Consultant Marc Finer resigned as senior director and technical guru of the Digital Entertainment Group because he became “increasingly frustrated” with the home entertainment industry’s “approach” to “market segmentation and consumer engagement,” especially in “meeting the expectations and needs of young entertainment enthusiasts,” he emailed DEG members Tuesday. Resigning “will allow me to pursue a new direction that goes beyond the scope of the DEG's mission, while remaining focused on all of my current projects related to 4K UHD and Hi-Res Audio,” said Finer, who will continue to run Communication Research, his Pittsburgh-based consulting firm. The industry “has been slow to embrace” consumer trends, said Finer in a statement Wednesday that shed little additional light on the nature of the frustrations that persuaded him to leave. Amy Jo Smith, DEG's president, said Finer's departure from the group was amicable. She praised Finer's efforts on behalf of DEG and said he played an "instrumental" role in the launch of new industry formats, such as DVD. DEG hopes to work again with Finer on future projects, she said.

ProSource announced a dozen new custom integrator (CI) members and one associate Pro level member. New CI members are Alpha Dog Security, St. Johns, Florida; Apex Audio Video, Austin; Custom Installation & Design Inc., Hurricane, Utah; Elite A/V, Las Vegas; EOC Audio, Wheaton, Illinois; First Priority Audio, Pompano Beach, Florida; HAAS Home Technologies, Austin; Pair Electronics, Greenville, North Carolina; Premium Digital Control & Automation, Hollywood, Florida; Rampart Security Systems, Orlando; Spycom Technology Solutions, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Texas Home Theaters, Spring, Texas. Electronics Express, Nashville, joined ProSource as an associate Pro member.

U.S. and European retailers agreed on a common approach to implement new EU regulations to better protect personal data, two industry groups announced Tuesday. The agreement between member companies of the National Retail Federation and EuroCommerce to implement the general data protection regulation (GDPR), which takes effect in May (see 1512160001 and 1702100030), came during meetings in Brussels. The agreement will help retailers with brick-and-mortar, website and mobile establishments face new compliance standards, more administrative requirements and bigger enforcement penalties for violations. Companies discussed data portability, consumer consent, profiling, data breach issues and the consumers' right to have their data removed under GDPR.

Altice and Disney reached a distribution agreement for Disney content to Altice's Optimum video customers, Altice said Thursday. Under the multiyear deal, Disney content including various ESPN channels would remain accessible to Optimum customers who also would have access to additional multiplatform, digital and expanded on-demand content, Altice said. It said Optimum will add ESPN’s SEC Network in late 2018 and launch ACC Network in August 2019. It said the two would partner on ESPN’s direct-to-consumer product, set to launch early next year.

Amazon’s bid for .amazon won’t be a smooth road, said Daniel Sepulveda, a former deputy assistant secretary of state, in a Council on Foreign Relations blog post. After several years of wrangling at ICANN, Amazon won a favorable ruling in July to move forward. But Brazil, Peru and their allies are again objecting to the .amazon application. “Amazon behaved in accordance with the rules, has a strong interest in acquiring .amazon, and is within its rights to pursue it,” Sepulveda said. Brazil and Peru have strong political and cultural reasons to object to awarding the company .amazon, but the challenge for ICANN leadership is whether this dispute is resolvable without governments feeling disrespected, he said, saying the U.S. “is likely” to support Amazon on procedural grounds but needs "vocal support" from other governments.

Wireless mic makers and users urged the FCC to change rules so smaller users can operate in TV white spaces spectrum. The FCC is looking at whether to expand eligibility for Part 74 licenses to include professional wireless mic users that don't routinely use 50 or more microphones. Microsoft dissented, saying wireless mics already have a lot of spectrum to use and rules don’t need to change to accommodate them. “The Commission has recognized that wireless microphones are vital to a large component of the U.S. economy,” said Sennheiser, one of the main mic makers. “They are essential to the production of virtually all content creation in the U.S., a one trillion dollar industry.” Sennheiser said in docket 14-166 the FCC should be somewhat liberal in rules for qualifying for the licenses. “Any entity that has the wherewithal to prepare, pay for, and file an FCC license application and regulatory fees, with accompanying information to demonstrate eligibility, is most likely a professionally-run organization able to comply with the responsibilities of being a FCC licensee,” the company said. “Absent a rule modification, the focus of many important events remains at risk,” said wireless mic maker Shure. The Performing Arts Wireless Microphone Working Group asked the FCC to change rules so more members qualify for Part 74 licenses. “Audiences pay for and expect high-quality professional audio, free from interference that can ruin the performance experience,” it commented. “Wireless devices are used for intercoms and cue and control devices, often involving the movement of scenery and large set pieces.” Microsoft opposed expanding eligibility for Part 74 licenses. If the FCC opts to do so, “it should at minimum create rules that assume that microphone operators will take advantage of efficient technologies already available in the marketplace, and will not unnecessarily waste spectrum resources,” Microsoft said.

CTA seeks flexible compliance schedules for consumer tech companies not “traditionally” regulated by the FCC but that may have become subject to commission accessibility rules because they're building new video and communications functionality into their products, it told FCC staff in Thursday meetings, said an ex parte notice posted Monday in docket 12-108. Compliance with the rules "should allow for a transition time in proportion with consumer technology product development cycles," CTA said. It backs “narrow waivers” the Media Bureau granted recently to Honda and Fiat Chrysler on user interface requirements for rear entertainment systems (see 1709050065), but automotive product development cycles are “much longer” than those of “traditionally regulated" consumer tech products like TVs and smartphones. The association “supports further appropriate flexibility in particularized situations, as automakers and their suppliers address in good faith the FCC’s accessibility rules.”

Charter Communications will break ground early next year on a new headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, it said Tuesday. The 500,000-square-foot, 15-story building will be ready for occupancy in 2019, it said. Charter said it contracted with Connecticut developer Building and Land Technology for construction, with an option to expand the site into a two-building campus. Charter moved headquarters from St. Louis to Stamford in 2012 (see 1210040052). It said it's receiving $10 million in loans and $10 million in tax credits from the state in return for a pledge to add 1,100 headquarters jobs.

​CTA is “shocked and saddened” by the mass shootings in Las Vegas that killed at least 58 and injured more than 500, said President Gary Shapiro in a Monday statement. As host city to CES, Las Vegas “is like a second home to the entire CES family,” Shapiro said. “We, like so many across the nation, are waiting to hear that our family and friends are safe. Our hearts and prayers are with the entire Las Vegas community." FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and commissioners also tweeted messages of grief and support Monday. “Shocked & deeply saddened by the terrible news out of #LasVegas,” tweeted Pai. “My thoughts & prayers are with the families & friends of those affected.”

The Independent Professional Representatives Organization (IPRO) is being integrated into CEDIA under the CEDIA IPRO affinity group, said the organizations Tuesday. The integration will add “needed resources and create long-term value and stability for members,” said IPRO President Bill Zidek. CEDIA’s infrastructure will benefit IPRO in marketing, events and member services, he said. Ray Wright, IPRO executive director, will head operations for CEDIA IPRO, and an advisory council will be appointed to coordinate the group’s activities. Citing “significant overlap” in membership, the groups said members of both will be transitioned into CEDIA IPRO at no charge, and IPRO members who aren't CEDIA members will be encouraged to join. CEDIA IPRO will hold an annual conference in conjunction with a CEDIA-hosted event, but a date hasn’t been set for the 2018 conference.