June 2004

6/24/04
AT&T won't take new customers in 7 States. Company cites "...Bush administration's decision not to appeal a court ruling striking down rules designed to promote competition in the telecommunications industry."

Qwest No. 1 in fines by FCC.

AT&T reduces 2004 revenue forecast.

Verizon launches national transparent LAN service.

Verizon upgrades call-switching equipment in Philadelphia.

FCC chairman sides with Nextel on disputed airwaves.

Qwest to launch VoIP service.

6/23/04
USA Today: "Sprint and Cingular Wireless unveiled plans Tuesday to speed rollouts of broadband services for mobile phones and laptops. They're moving to close the gap with high-speed front-runner Verizon Wireless."

Los Angeles Times: "SBC Communications Inc. plans to invest up to $6 billion in new technologies to compete with the cable companies and Internet services threatening its traditional local calling business."

In NY, Verizon raises rate for its DSL service.

Phone fray attracts cable industry.

Cingular, Sprint PCS, Verizon in cellular data arms race.

Verizon, SBC on different tracks to residential fiber.

The barrier to widespread VoIP adoption used to be cost, but now it seems that lower prices are not enough to draw customers en masse -- more nifty applications will be needed, says a panel at the ongoing Supercomm 2003 conference.

6/22/04
The Consumer Federation of America weighs in with statement on UNEs.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation looks at ways to reform the FCC.

Presidential candidates (and contributors) weigh in on Internet regulation, taxes, and access issues.

The Street.Com looks at Verizon's deal with Sterling Telecom.

The Yankee Group Corporate Wireless Survey reveals enterprise decision-makers prefer carriers as their primary vendors of wireless data solutions.

Cisco announces a wireless broadband network solution for public sector agencies to use in metropolitan environments.

Newsday: “In a new push to bundle its cable TV, high-speed Internet and telephone service, Cablevision Systems Corp. is starting to sharply discount the three as a package for less than $90 a month combined.”

6/21/04
Verizon entering into commercial agreement with A wholesale customer.

Phone fray attracts cable industry.

The Arizona Republic looks at competition for faster, cheaper Internet service. "Broadband vs. dial-up battle heats up," the paper reports.

Cable providers resist move to give consumers choice of channels.

Cisco cashes in on VOIP.

The FCC schedules an auction of 234 radio-airwave licenses that were returned from NextWave Telecom Inc. and other companies and can be used for mobile telephone services.

6/18/04
Debate over Kutztown Borough's "high-tech gamble" continues. The Inquirer reports that, "Kutztown's mayor, Gennaro Marino ... says the municipally owned cable and Internet company, called Hometown Utilicom, is hemorrhaging money, with profits nowhere in sight and with taxpayers subsidizing the system for too few paying customers."

BusinessWeek.com takes a hard look at the Bush administration's decision not to intervene in battle over phone regulations: "Some think the Bells have won a major battle in Washington but ultimately face a much tougher war against a new crop of rivals trying to sell cheap phone service via the Internet and other technologies."

NY Times looks at congressional inquiry into waste and fraud in the federal program that helps poor schools connect to the Internet.

The Detroit News: "The federal government should stop forcing local telephone companies to subsidize their competitors in the name of competition."

UPI report: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is poised to announce a multi-billion dollar auction of 2,400 megahertz of wireless spectrum in January.

TechWeb: "Internet-based telecommunications is growing in popularity, but voice over Internet protocol phones are not expected to surpass traditional systems in the enterprise until 2009, a market research firm said Thursday."

6/17/04
NY Times: Waste and fraud besiege U.S. program to link poor schools to Internet.

In Philadelphia, Mayor Street introduces Internet Hot Zone.=

OP-ED: "Californians have telecom choices."

LA Times: White House urges FCC to keep rein on wholesale phone rates.

CNET: "The suspension this week of rules regarding local phone competition could play havoc with fast-growing broadband services, experts said, bolstering the position of the Bells at the expense of smaller players and of consumers."

Justice Dept. worries about Internet calls.

VOIP legislation runs into opposition.

New report: "WiMax starting to make its move Emerging standards-based technologies could unify the fragmented broadband industry, bring down prices."

AT&T cuts price on VOIP service.

Christian Science Monitor: "Fraud charges cloud plan for 'wired' classrooms."

6/16/04
AT&T slashes Net-phoning prices.

AT&T seen exiting some local phone markets.

Customers of BellSouth rivals face uncertainty.

