If no news is good news, then the winter holidays were mostly kind to the industry. A look at some highlights: AOL Time Warner applied to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for approval of Web One Inc. as a non-affiliated ISP, FTC says. FTC will take comments on the issue, as well as an application […]
News we could have used from the holidays …(2)
Riding a new wave
Unfortunately for those who ventured to Anaheim, Calif. last December, the 2001 Western Show was probably more newsworthy for what wasn’t said than what was uttered by the 17,000 attendees. The dearth of bodies roaming the floor (official attendance figures showed a 48 percent drop-off from last year) contributed to the lack of blockbuster news […]
BSPA forms to focus on open access … at first(2)
Together, they say, they’d be one of the county’s top 10 cable operators. Thirteen broadband network providers pooled their $5 billion, 29,000 miles of fiber and 1 million customer clout, and formed the Broadband Service Providers Association to promote open access. The facilities-based providers are targeting three issues in the competitive broadband industry, a spokesman […]
Building a Market for New Technology
Western Show exhibitors are eager to show operators that they can build a better mousetrap The hosts of the upcoming Western Show 2001 are imploring operators and vendors to "See Change!" at this year's annual West Coast cable confab. But whether or not operators see enough change in network product technologies to start gobbling up vendors' […]
HFC gets three new standards via SCTE’s HMS unit
SCTE’s Hybrid Management Sub-Layer subcommittee adopted three new standards that support interoperable management systems for evolving HFC cable networks. The three standards — HMS 005, Hybrid Fiber/Coax Outside Plant Monitoring-Physical Layer Specification; HMS 004, Hybrid Fiber Coax Outside Plant Monitoring-MAC Layer Specification; and HMS 022, Hybrid Fiber/Coax Outside Plant Monitoring-Power Supply- to-Transponder Interface Specification — […]
Corning cuts 4,000 more jobs, scales back optics
Corning Inc. will scale back production, cut another 4,000 jobs and close its optical fiber plant in Deeside, North Wales. The company plans to expand its restructuring plan, including taking a $1 billion charge in 2001 as a result. Corning will cut an additional 4,000 jobs through layoffs and voluntary early retirement, for a total […]
MFN lands $611 M, moves execs, lowers guidance
Metromedia Fiber Network Inc. completed the $611 million financing package it’s been working on for months. The deal includes a $150 million note purchase led by Citicorp and $230 million in convertible debt financing, of which $180 million is purchased by affiliates and $50 million by an unnamed Verizon Communications subsidiary. It also includes $231 […]
Editor’s Note: The DEADLINE APPROACHES
Know anyone doing anything innovative with fiber optics? How about high-speed data? Now you can recognize that someone — but only through today. Log on to the SCTE’s Web site to nominate a colleague, mentor or other. Through Monday, SCTE will accept nominations for the prestigious Polaris Award and Star of Integrity award, which will […]
ASPs Outsourcing Cable’s Future
Occasionally, going it alone in the cable business isn't all it's cracked up to be. Starting large projects from scratch can potentially tax a company's workforce as well as its financial coffers. When it comes to tracking system rebuilds and upgrades, as well as the launch of nascent services such as interactive television, a legion […]
Adelphia/TVN plan content via satellite to fiber
Adelphia Communications Corp. struck a five-year deal with TVN Entertainment Corp. making TVN primary content transport provider and VOD content provider for Adelphia’s systems. As part of the deal, Adelphia will invest an undisclosed amount of equity in TVN. An Adelphia representative would not comment beyond content of a written statement from TVN, and referred […]