TELECOM IN TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS

摘要

Top Story nnCommunications Daily -- Major wireline and wireless carriers asked the FCC not to impose new “social issue” rules to protect consumer records or mandate truth in billing (p1).nnAmong OthersnnWall St. Journal* -- Belgacom indicated analysts' consensus earnings estimates for 2006 are too high, several analysts said Thurs. nn -- Evidence grows that Russia's telecom minister, a Putin confidant, owns a Bermuda-based fund that amassed a large share of Russia's mobile-phone industry. nn -- Hutchison aims in Feb. to complete the separate listing of its Italian 3rd-generation mobile unit, which could now be valued at roughly $5.2 billion . nnFinancial Times* -- The head of Sony-Ericsson said the global mobile phone market is expected to remain healthy this year but growth will halve to about 10%. nn -- Caudwell Group, the privately-owned retail and telecom group, said it was on track to be sold by the middle of the year. nn -- Mobile provider Millicom International Cellular put itself up for sale after receiving approaches from several competitors believed to include China Mobile. nnN.Y. Times -- Advocates of Wi-Fi in cities are learning the art of politics. nn -- The N.Y. M.T.A. has received 4 bids for installing cellphone service in all 277 underground subway stations (Kansas City Star). nnWashington Post -- The FCC said it's investigating the sale of private cell phone records, a move privacy advocates said was welcome but long overdue. nnCD -- As the FCC Enforcement Bureau looks into the sale of phone records, sources say Chmn. Kevin Martin will favor enforcement of existing rules rather than new mandates on carriers (p5).nnWashington Internet Daily -- Congress and the FCC will “face the wrath” of U.S. consumers unless network neutrality is ensured by new laws and rules, FCC Comr. Michael Copps said Wed. (p3; CD, p7).nnAtlanta Journal-Constitution -- Nearly 175,000 technology workers lost their jobs last year, but the good news is that the cuts were the smallest since the dot-com bust. nnChicago Tribune -- AT&T and BellSouth are quietly talking with Internet portals such as Google and Yahoo about payments to deliver video programs to Internet users at premium speeds. nnNewsday -- RIM, maker of BlackBerry e-mail devices, says its product is critical to public safety and the economy and shouldn't be shut down. n nn_____________________nn*The Wall St. Journal and the Financial Times can be accessed online via paid subscription only.