"A struggling telecom industry is poised to rebound now that misguided government regulations are out of the way, a top BellSouth executive said Tuesday," report says.

New report looks at pitfalls of deploying VOIP.

Time Warner Cable offers VOIP service.

Hewlett to sell Wi-Fi technology.

6/15/04
AP: High court lets phone rules expire.

Verizon Communications Inc. is investing $7.1 million in two call-switching centers in Center City Philadelphia, reports The Philadelphia Business Journal.

LA Times: Bell rivals dealt blow on FCC rules.

Senate to debate Net phone regulations.

Reuters: AT&T may exit local service.

AT&T launching VOIP in Sarasota-Bradenton market.

Clearwire to commence broadband wireless Internet.

6/14/04
The Inquirer: "Phone companies, including AT&T Corp. and MCI Inc., are hoping that in Pennsylvania the General Assembly can shield them - and the rates they charge customers - from a recent spate of unfavorable federal decisions."

E-Commerce Times: "Finally, a Free Market for Telecom."

BusinessWeek looks at competition challenges: "The big carriers may have to abandon the consumer market if new rules make their leasing of networks from the Baby Bells too costly."

FCC Chairman Powell weights in on phone rates.

SBC makes in-roads against Comcast in broadband market.

6/11/04
In NY: "The municipal utility and Solvay officials are considering a proposal to provide the 6,845 Solvay residents high-speed Web access through their electrical outlets," says Newsday.com.

Forbes: Verizon Wireless: Get It Now downloads hit 70 million

Verizon, Nextel continue 800 MHz feud.

Network Digest: "VoIP will explode into widespread deployment across North America this year, changing the way telephone calls are made and received more radically than any technology that's been put into place in the last 100 years."

6/10/04
Bush administration decides not to challenge court ruling on fees Bells can charge competitors.

The Boston Globe looks at reaction to Bush administration decision not to challenge court on access fees. Impact on AT&T and MCI a focus.

Forbes: "The first time you sign on to the Internet via a Wi-Fi hot spot from outside your home or office, you'll suddenly feel just a bit freer." Hot spots are hot.

Verizon Wireless, Nextel Communications "Continue to Grapple With Public Safety Interference Issue" reports The Post.

Survey shows that "Large segments of the communications industry, perhaps a silent majority, quietly, steadfastly oppose Supreme Court intervention," new report contends.

U.S. broadband access leaped 42 percent in 2003.

Reuters: AT&T bonds weak after telecoms ruling not appealed.

SBC Illinois can raise rates to rivals, state panel says.

6/9/04
The Post-Gazette: "Philadelphia roiled by plan for Comcast tax breaks."

The Miami Herald reports: "The thrill of rapidly surfing the Internet continues to lure consumers and small businesses, as the number of high-speed Internet lines installed last year jumped 42 percent to 28.2 million."

FCC report on broadband: "Cable-based services continued to be the most popular form of broadband service, the FCC found, accounting for 16.4 million lines."

Nuvio Corporation files comments with FCC supporting "minimal regulation" of VOIP.

AT&T to test international VOIP service.

FCC: Broadband Internet use up 42% in 2003.

In Illinois, regulators set to issue ruling on how much SBC Communications can charge rivals to use its network.

BellSouth introduces new VOIP service for businesses.

6/8/04
AT&T is expanding its Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services offerings to both Atlanta and Chicago.

TechWeb: "The telecommunications industry's hottest topic--access fees--is likely headed for the U.S. Supreme Court, in the wake of a denial by a Federal Appeals Court to permit existing regulations for the fees to remain in force."

BusinessWeek: "Verizon makes the leap to VOIP."

A new report called "The Year of Industry Shakeout" looks at sweeping changes, including regulatory developments, sinking margins and increased competition.

Verizon Wireless has reached the 40-million subscriber mark.

Report suggests that the "... broadband wireless industry has become a new front in the drive toward ubiquitous broadband access."

VOIP provider takes on telecom goliaths.

AP: NW Pa. needs enhanced broadband service.

Primus Telecommunications Group is offering a $20 monthly VOIP plan with unlimited local and long-distance calling in North America and Western Europe.

6/7/04
The Morning Call looks at cable lawsuit in Hazleton over awarding of a contract for a fiber-optic system for high-speed Internet, premium television and phone service. "Experts say cable operators have enjoyed more of a monopoly than telephone companies," the article contends.

