AT&T to buy Verizon spectrum for $1.9 billion

1980s Dodge Ram Van Verizon
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Grant Gross – AT&T will buy mobile spectrum in the 700MHz band from Verizon Communications for US$1.9 billion.

In April, Verizon pledged to sell off two 12MHz blocks of mobile spectrum in the 700MHz band, including the B block, if U.S. regulators approved its purchase of spectrum from a group of cable providers. more> http://tinyurl.com/bchy4bj

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U.S. mulls tougher rules on telecom firms to keep 911 running

West Virginia (Photo credit: Dougtone)

Reuters – The FCC criticized some 911 providers for suffering outages that resulted from “avoidable” problems as basic as a lack of backup power, following a freak 2012 storm.

The FCC, in the summary of a report on 911 outages during the derecho, noted that the powerful winds knocked out emergency services in isolated areas of four states but caused serious breakdowns in northern Virginia and West Virginia.

Verizon Communications Inc provides 911 service in Virginia while Frontier Communications Corp is the service provider in West Virginia. more> http://tinyurl.com/asogeup

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U.S. companies take aim at pension risk with lump-sum offers

By Jilian Mincer – Corporate America is finally ready to deal with a monkey on its back: massive pension obligations.

AT&T Inc on Friday (Oct 19) said it plans to contribute a $9.5 billion stake in its wireless business to its underfunded pension plan. Earlier this week, Verizon Communications Inc moved to unload $7.5 billion in pension obligations to insurer Prudential Financial Inc.

But by far the most common trend in corporate America is to offer lump-sum payouts to thousands of retirees now – these voluntary buyouts could cost companies millions of dollars upfront, but they eliminate the risk of obligations soaring out of control in the future. more> http://tinyurl.com/9dy7gbs

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Verizon Advised to Slow Internet Speed Claims

English: Tacoma Link car 1001 with Xfinity, a Comcast Corporation TV, internet and voice service, advertisement southbound near Union Station. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Adweek – Verizon and Comcast are locked in an advertising war over which service has the fastest Internet speeds. Both have gotten a little carried away with claims, leaving the advertising industry’s self-regulatory division to intervene with both companies.

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus recommended in June that Comcast temper its speed claims for its Xfinity Internet service. The division opened the inquiry based on a challenge by Verizon.

Today, it was Verizon’s turn. more> http://tinyurl.com/9gkf54k

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Verizon’s stormy performance

1980s Dodge Ram Van Verizon
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By John Johnson – The Aug. 14 front-page article “Verizon outlines missteps in storm” made no mention of the company’s performance in maintaining home land line and broadband service after the Derecho.

Why did it take Verizon so long to restore broadband and land-line service — in my case, two days for land line and 6-1/2 days for broadband? The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative had our electric power restored within 40 hours. more> http://tinyurl.com/c2a75jz

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