The FCC named the Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis the "independent measurement expert" responsible for establishing a schedule and methodology for AT&T to report on its performance in exchanging traffic at U.S. Internet interconnection points -- one of the commission's conditions for approving the telco's takeover of DirecTV (see 1507240055 and 1507280043). The center, a research group at the University of California-San Diego, is to work with AT&T to develop metrics on latency, packet losses and interconnection point utilization to help regulators monitor its interconnection performance through regular reports. AT&T and the FCC Office of General Counsel agreed on the choice of the center, an agency public notice said Thursday in docket 14-90.

Rentrak and comScore are combining, with Rentrak becoming a subsidiary of comScore, the companies said in a news release Tuesday. Rentrak shareholders are expected to own nearly 34 percent of the combined company, while comScore shareholders will own close to 66 percent. Serge Matta, comScore CEO, will lead the combined company and Bill Livek, Rentrak CEO, will be president. The deal will enable the company to "introduce a more comprehensive and precise set of solutions for measuring media consumption and advertising across platforms," said the companies. The transaction is expected to be completed early in 2016 upon regulatory and shareholder approval, said the release.

The FTC won't block an agreement between Sprint and Shentel, under which affiliate Shentel will acquire Sprint wholesale partner nTelos Wireless, the commission indicated. The deal was unveiled in August (see 1508100063). Industry officials said at the time they also expected the deal to get the FCC’s nod (see 1508110067). Edinburg, Virginia-based Shentel is also known as Shenandoah Telephone Co.

NAB Labs partnered with Washington-based startup incubator 1776, said the association in a news release Tuesday. Under the terms of the partnership, NAB Labs will “engage with early-stage startup companies pursuing innovations in areas important to local communities and media companies,” it said. NAB will hold office hours at the 1776 Campus and host events, it said. NAB said other 1776 partners include AT&T, CEA, Comcast, Georgetown University, Microsoft and Wilkinson Barker.

Amazon Web Services agreed to buy multiscreen content delivery software provider Elemental Technologies, AWS said in a news release Friday. Elemental has more than 700 media franchise customers using its over-the-top video software, including CNN Go, ESPN ScoreCenter and HBO Go, said AWS. The transaction is expected to close in Q4, AWS said, and allows Elemental to continue to operate under its existing brand.

Voxx completed its buy of biometrics company EyeLock for about $20.2 million, it said Wednesday. Voxx said last month (see 1508190039) that it was creating an “acquiring entity” to buy a majority of EyeLock, which holds more than 70 patents and pending patents in iris authentication. Voxx CEO Pat Lavelle said the acquisition holds great potential for Voxx because "biometrics increasingly has become a desired authentication mechanism for the Internet of Things, and for increased access management and security measures.” Lavelle called EyeLock the “fastest and most secure iris-authentication technology in the market,” pegging overall category revenue forecasts at $20 billion in the next five years. Lavelle said he will work with EyeLock CEO Jim Demitrieus and his team to leverage combined resources and expand reach with existing and new distribution partners, enterprises and government agencies. Before the transaction, Voxx was the exclusive distribution partner of EyeLock’s myris devices to retailers in North America and throughout Europe, and Voxx will now play a larger role in distribution and sales, it said.

Content services provider Vubiquity acquired over-the-top encoding and digital delivery service Juice Worldwide, the buyer said in a news release Monday. The acquisition boosts Vubiquity's network of content providers, which includes Amazon, iTunes and Netflix, it said.

Cisco said it completed the purchase of cybersecurity firm OpenDNS. The $635 million deal, announced in late June (see 1506300068), “will advance Cisco's Security Everywhere approach by adding broad visibility, enforcement, and threat intelligence from the OpenDNS cloud-delivered platform,” Cisco said Thursday. The company began integrating OpenDNS’ platforms Thursday via an application programming interface that will allow customers of both companies’ services to immediately benefit from both the OpenDNS Umbrella service and Cisco’s AMP Threat Grid. “By integrating the OpenDNS platform with Cisco's security solutions, customers will receive greater network visibility and threat intelligence for cloud delivered protection against malicious websites and threats,” David Goeckeler, Cisco general manager-Security Business Group, said in a news release. OpenDNS CEO David Ulevitch is now Cisco Security Business Group vice president, Cisco said.

Cogeco Cable's Atlantic Broadband subsidiary completed its $200 million takeover of MetroCast Communications of Connecticut, it said in a Thursday news release. The deal was announced in June (see 1506080049). Cogeco Cable CEO Louis Audet said that nearly three years after first entering the U.S. market, the Montreal-based company sees the MetroCast acquisition as marking a "continuing ... expansion into key growth markets" and will add to growth expected to come from the launch of such services as Metro Ethernet for businesses and TiVo.

Voxx International will create an “acquiring entity” to buy a majority stake in EyeLock, an iris authentication technology supplier, Voxx said in a Wednesday announcement. EyeLock has developed “a portfolio of biometric solutions based on iris authentication with more than 70 patents and patents pending,” Voxx said. Its technology “provides an unprecedented level of convenience and security with biometric accuracy, making it the most proven way to authenticate one's identity aside from DNA,” it said. EyeLock’s “advances” in iris authentication have made it possible to use “this highly secure technology” across “a broad array” of consumer and business-to-business IoT applications, “without compromising accuracy or ease-of-use,” Voxx said. Terms weren’t disclosed.