Jim Wagner

It’s not often that a company gets praised for what it doesn’t do, but the decision of one competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) to get out of a losing proposition has brought them within 18 months of cash-flow positive. McLeod USA, an independent voice and data carrier out of Cedar Rapids, IA, expressed confidence in […]

It seems a given that the investor love fest over Comcast’s Sunday announcement to acquire AT&T Broadband will translate into government approval down the road, pending shareholder approval. If only because Wall Street is on the ropes as a result of high-technology companies that helped cause the Nasdaq and Dow to drop in the past […]

Despite a coincidence in timing, DSL.net’s decision Friday to lay off 90 employees and shut down 250 central offices (COs) nationwide has little to do with an appeals court decision made earlier this week. The broadband and dial-up Internet service provider’s announcement, however, does underscore the troubles many Internet service providers (ISPs) are facing in […]

“Edge” server company Akamai Technologies, Inc., announced the expansion of its nationwide footprint with another broadband service provider Thursday. The caching company’s deal with RCN Corp. marks its latest effort to efficiently distribute data-intensive files, like streaming audio/videos and flash advertisements, without bogging down the consumer’s bandwidth connection. Officials declined to comment on financial terms […]

Last month, WebMD got a boost when America Online, Inc., the world’s largest Internet service provider (ISP), agreed to use its content as their exclusive source for online healthcare information. Today, AOL Time Warner got a boost when officials announced they had successfully lured Patricia Fili-Krushel, WebMD consumer services chief executive officer, to fill the […]

For the first time, EarthLink, Inc., raised its basic monthly dial up access charge, from $19.95 to $21.95, officials announced Tuesday. Aaah…1995, it was a fine year. Here’s some highlights from the year the third-largestInternet service provider (ISP) introduced its $19.95 rate plan: The world wide web (WWW) finally surpasses the file transfer protocol (FTP) […]

It appears Sprint is making a go with high-speed wireline Internet access again, according to an announcement by officials Monday. This time around, however, officials look to have a more positive impact on their bottom line, aggressively pushing business-class services and avoiding the residential market almost entirely. Currently available in 12 markets nationwide, Sprint Business […]

Covad Communications Group Inc. Monday shut down down one of its subsidiaries in an effort to rein in spiraling operational costs, a move that puts 400 employees on the streets. It’s the latest in a number of cost-cutting measures taken by the troubled provider to show a profit, and removes much of the overlap between […]

Rumors persist of an asset buyout or merger of failing national broadband provider Rhythms NetConnections, Inc. Tongues started wagging last week, when the national digital subscriber line (DSL) announced June 14 its decision to pull out of 150 central offices and disconnect affected customers Aug. 13. Officials at the Englewood, CO-based company don’t have much […]

It’s official: NorthPoint Communications pulled the plug on its operations by filing for a conversion from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection Wednesday. But still very much alive is the company’s $1 billion lawsuit against Verizon Communications, filed right before its original bankruptcy announcement. The bankruptcy filing is merely a formality for creditors to […]

In a move to consolidate its Asian operations, Global Crossing “sold” two subsidiaries and Asian-Pacific territorial rights to Asia Global Crossing, a separately funded company, for approximately $138 million. The announcement reflects the parent company’s continued faith in its Asian venture, despite an almost terminal 90 percent drop in revenues and $60.7 million net loss […]

Hoping to stem the growing tide of operational and legal setbacks, fiber giant Level 3 Communications Monday announced a 25 percent workforce cut and $2.3 billion cost reduction plan. Officials at the beleaguered company hope its forced diet, the result of lowered projections and lost revenues, will keep the company alive in the months to […]