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Verizon to step up efforts in India
Verizon Communications' Verizon Business India unit intends to go after a long-distance operating license in India to enable the company to better compete in the region's phone market. The Wall Street Journal (2/6)

Business & Industry Watch

EarthLink posts loss, broadband revenue up
EarthLink reported a 35% increase in broadband revenue in the fourth quarter, but the company's wireless joint venture Helio contributed to a net loss of $24.8 million. Overall revenue was up 5% for the period. The Wall Street Journal (2/6)

Motorola takes aim at IPTV migration costs
Motorola is proposing that Cable Television Laboratories consider the use of DOCSIS IPTV Bypass Architecture as a way to keep IPTV migration costs down. DIBA forgoes the need to add downstream processing capacity to the Cable Modem Termination System. ScreenPlays (2/2007)

AT&T, Hearst-Argyle reach retransmission deal
The AT&T U-verse channel lineup will include Hearst-Argyle TV stations in six markets. AT&T and Hearst-Argyle Television did not disclose the details of the long-term retransmission deal. TVNewsCheck (free registration) (2/5)

Alcatel-Lucent lands China Unicom contract
Alcatel-Lucent has signed on to upgrade a wireless network on the island of Macau for China Unicom that involves the delivery of EV-DO hardware and software. Alcatel-Lucent also inked a deal with ip.access to extend in-building coverage of GSM/EDGE networks. Forbes/AFX News Limited (2/5) Light Reading Mobile (2/6)

WOW to carry Universal's IMF
IMF, Universal Music Group's recently launched video music channel, will be available in cable overbuilder WideOpenWest's households in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, according to a carriage deal reached by the two companies. EchoStar's DISH Network also carries IMF, which has deals with Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse. Mediaweek (2/5)

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USTelecom lauds president's budget proposal for FET repeal
The administration's 2008 budget, released Monday, proposes to repeal the federal excise tax on communications services. USTelecom CEO Walter B. McCormick Jr. applauded the move, saying: "The federal excise tax on communications is regressive and outdated and should be repealed immediately. While the IRS no longer enforces the tax on long distance or bundled services, consumers who subscribe to stand-alone local service should also be relieved of this arbitrary tax."

Technology Trends

BT taps NewStep for convergence
BT Group plans to leverage NewStep's CNS30 product for a fixed-mobile convergence service for the enterprise market. The CNS30 supports corporate PBX and cellular and Wi-Fi networks and offers customers the ability to hand off calls between a cell phone and a desk phone. Wireless Review (Chicago) (2/5)

Tiscali launches Internet pay-TV
The British "bundle war" is heating up as broadband provider Tiscali launches Internet television, going head-to-head in the pay-TV market with satellite-TV group British Sky Broadcasting. Financial Times (free content) (2/6)

Akamai buys Netli
Akamai Technologies is looking to speed delivery of Internet content and improve network performance for its customer base with its purchase of Netli. Akamai will pay $177 million in stock. The Boston Globe (2/6)

Neotel calls on Motorola
Motorola has signed on to deliver wireless technologies to fixed-line operator Neotel. The company is calling on Motorola to provide radio frequency planning for its wireless networks that will support WiMAX and CDMA. Reuters (2/6)

Mobile marketing's on the move
Sprint Nextel, having lost 306,000 customers in the fourth quarter, reportedly is likely to drop its unsuccessful "Power Up" campaign, pick a new ad agency and increase its media-related spending. Meanwhile, rivals Verizon Wireless, Cingular (now AT&T) and T-Mobile USA are expected to ramp up their already considerable marketing. Bloomberg Businessweek (2/6)

Super Bowl scores viewer touchdown
The Super Bowl matchup between the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts scored big with viewers, attracting an audience of 93.1 million, according to Nielsen Media Research. In terms of total viewership, Sunday's broadcast ranks second among Super Bowls and third among all programs in TV history. The Hollywood Reporter (2/6)

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