Vizio began shipping its latest SmartCast line of soundbars with Google Cast. The nine-model lineup ranges from $179 for the leader 38-inch model to $499 for 44- and 45-inch 5.1-channel surround-sound units with subwoofers. Users can stream millions of songs from the Google Cast-enabled audio app to the soundbar over Wi-Fi, said the company. With Vizio’s app, consumers can search and discover content across apps and control play, pause and volume functions, said the company.
Vizio began shipping its latest SmartCast line of soundbars with Google Cast. The nine-model lineup ranges from $179 for the leader 38-inch model to $499 for 44- and 45-inch 5.1-channel surround-sound units with subwoofers. Users can stream millions of songs from the Google Cast-enabled audio app to the soundbar over Wi-Fi, said the company. With Vizio’s app, consumers can search and discover content across apps and control play, pause and volume functions, said the company.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler laid out another defense for his set-top box rulemaking before lawmakers, this time in response to critics. The letter’s Friday release follows a Thursday news conference of Capitol Hill Democratic defenders (see 1606090066). Some saw it as inappropriately attacking NPRM critic Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., who has led Democrats in opposition.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler laid out another defense for his set-top box rulemaking before lawmakers, this time in response to critics. The letter’s Friday release follows a Thursday news conference of Capitol Hill Democratic defenders (see 1606090066). Some saw it as inappropriately attacking NPRM critic Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., who has led Democrats in opposition.
The House FY 2017 FCC funding bill retained its policy riders curbing the agency’s net neutrality order, mandating a pause to the set-top proceeding and mandating FCC process overhaul Thursday as it advanced to the floor. Appropriations Committee Republicans shot down Democrats' attempts to modify the Financial Services bill during the long full committee markup, approving the bill 30-17.
A group of Capitol Hill Democrats defended the FCC set-top box rulemaking Thursday during a news conference featuring multiple officials affiliated with the Consumer Video Choice Coalition. Opponents of the NPRM, including the Future of TV Coalition, have been outspoken in recent weeks, with Democrats and Republicans outlining concerns and calling for pause.
A group of Capitol Hill Democrats defended the FCC set-top box rulemaking Thursday during a news conference featuring multiple officials affiliated with the Consumer Video Choice Coalition. Opponents of the NPRM, including the Future of TV Coalition, have been outspoken in recent weeks, with Democrats and Republicans outlining concerns and calling for pause.
The House FY 2017 FCC funding bill retained its policy riders curbing the agency’s net neutrality order, mandating a pause to the set-top proceeding and mandating FCC process overhaul Thursday as it advanced to the floor. Appropriations Committee Republicans shot down Democrats' attempts to modify the Financial Services bill during the long full committee markup, approving the bill 30-17.
Sprint’s stock price is on the rebound, but there are plenty of reasons for investors to have doubts, said Craig Moffett, analyst at MoffettNathanson, Wednesday in a blog post. “Obviously, no company can borrow its way out of debt. But Sprint has successfully pulled off a series of clever financial engineering maneuvers that have provided additional liquidity, and at a generally lower cost of borrowing than that of Sprint’s existing debt,” Moffett wrote. But Moffett questioned some of the numbers, particularly recent write-downs based on property, plant and equipment (PP&E). In a recent 10-K filing, Sprint revealed an “astonishing” $256 million write-down on leased devices, “part of a huge $487 [million] loss on disposals of PP&E in Fiscal 2015, which accelerated throughout the fiscal year,” he said. The leasing loss number “gives one pause,” he said. At a $650 average value per leased handset, that translates to 393,000 customers “simply walking off with a Sprint handset at lease inception, without ever making a single payment.” Sprint closed at $3.82 Wednesday, down 9 cents for the day.
Some Capitol Hill Democrats may not resist a GOP House appropriations rider that would slow the FCC’s set-top box proceeding. House Republicans hitched the rider to the FY 2017 FCC funding bill unveiled last week. Some Democrats in both chambers oppose the language, but many also question the NPRM. Bipartisan and bicameral backing is widely seen as crucial for ensuring riders’ inclusion in any broader FY 2017 government funding package later this year.