Wednesday was big for voice-controlled speaker announcements, with major players Sonos and Google making preholiday season announcements. The latest Sonos and Google products will join a crowded voice-controlled speaker market that includes new Amazon Echos, Harman Kardon’s Cortana-based model and Apple’s HomePod.
The FCC appears likely to act soon on CenturyLink's planned buy of Level 3 now that other agencies signaled willingness to clear the deal subject to conditions, a commission official and an analyst said Tuesday. Another analyst doubted major FCC resistance and called DOJ-required divestitures light. Justice confirmed it would require CenturyLink and Level 3 to divest or effectively divest certain assets under a proposed settlement. Monday, CenturyLink reported the antitrust action and repeated its target of closing the deal this month. DOJ, DOD and the Department of Homeland Security ("Team Telecom") said they wouldn't object to the deal on national security and law enforcement grounds provided the FCC conditions it on CenturyLink compliance with commitments (see 1710020050).
The FCC appears likely to act soon on CenturyLink's planned buy of Level 3 now that other agencies signaled willingness to clear the deal subject to conditions, a commission official and an analyst said Tuesday. Another analyst doubted major FCC resistance and called DOJ-required divestitures light. Justice confirmed it would require CenturyLink and Level 3 to divest or effectively divest certain assets under a proposed settlement. Monday, CenturyLink reported the antitrust action and repeated its target of closing the deal this month. DOJ, DOD and the Department of Homeland Security ("Team Telecom") said they wouldn't object to the deal on national security and law enforcement grounds provided the FCC conditions it on CenturyLink compliance with commitments (see 1710020050).
Noise canceling in the new PX wireless headphones gives Bowers & Wilkins a “seat at the table in the headphone category that we probably should have had before,” Rich Campbell, B&W chief revenue officer, told us at the CEDIA show, before the company’s Tuesday product announcement.
DOJ agreed to clear CenturyLink's planned buy of Level 3 with conditions in a consent decree subject to court review, CenturyLink said Monday. "The consent decree requires the combined company to divest certain Level 3 metro network assets and certain dark fiber assets," said a company release. "The combined company is required to divest Level 3 metro network assets in three metro areas: Albuquerque, N.M.; Boise, Idaho; and Tucson, Ariz. ... The consent decree also provides that the combined company will divest 24 strands of dark fiber connecting 30 specified city-pairs across the country in the form of an Indefeasible Right of Use, a customary structure for such transactions. Because the fibers are not currently in commercial use, this divestiture will not affect any current customers or services." Separately, DOJ and other "Team Telecom" agencies said they wouldn't object to the transaction on national security, law enforcement and public safety grounds, provided that the FCC conditions approval on CenturyLink compliance with a letter of assurances (LOA). "After discussions with representatives of CenturyLink and Level 3 in connection with the [proposed transaction], the Agencies have concluded that the commitments set forth in the 2017 LOA will help ensure that those agencies with responsibility for enforcing the law, protecting the national security, and preserving public safety can proceed appropriately to satisfy those responsibilities," DOJ said in a letter in docket 16-403 Monday that said Justice had the concurrence of the Defense and Homeland Security departments (the LOA was attached). Among CenturyLink commitments: nominate an LOA security officer; establish points of contact for law enforcement; ensure its domestic communications infrastructure and operating personnel can comply with lawful electronic surveillance requests; take all reasonable steps to physically secure that infrastructure and prevent unauthorized access; report any information indicating "unauthorized third-party access to, or disruption or corruption of, a Covered Cable System" or "any material breach" of LOA commitments; and provide certain annual reports. The companies have said they expect the deal to close in mid-to-late October (see 1709120013). The FCC's nonbinding 180-day "shot clock" for review of the transaction remained paused on Day 170. DOJ didn't comment Monday.
DOJ agreed to clear CenturyLink's planned buy of Level 3 with conditions in a consent decree subject to court review, CenturyLink said Monday. "The consent decree requires the combined company to divest certain Level 3 metro network assets and certain dark fiber assets," said a company release. "The combined company is required to divest Level 3 metro network assets in three metro areas: Albuquerque, N.M.; Boise, Idaho; and Tucson, Ariz. ... The consent decree also provides that the combined company will divest 24 strands of dark fiber connecting 30 specified city-pairs across the country in the form of an Indefeasible Right of Use, a customary structure for such transactions. Because the fibers are not currently in commercial use, this divestiture will not affect any current customers or services." Separately, DOJ and other "Team Telecom" agencies said they wouldn't object to the transaction on national security, law enforcement and public safety grounds, provided that the FCC conditions approval on CenturyLink compliance with a letter of assurances (LOA). "After discussions with representatives of CenturyLink and Level 3 in connection with the [proposed transaction], the Agencies have concluded that the commitments set forth in the 2017 LOA will help ensure that those agencies with responsibility for enforcing the law, protecting the national security, and preserving public safety can proceed appropriately to satisfy those responsibilities," DOJ said in a letter in docket 16-403 Monday that said Justice had the concurrence of the Defense and Homeland Security departments (the LOA was attached). Among CenturyLink commitments: nominate an LOA security officer; establish points of contact for law enforcement; ensure its domestic communications infrastructure and operating personnel can comply with lawful electronic surveillance requests; take all reasonable steps to physically secure that infrastructure and prevent unauthorized access; report any information indicating "unauthorized third-party access to, or disruption or corruption of, a Covered Cable System" or "any material breach" of LOA commitments; and provide certain annual reports. The companies have said they expect the deal to close in mid-to-late October (see 1709120013). The FCC's nonbinding 180-day "shot clock" for review of the transaction remained paused on Day 170. DOJ didn't comment Monday.
The World Trade Organization recently posted the following notices:
Experts debated the FTC's case against AT&T Mobility, scheduled for oral argument at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday, by citing arguments each side may make. Morrison & Foerster attorney Joseph Palmore and Davis Wright Tremaine Peter Karanjia squared off Thursday during an FCBA event in a mock court-type argument overseen by Harris Wiltshire's Christopher Wright.
Experts debated the FTC's case against AT&T Mobility, scheduled for oral argument at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday, by citing arguments each side may make. Morrison & Foerster attorney Joseph Palmore and Davis Wright Tremaine Peter Karanjia squared off Thursday during an FCBA event in a mock court-type argument overseen by Harris Wiltshire's Christopher Wright.
SEATTLE -- The wireless industry agreed with local telecom officials that the FCC should update RF safety rules. In Q&A following a Tuesday keynote speech at the NATOA conference, Wireless Infrastructure Association CEO Jonathan Adelstein supported resolving a proceeding that’s been pending since 2013. On the more contentious subject of wireless small cells, Adelstein warned communities not to discourage broadband deployment by asking for too much money from industry to use rights of way (ROWs). Localities should realize that the political winds are with industry, agreed NATOA Executive Director Steve Traylor in a Wednesday interview.