Cablefax

Optimum revealed it eclipsed the 500,000 residential customer milestone for its fiber network. It has spent the last few years growing across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, reporting more than 2.9 million homes passed within its footprint that can get symmetrical speeds of up to 8 Gbps as well as mobile, TV and home phone services. Optimum is planning on expanding to new markets such as Montclair and West Orange, New Jersey, in addition to other areas in the NY tri-state region.

The M&A activity isn’t just reserved for big media companies. Ritter Communications announced its RightFiber brand has agreed in principle to purchase the fiber optic broadband network in the City of Ruston, Louisiana. The transaction is expected to close in 1Q25, and RightFiber will continue serving business customers at that time. The company said it plans on expanding to residential neighborhoods around Ruston as well. Elsewhere, Ohio-based

Thursday was something of a passing of the torch moment at the FCC. Ahead of the agency’s November open meeting, Chair Jessica Rosenworcel officially laid out her intention to depart the Commission on Jan. 20 when President-elect Trump is inaugurated.

Midco announced that Tom McAdaragh is stepping down as President in anticipation of his retirement. McAdaragh has been with Midco since September 2017 and has been President since January 2022. He will continue to serve the company in an advisory role. Succeeding him will be Midco’s COO Ben Dold. Over the last 14 years, Dold has overseen Midco’s marketing and central operations before assuming the role of COO in January 2023. Dold will step into the role of President while retaining his responsibilities as COO. These changes will take effect on Jan. 1.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that it will review the Fifth Circuit’s decision declaring that the FCC’ s mechanism for funding USF is unconstitutional. NTCA, CCA, USTelecom

We are once again not in the year of a DISH – DirecTV merger. DirecTV notified EchoStar

The speed wars seem to be coming to an end. Broadband providers are increasingly acknowledging that messaging needs to focus on more than numbers, particularly with the slower speeds of fixed wireless meeting many consumers’ needs.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who will become Chair of Senate Commerce next Congress, has announced his plans to launch a comprehensive review of the BEAD program in early 2025. In a letter to NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson

Charter said it was the first major connectivity provider to launch a WiFi 7 technology solution designed for Spectrum residential and business customers after unveiling a new Advanced WiFi 7 router. It uses additional spectrum capacity in the 6 GHz band to enable high-bandwidth, next-gen applications that use faster data throughput and lower-latency connectivity. The solution also comes with integrated cloud-based security, speeds of up to 1 Gbps for Spectrum Mobile devices and a dedicated WiFi network for visitors that automatically connects Spectrum Mobile devices. The router will initially be rolled out to new and upgrading Spectrum Internet Gig residential and business customers based on availability, with some customers in Greensboro, North Carolina, already getting the product earlier this month. Further, expanded distribution will occur in the coming months.

When Stacy London entered the TV scene as co-host of TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” no one could have predicted where it would take her—least of all herself.