AT&T hires O'Melveny & Myers media lawyer Daniel Petrocelli as lead trial counsel in case DOJ sues to block company's buy of Time Warner (see 1711170059) ... Wiley Rein promotions to partner include, effective Jan. 1, Katy Ross, in Telecom, Media & Technology and Unmanned Aircraft Systems practices; and Jeremy Schofer, in Corporate Practice and also in TMT ... Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appoints Arthur D’Andrea (see 1711170029), his ex-assistant general counsel, a public utility commissioner; term ends Sept. 1, 2023; he was sworn in Wednesday.
Changes at Ford: Jim Hackett, chairman of Ford Smart Mobility, replaces Mark Fields who is retiring, as president-CEO, effective immediately ... Best Best law firm adds as assistant director-governmental affairs Ana Schwab, who worked on Capitol Hill and for other firms ... Neustar retains Sai Huda, ex-Fidelity National Information Services, as general manager-risk solutions ... SMS Assist adds Taylor Rhodes, ex-Rackspace, as CEO, succeeding founder Mike Rothman, remaining as chairman ... Tanium hires from Facebook Chris Bream as chief technology officer, succeeding in that post co-founder and CEO Orion Hindawi.
Intelsat extended media services contracts with Sentech and Orion Express, the company said in news releases (here and here). It said its new Sentech deal will bolster delivery of direct-to-home and digital terrestrial TV services in sub-Saharan Africa via Intelsat 20, and Orion Express signed a multiyear extension for direct-to-home and media distribution services in Russia via Intelsat 15. Intelsat said its Orion Express deal lasts into the 2020s and sees Intelsat performing some services that had been done by another satellite operator.
As part of Lionsgate's planned $4.4 billion buy of Starz (see 1606300069), the acquirer is asking for FCC approval of transfer control of Starz's Starz Entertainment subsidiary, which holds its transmit/receive earth station authorizations to Orion Arm Holding, a Lionsgate subsidiary. In an FCC International Bureau filing Friday, the company said Orion Arm Holding will merge with Starz as part of the deal, with Starz continuing as the surviving entity, thus making Starz and Starz Entertainment indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. Lionsgate said it expects to close the deal by year's end.
Ligado put a potential number, 15 dBW, on what kind of equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) power limits it might end up using for its "left-hand" downlink spectrum to protect certified aviation GPS devices from potential interference from its planned terrestrial LTE network, the company said in reply comments posted Tuesday in docket 11-109. That limit is still being hammered out with the Federal Aviation Administration, with the company previously having committed to operate at whatever levels the FAA says are required to safeguard aviation, Ligado counsel Gerry Waldron of Covington and Burling told us Tuesday. Monday was the deadline for oppositions to its modification applications, with replies due June 16.
Thuraya launched Atlas IP, maritime-focused satellite terminal. It’s designed to complement the Thuraya Orion IP broadband terminal “by offering a fully-featured voice and data product with additional functionality built in,” Thuraya said Monday in a news release (http://bit.ly/1pMoVmj). The terminal offers features “designed to support improved communications functionality and enhance shipboard operations,” it said. It’s capable of standard IP data transfer at rates up to 444 kbps and asymmetric streaming capability of 16 kbps-384 kbps, it said.
The 16-day government shutdown had little impact on satellite-related operations, satellite companies and manufacturers said. Companies like Inmarsat and Intelsat continued providing services to the government and military during the shutdown, their executives said.
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee’s Space Subcommittee voted Wednesday 11 to 9 to advance a draft version of the NASA Authorization Act of 2013 reauthorizing NASA programs for two more years with a $16.8 billion budget. An amendment introduced by Ranking Member Donna Edwards, D-Md., aimed at maintaining funding at NASA field centers and sustaining earth science research funds, failed. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science also approved appropriations that would give $16.6 billion to NASA in 2014.
Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Ill., hires Katherine McGuire, ex-Business Software Alliance, as chief of staff, effective at end of this month … Suddenlink promotions: Kevin Stephens to president-Commercial & Advertising Operations; and, to vice presidents, Brian May for information technology; and Bradley Cooke for technical operations-central region … Tennis Channel hires Larry Novenstern, ex-Orion Trading, as vice president-integrated partnerships.
Ad management software vendor WideOrbit said it will buy Orion Business Systems from VCI Solutions, a provider of sales and traffic software for the broadcast and cable industries. It said it expects the deal to close before Nov. 1. Terms weren’t disclosed.