura and Times Fiber Communications / Amphenol Midwestern sales account manager Rick Sullivan. For more:
- see the release Related articles:
Segway inventor Dean Kamen to speak at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo opener
SCTE to spotlight small MSOs Armstrong, BendBroadband, Buckeye, Massillon
Time Warner Cable extends contract for CTO LaJoie Read more about: SCTE
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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... How ubiquitous is TV Everywhere?  In today's spotlight, FierceIPTV editor Jim Barthold talks about the change of perspective about TV Everywhere he experienced following the crash of his desktop PC and his search for a no-frills work machine in a multiscreen-mad world. How consumers use computers, tablets and smartphones for work and entertainment has changed, as recent surveys show. Read more.
Cable industry news from across the web: > Fujitsu said that Bright House Networks will deploy its Flashwave 9500 Packet Optical Networking Platform to deliver 100G performance to business and residential customers in five states. News release > San Francisco-based video search engine provider blinkx kicked off an open beta test on the next generation of its flagship product. News release > UXP Systems said it will tout its Multiscreen Interaction Platform (MINT) version 2.5 at the SCTE Cabe-Tec Expo next month in Atlanta. News release And finally …Canadian MSO Cogeco Cable said it restructured its marketing operations, promoting Anne Isabelle Roussy to senior director of customer marketing and e-business and Marie-Claude Caron to director of acquisition and customer base marketing. 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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