Marguerite Reardon

The broadband adoption dilemma

CHICAGO–Internet service providers have built it, but many still have not come. That’s one of the biggest problems the U.S. policy makers and service providers face in their effort to bring broadband access to every American, according to several panelists speaking Wednesday at the Supercomm 2009 trade show here. Panelists highlighted the low adoption rate …

Read More »

Verizon CEO slams Net neutrality

Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg, speaking at the Supercomm 2009 show, says his company is concerned about the FCC’s proposal for stricter regulations. Marguerite Reardon/CNET CHICAGO–The day before the FCC is expected to start the ball rolling on new regulations to keep the Internet open, Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg painted a doomsday picture of what could happen in the …

Read More »

AT&T enlists employees to oppose Net neutrality

Advocacy groups say AT&T has gone too far in its lobbying efforts to oppose the Federal Communications Commission’s new proposed Net neutrality regulations. This week AT&T’s top lobbyist Jim Cicconi sent a memo to managers urging them to encourage their families and friends “to join the voices telling the FCC not to regulate the Internet.” Over the past few weeks, …

Read More »

Telco lobbyists don’t mind some Net neutrality regs

CHICAGO-AT&T and Verizon Communications are among the most vocal opponents to Net neutrality regulation, but the phone companies’ top lobbyists reiterated Wednesday here at the Supercomm 2009 trade show that they would be alright with some regulation, so long as it isn’t too far reaching. Jim Cicconi, chief lobbyist for AT&T Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president at AT&T, and …

Read More »

Free Wi

Travelers flying on Virgin America over the holidays will get free in-flight Wi-Fi thanks to Google, the companies said Monday. Google and Virgin America are teaming up to offer free Wi-Fi Internet service for all Virgin America passengers traveling between November 10, 2009, and January 15, 2010. The Gogo Wi-Fi service, which was rolled out to Virgin America’s entire fleet …

Read More »

Sprint to acquire iPCS to end lawsuit

Sprint Nextel has settled its legal dispute with its wireless affiliate iPCS by striking a deal to acquire the company in a transaction valued at around $831 million. Sprint announced Monday that it plans to buy iPCS for $24 a share, a 34 percent premium to its Friday closing price of $17.88, which means the company will be spending about …

Read More »

Amazon, Facebook, and Google back FCC on Net neutrality

Internet giants Google, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter and a slew of other high-profile tech companies weighed in on new rules that are currently being written to keep the Internet open. The CEOs of of those companies, along with some telecommunications and media firms, such as EchoStar and XO Communications, sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski on …

Read More »

Nokia’s smartphone problem

Nokia may still dominate the overall cell phone market, but a steady slide in its smartphone market share could threaten the company’s long-term standing. On Thursday Nokia announced third-quarter earnings that, despite an unexpected loss of $832 million in its telecommunications equipment unit, beat expectations. The company managed to ship about 3 million more handsets than analysts had expected. But …

Read More »

Nokia’s Netbook gamble

NEW YORK–Nokia, the world’s largest maker of cell phones, is getting into the computer business with its new Booklet 3G, setting the stage for a new era of competition in the mobile device market. Nokia Booklet 3G Nokia At a press event here Tuesday, Nokia took the wraps off the anticipated Booklet 3G, a Windows 7 Netbook that will run …

Read More »

New Wi

A new Wi-Fi specification will let wireless devices discover and connect to one another without a router. The spec, called Wi-Fi Direct, was announced Wednesday by the Wi-Fi Alliance, the industry group that promotes the technology. By making it much easier for devices to connect directly to each other using Wi-Fi, the new spec could pose a challenge to wireless …

Read More »