December 2011

Call it Verizon’s “quad play.” Cox Communications has joined three of its cable peers in the Verizon Wireless camp, announcing that it has struck an agreement to sell to the wireless carrier its 20-MHz Advanced Wireless Services spectrum licenses covering 28 million people in the U.S. for $315 million.

In addition, Cox and Verizon Wireless will also become agents to sell each other's residential and commercial products and services through their respective sales channels. Over time, Cox may have the option to sell Verizon Wireless' services on a wholesale basis. Cox noted that the agreement with Verizon Wireless does not include Cox's 700 MHz spectrum licenses, the company's existing Cox Wireless customer accounts -- which will be phased out by March 2012 -- or any other assets. As part of the deal, Cox expects to enter into arrangements with the Philadelphia-based "innovation technology joint venture" to be formed by Verizon Wireless, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House, aimed at developing ways to better integrate wireline and wireless products and services.

The Republican primary debates have turned into one of the fall television season’s surprise hits.

A record 7.6 million people tuned in Dec 10, barely three weeks before the first caucus in Iowa. The five most popular debates in recent weeks have attracted an average of 5.6 million viewers, a figure that would rank them as the most popular series on cable after pro-football games, and just behind middle-ranked sitcoms such as “Parks and Recreation” on the broadcast networks. Surely, viewers of all political persuasions are drawn by the consequential nature of the discussion — taxes, the economic crisis, stances on foreign policy — and by a desire to learn who might be best qualified to challenge for the presidency next fall. But this year’s debate-a-thon, which will surely surpass the record of 21 held by Republicans during the 2007-08 cycle, has some bonus features as well. “There’s hype, there’s drama, there’s uncertainty,” said Mitchell McKinney, a communications professor at the University of Missouri who specializes in political debates. “The debates have become like a reality show, like the next version of ‘Survivor.’ ”

Members of the House Homeland Security Committee introduced a cybersecurity bill that would establish a quasi-governmental entity to oversee information-sharing with the private sector.

Like the other cybersecurity bills offered by the House GOP, the Promoting and Enhancing Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Effectiveness (PrECISE Act) encourages private firms to share information on cyber threats but stops short of mandating new security standards for sectors deemed critical to national security. The bill would clearly delineate the cybersecurity functions of the Department of Homeland Security by requiring DHS to evaluate cybersecurity risks for critical infrastructure firms and determine the best way to mitigate them. By authorizing DHS to oversee civilian cybersecurity, the legislation aligns with proposals from both the Senate and the White House, but it is unclear how much authority DHS would have to enforce its security standards. Democrats have argued DHS needs some enforcement authority to ensure firms beef up their network protections.
Sponsors include Committee Chairman Pete King (R-NY), Reps Michael McCaul (R-TX), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Candice Miller (R-MI), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Billy Long (R-MO), Tom Marino (R-PA) and Bob Turner (R-NY) of the Homeland Security Committee, as well as Reps Steve Stivers (R-OH) and Jim Langevin (D-RI).

Newt Gingrich appears to be moving away from his past support for electronic health records now that he's the GOP presidential front-runner. Conservatives have criticized Gingrich's lobbying in favor of federal spending to promote widespread adoption of the technology by doctors. The technology has sparked concerns about patient privacy and government intrusion.