The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday raised the definition of high-speed Internet service to 25 megabits per second (mbps), up from the current of 4 Mbps, in a move that could have implications for Comcast’s (CMCSA) proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable and may lead to tougher regulation of broadband services, some Wall Street analysts worry. Under the current definition, cable TV firms are the biggest providers of broadband
Cablevision (CVC) will sell an unlimited Wi-Fi calling, texting and data plan to its pay-TV and broadband subscribers for $9.95 a month. Cablevision’s announcement comes amid speculation Google (GOOGL) is poised to enter the wireless service business, selling direct to consumers through a network leasing deal with either Sprint (S)or T-Mobile US (TMUS), or both. Cable TV companies, led by New York-based Cablevision and much bigger Comcast (CMCSA),
Google spent a record $16.83 million on lobbying to influence federal regulators and lawmakers in 2014, just beating out Comcast to be No. 1 in lobbying spending among the nation’s 15 biggest tech and communications companies. Google’s (GOOGL) lobbying expenses in Washington, D.C., rose 20% year over year in 2014, according to Consumer Watchdog, which bills itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest group. Comcast (CMCSA) spent $16.8