NL International News Briefs

Verizon ordered to rehire 2,300 laid-off workersVerizon Communications Inc. has been told to reinstate 2,300 workers who had been laid off last December. The arbitrator also ordered the American telco to pay the employees seven months’ worth of back pay. British regulator introduces new rules for network carriersBritish telecom regulator Oftel has set out the minimum requirements that electronic communications companies must adhere to. Among the provisions are reliable network services and negotiation of interconnection agreements with other network operators. American firms slash rates for new clients in DSL price warA price war is developing in the United States for DSL services. First-time subscribers to Verizon Communications Inc., SBC Communications and EarthLink pay US$29.95, while BellSouth customers are charged US$24.99. Former FCC chair pushes ubiquitous broadbandReed Hundt, a former chair of the Federal Communications Commission, is suggesting the American government should subsidize broadband connections to every home in the country. Hundt, who was appointed to the regulator by Bill Clinton, wants taxpayers to shell out US$20 a month per household for as long as it takes to roll out the network. Liberté, fraternité, sécurité for France Télécom employeesThe French government is drafting legislation that would protect workers at France Télécom in the event of privatization. Even though no plans have been announced to put FT on the market, the government bill would allow telecom workers to keep their status as civil servants. About 100,000 employees currently enjoy such protection. Scam artists seeking cash for free Do Not Call serviceSome con artists are taking advantage of the new Do Not Call list run by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States. They are calling consumers and offering to add them to the free list, sometimes charging up to US$380 for the privilege. Similar rip-offs are occuring when people try to collect money to add citizens to Do Not Call lists set up at the state level. Japan hopes to move up on connectivity roster by 2007Once one of the least-connected of major countries, Japan is hoping to boost its broadband use. The Telecommunications Ministry expects to have 60 million people, nearly half the population, online by 2007. The country currently has about 20 million people connected. Telecommuters not eligible for unemployment benefitsA New York court has ruled unanimously that a woman in Orlando FL who did telecommuting work for a firm in Long Island is not entitled to unemployment benefits in the Empire State. The Court of Appeals said benefits should be paid based on where Maxine Allen was living, not where Reuters America operated. Florida had denied her unemployment benefits and advised her to apply in New York State. Slashing DSL prices bad move, Internet companies warnedA new study by consulting firm Ovum says international DSL operators are being foolhardy if they slash DSL rates to the same level as South Korean carriers. Japanese and Korean operators are in a price war, but securing market share and economies of scale is a better plan, Ovum warned. Hormel seeks to protect Spam trademark from software firmA company that makes an Internet filter that blocks spam, the often vile and tasteless junk email that fills inboxes, is being sued by the manufacturer of Spam, the often vile and tasteless product that fills lunch boxes. Hormel Foods of Austin MN maintains Spam Alert is violating its copyright, a charge the Seattle software company denies. Spam Alert is attempting to trademark its name, much to the dismay of Hormel.

NL International News Briefs

News | July 15, 2003

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us