AP reports: Telephone industry all tangled up. Eight-year dispute over rates, territories may head for high court.

The NY Times looks at "... explosion of Internet access points, or Wi-Fi hot spots." Yankee Group says as many as 15,000 hot spots are in operation in public locations.

Verizon lauds appeals court ruling on on local access and pricing.

Los Angeles Times: "The finer points of technology policy are rarely voiced in presidential stump speeches, but fears of rising phone bills may soon join concerns over higher gasoline and dairy prices as a hot election issue."

Report looks at success and/or failure of municipal-owned telecoms. Kutztown Borough is cited. "Across the country, city-owned telecommunications services - the market that Lafayette Utilities System is already in - have experienced widely different outcomes," the report says.

6/4/04
AT&T to sell residential Internet phone service in Chicago.

Internetweek.com: "The already inexpensive Internet telephone service is about to get a little more inexpensive, with the announcement that Vonage is cutting the price of its starter kit to $30 at retail stores."

Reuters: AT&T Wireless eyes high-speed Internet in summer.

Washington Times OP-ED: "The administration now confronts a telecommunications crossroad and time is running out."

NY Times edit board takes a look at FCC, competition issues.

Verizon Wireless "scoops" up some spectrum.

LecStar Telecom to test broadband service and VOIP over power lines.

Record number of companies will demonstrate VOIP interoperability, services at trade show.

Michael J. Mahoney, president and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, to address CIBC World Markets and Wachovia Securities Conferences.

"The Bush administration is being forced to take sides in one of the longest-running and most consumer-sensitive feuds in corporate America, between long-distance telephone companies such as AT&T and MCI and regional phone giants, including Verizon, BellSouth and SBC Communications," reports The Washington Post.

6/3/04
Verizon to increase outgoing speed of its residential and small-business DSL service to "... a rate that is 50 percent faster than competing cable-modem service offered by Comcast," reports The Patriot-News.

In DC, regulators tackle wireless broadband issues.

Ten percent of all broadband subscribers will use broadband VOIP by 2008.

AT&T adds weapon against denial of service attacks.

Reuters: "U.S. mobile phone industry pioneer Craig McCaw says he is poised to launch a wireless broadband Internet service in the United States and several other countries."

USA Today: "Executives see swell of Net offerings on horizon." VOIP highlighted.

A Washington Post columnist goes online to discuss the "two faces of Verizon."

"Verizon, whose DSL business is not yet profitable, is slashing the price it charges for DSL service business by a third," reports The Washington Business Journal.

Prices continue to drop for consumers: "Vonage, the leading broadband telephony provider, today announced its Suggested Retail Price (SRP) at Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's and RadioShack is now $79.99," reports TMC.net.

In Florida, Verizon's strategy for pay-TV called "fuzzy."

Communications Workers of America has petitioned the FCC to treat VOIP as a telecommunications service.

6/2/04
The "Voice on the Net Coalition" urges FCC to keep hands off VOIP.

In Florida, Verizon is considering launching pay-TV service.

The Morning Call: "AT&T's new CallVantage service for making unlimited phone calls through the Internet is nothing less than a breakthrough."

Study: Dipping costs to fuel corporate VoIP growth.

VOIP "spells bundle of issues for cable giants."

BoardWatch looks at booming VOIP market with focus on broadband.

Washington Post: "Verizon Needs To Duke It Out In the Market."

Global Crossing makes case for VOIP reform.

VOIP hits Alaska. "Voice over IP may spur the end of phone lines," report suggests.

6/1/04
"Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell is increasing the pressure on regional telephone giants and their rivals to reach new network leasing agreements in hopes of avoiding sudden price increases for millions of people," reports The Washington Post.

The NY Times profiles AT&T CEO Dorman as company's struggles continue.

Qwest, MCI reach network-access accord. "Long-distance carrier MCI yesterday struck a deal to lease access to Qwest Communications International's local phone network, the first major agreement since a U.S. appeals court threw out government access rules," reports the AP.

The LA Times looks at politics of telephone rates. "Businesses and groups weigh whether to widen a fight over the nation's phone network and run election-year ads," the paper reports.

The Morning Call: Verizon offering DSL service as stand-alone product to some.

AT&T Wireless sued in California over network.

Wireless boom boosts Verizon.

Cable industry feeling pressure to provide channels "a la carte."

Global Crossing seeks VOIP reform.

The Chicago Sun-Times provides an advance look at major telecommunications trade show.

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