Avail Media announced the launch of 20 new affiliates for their IPTV linear content solution. In a company statement, Avail said “…these affiliates add to Avail Media's 35 video on demand affiliates that are already live in market and represent just a fraction of the 94 customers with whom Avail Media has secured deals to provide linear and/or video on demand services.” The new affiliates are located across 14 states.

Hitachi announced that they will partner with Falcon/IP Complete for a fully integrated MPEG-4 IPTV solution for service providers who are implementing Hitachi's AMN1220 Gigabit Passive Optical Network Fiber to the Premises solution. "We are pleased to partner with Falcon IP/Complete as part of our Source-to-Subscriber initiative," Said Rick Schiavinato, Hitachi Telecom vice president, sales and marketing said in a company statement. Hitachi and Falcon will target municipalities, master planned communities and telcos with the combined offering.

In an attempt to remove one of the biggest barriers for new sign-ups, WildBlue will offer a leasing program for CPE, significantly reducing total upfront fees by over 50% to $149.95. The program also provides for “free” installation of the service. The new lease fee will total $5.95/month. "The Lease Program will help new customers get WildBlue for a significantly lower upfront investment, making our award-winning service available to more people throughout rural America," said David Leonard, WildBlue’s Chief Executive Officer. Customers can also opt for a pre-payment of a 24 month lease for $99.95.

Sprint lowered its phone as a modem (PAM) option to $15/month from $50/month. PAM options allow customers to use 3G enabled handsets as Internet modems for laptops and PCs. In effect, the PAM replaces the need for a broadband data card. The service has specific requirements including the use of qualified handsets and qualified data plans. Customers must subscribe to a Sprint data plan of $30/month or more to qualify.

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) will upgrade their wireless network to 3G using Alcatel-Lucent gear. “The network upgrade includes the deployment of third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A (Rev. A) technology." Shentel's wireless network, Shenandoah Personal Communications Company, is a Sprint PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel. Shentel serves markets in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. “With this upgrade to our network, we will be able to give our customers access to some of the most advanced wireless technology available today, technology that will provide unequalled quality and reliability for both their voice and data communications,” said Chris French, President of Shentel.

Verizon Wireless launched new usage controls which give customers “the ability to better manage and control how they use their wireless phones, as well as how their children or others on a ‘family share’ or multiple-line account use their phones.” Customers can monitor and control voice and data usage levels, and parents can manage the costs and services associated with their children’s wireless service. The new services can be managed through an online portal and will cost $4.99/month.

Verizon is targeting returning college students in their Potomac region with a broadband promotion. The promotion’s tagline is, “Headed to College Soon? Don't Forget to Pack the High Speed Internet.” The plan offers three tiers of broadband with download speeds of 768K, 3 Mbps, and 7 Mbps for $26.99, $31.99, and $42.99 respectively. The plans offer 9 month terms to coincide with the school year.

WiMAX service provider DigitalBridge Communications (DBC) announced the launch of their Bridgemaxx service in Sioux Falls, SD. Bridgemaxx is DBC’s brand for their WiMAX service, which initially starts out as a wireless DSL type product. DBC also intends to roll out mobile WiMAX services in their markets, already launching it in their Jackson Hole, Wyoming market. DBC has been quietly rolling out WiMAX services in rural markets across the U.S. They have other live markets in Montana, Idaho, Indiana, and Virginia.

AT&T announced that U-verse is live in Wichita, Kansas. U-Verse TV, broadband, and U-Verse voice are all now available in Wichita. AT&T has not been uniform with the launch of U-Verse voice at the same time as U-Verse TV. Some markets wait several months after the launch of U-Verse before the voice portion is available. "With the launch of AT&T U-verse TV, Wichita customers are finally getting a better choice to break free from cable," said Kristopher Ryan, AT&T general manager for Kansas and Missouri.

AT&T announced a partnership with Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football. The fantasy football feature will utilize the U-Verse U-bar to track fantasy teams and scores. The U-bar offers other interactive features focused on sports, weather, stock and traffic information. In a statement, G.W. Shaw, AT&T executive director of U-verse marketing says, “Because of the powerful integration that Internet Protocol (IP) enables, we're able to bring your personalized fantasy sports and NFL information directly to your TV screen.” The basic service is free, but a premium service featuring StatTracker, a real-time application that tracks player, team and league statistics, for $9.99 is available.