USDA aids 19 rural broadband projects with $152M | Developers put 5G, AR to good use at AT&T "hackathon" | Retransmission deals reached, avoiding disruptions for viewers
October 8, 2019
News and Resources for the Consumer Satellite Industry
The US Agriculture Department announced the allocation of $152 million in grants and loans to help bring or upgrade broadband services in 14 states located largely in the Midwest and South. Among the 19 projects funded through a variety of programs is a $34.4 million loan to Logan Telephone Cooperative in southwestern Kentucky and a $3 million grant to iGo Technology in southwest Virginia.
AT&T let developer teams loose on a 5G millimeter-wave-based network coupled with the Magic Leap One spatial computing headset at its Plano, Texas-based Foundry facility and the winner built a pharmaceutical app designed to improve patient safety. One participant said the network's speed helped reduce the software's development time.
Fox Corporation announced this weekend it had reached retransmission agreements with both Cox Communications and DISH Network, ending programming disruptions on the latter. Charter Communications also announced a new deal it had agreed to with TEGNA, averting a possible disruption after extending negotiations beyond the initial deadline.
National Telecommunications & Information Administration, the Commerce Department agency that oversees communications policy, has issued an initial rendition of an updated broadband map ordered by Congress to replace a Federal Communications Commission version that the FCC admitted was flawed. The NTIA said, however, it would not release its draft, which includes data from eight states, because it contains sensitive information.
Sony's 7.00 update for PlayStation 4 Remote Play will be expanding streaming and playing capabilities to Android mobiles. The update will also allow PS4 controllers to connect with Bluetooth.
TiVo has announced a new DVR, the TiVo EDGE, and a Roku Channel-like streaming service dubbed TiVo Plus that will be available only to the company's hardware users. The upgraded DVR -- which can also access some streaming apps -- includes 4K Dolby Vision HDR for playback and Dolby Atmos audio, while the ad-supported TiVo Plus contains content from a variety of providers.
Amazon this morning unveiled its Fire HD 10 tablet, which has a faster processor than previous models and includes a USB-C port for more rapid charging. The tablet, which is priced more competitively than Apple's cheapest iPad, can now be preordered, with shipments expected Oct. 30.
Sonos has launched Sonos Flex, a smart speaker subscription service that allows customers to try out its products with no contract commitment. The service is initially available only in the Netherlands, but it may be expanded if it resonates with the public.
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SBCA President Steve Hill Appointed to Illinois Broadband Advisory Council
The Satellite and Broadcasting Communications Association (SBCA) congratulates its president on his appointment to the Illinois Broadband Advisory Council. Illinois law requires that Gov. Pritzker appoint seven leaders with deep knowledge of the telecommunications industry, particularly in serving rural and urban areas throughout the state.
My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.
Hank Aaron, professional baseball player, right fielder
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