• Verizon launches FiOS TV for Business
By Traci Patterson
Small- and medium-size businesses can now get FiOS TV for Business, which starts at $12.99 per month. The service is also offered as part of a bundle that includes high-speed FiOS Internet and voice services for $99.99 per month. The TV package includes local network affiliate broadcasters, PBS, and public education and government (PEG) programming; local affiliate and PBS stations are broadcast in standard and high-definition (HD).
Meanwhile, residents of Aberdeen, Md., will soon have access to Verizon’s FiOS services. In Maryland, Verizon currently offers FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services to dozens of communities in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, as well as in parts of Bel Air. The company plans to begin offering FiOS Internet and FiOS TV in Aberdeen and other areas of Harford County in April.
And consumers and businesses in Claypool Hill and Oakwood, Va., now have access to Verizon’s high-speed Internet service
• Dish tunes in more national HD channels
By Mike Robuck
Yesterday, Dish Network launched the high-definition (HD) feeds of Showtime Showcase HD, SHO2 HD, The Movie Channel HD and BET J, expanding its national HD count up to 128 channels. Dish also said that it will add BET, Comedy Central, CMT, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike TV and VH-1 in HD this spring.
“We are excited to add new national HD channels to our growing programming lineup,” said Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming for Dish Network.
Dish said Showtime Showcase HD, SHO2 HD and The Movie Channel HD were located in the Showtime Unlimited package, which is available for $12.99 per month. BET J is part of PlatinumHD, which can be added to any programming package for $10 per month. Existing Dish Network subscribers who upgrade to HD programming will receive PlatinumHD free for the first three months.
• Draka intros ‘bend-insensitive’ optical fiber
By Brian Santo
Draka Communications Americas said that its “bend-insensitive” optical fiber is now available throughout its complete family of outside plant fiber cables.
Draka is now offering all three of its bend-insensitive fibers in all outside plant cables, including loose tube, central tube, ribbon and drop cable, as well as all flame-rated cables for use in indoor applications.
Draka director of marketing Greg Williams said, “Cables using BendBright-XS can be handled much like copper, enabling them to be bent around tight corners, and even stapled to studs with virtually no signal loss. This generates considerable time and cost savings for our customers.”
• Judge denies Nacchio’s request to remain free
By The Associated Press
DENVER (AP) – A federal judge has denied a request from former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio to remain free until the U.S. Supreme Court can review his challenge of his insider-trading conviction.
U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger said Thursday that the request was premature because Nacchio hasn’t asked the Supreme Court for a review, though his attorney plans to do so. A federal appeals court also denied a request for Nacchio to remain free.
Nacchio has been ordered to report to prison by noon on March 23 to begin a six-year sentence. His motion asking for a postponement of that date is still pending.
