Who owns, controls, or influences media and telecommunications outlets.
Ownership
DZS to Acquire Subscriber Access Technology Leader NetComm
DZS a global leader of broadband networking and software-defined cloud solutions, announced a binding agreement to acquire NetComm Wireless. The acquisition of NetComm’s Fiber Extension, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), Home Broadband and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) products and patents combined with DZS’ category defining broadband networking and cloud software solutions will create one of the world’s most comprehensive and technologically advanced last mile broadband access portfolios.
Uniti to Merge with Windstream Creating Premier Insurgent Fiber Provider
Uniti Group entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Windstream Holdings.
T-Mobile Completes Mint Acquisition
T-Mobile completed its acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation, which includes direct-to-consumer (D2C) prepaid wireless brands Mint Mobile, internationally-focused value brand Ultra Mobile, and wholesale wireless solutions provider Plum.
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for May 2024 Open Meeting
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the May Open FCC Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2024:
What's the status of long-haul network builds in the US?
When the internet was new, people talked a lot about long-haul networks in the United States. That’s because a lot of the early data centers were on the East and West coasts, and they needed to be connected. These days long-haul networks are largely overshadowed by last mile builds. There’s a lot of existing long-haul and middle-mile fiber that can be patched together to create the desired routes for any business.
Things are getting tight for US telecom network operators
Slowing growth in the market for telecommunications services appears to be putting additional pressure on network operators in the US. Mergers and acquisitions are on the rise. Layoffs appear to be accelerating.
The Financial Times and OpenAI strike content licensing deal
The Financial Times has struck a deal with OpenAI to train artificial intelligence models on the publisher’s archived content, in the latest agreement between the Microsoft-backed start-up and a global news publisher. Under the terms of the deal, the FT will license its material to the ChatGPT maker to help develop generative AI technology that can create text, images and code indistinguishable from human creations. The agreement also allows ChatGPT to respond to questions with short summaries from FT articles, with links back to FT.com.
Grain Management Invests in Leading Michigan-based Telecom Provider, 123NET
Grain Management announced that it has agreed to acquire a majority interest in 123NET, a premier fiber internet, colocation, and business voice services provider based in Michigan. 123NET has been at the forefront of Michigan connectivity since its founding in 1995. The company has built an expansive 3,100 route mile network including long haul and dense metro fiber network in Michigan’s largest cities. 123NET’s network is further enhanced by Michigan’s largest carrier hotel and its high-density data centers in metro Detroit and Grand Rapids.
What a TikTok Ban Would Mean for the U.S. Defense of an Open Internet
For decades, the United States has fashioned itself the champion of an open internet, arguing that the web should be largely unregulated and that digital data should flow around the globe unhindered by borders. The government has argued against internet censorship abroad and even funded software that lets people in autocratic states get around online content restrictions.