* Comcast partners with Urban League
By Brian Santo
The National Urban League (NUL) is partnering with Comcast to help get its message out. Comcast EVP David L. Cohen will join NUL’s board of directors, and the company will help develop and air public service announcements (PSAs) for the organization. During NUL’s annual Equal Opportunity Awards Dinner, Comcast will also be inducted into the Urban League’s Five Million Dollar Hall of Fame.
“Comcast looks forward to creating opportunities that will foster their growth and leading efforts that will improve the overall quality of life for African Americans across the country,” Cohen said.
* Chalker to work with Concurrent
By Mike Robuck
Concurrent announced that Robert Chalker will assist in executing the company’s European sales strategy, including cultivating and managing relationships with customers and channel partners. Chalker, who has more than 15 years of experience in international sales, previously served as on-demand business manager for Tandberg Television.
* TiVo hires ad execs, opens Chicago sales office
By Traci Patterson
TiVo is opening up a Chicago sales office, and the company has named Jeff Stettin as VP of national ad sales and Dennis Dunphy as director of Midwest ad sales.
Stettin was most recently the VP of integrated solutions at Viacom, and he has also held positions with Turner Broadcasting Systems and Scripps Networks. Dunphy was previously the VP of central regional sales at Telemundo for NBC Universal, and he has also held positions with Discovery Communications and Sony Pictures Television.
* AT&T ups U-verse services in Bay Area
By Traci Patterson
AT&T’s U-verse customers in the Bay Area now have access to new TV features: AT&T U-bar, which brings customizable weather, stock, sports and traffic information to the TV screen; Yellowpages.com TV, a new way to search for local businesses and other information on the TV; and AT&T Yahoo! Games, also available on the TV screen.
* Anritsu launches micro-OTDR for FTTx, optical networks
By Traci Patterson
Anritsu Co. has introduced the Network Master MT9090A Fault Locator Series, a micro-OTDR for the installation and maintenance of FTTx and short-range optical networks.
The MT9090A series combines the size of traditional handheld OTDRs and fault locators with the resolution and performance of mini-OTDRs to create a compact optical test instrument that addresses the specific test requirements of short fiber premise applications, such as FTTx drop cables, intra-building riser cables and cell towers, the company said.