The case involves late fees charged to Frontier FiOS video customers in the state of Oregon.

Frontier Communications FiOS video customers that paid late fees for service in the state of Oregon may be entitled to a partial refund after the telecom company settled a class action case.

The settlement, announced today will cover both current and former customers.

Some key points:

• Customers that are potentially included in this class action settlement will receive a separate notice in the next 60 to 90 days;
• The separate notice will include additional information and instructions regarding steps they can take if they are eligible for a refund;
• A claims administrator will be identified and responsible for providing notices to former and existing customers;
• Customers must wait until they receive a notice regarding the settlement from the claims administrator which outlines additional steps that must be taken.

The company was accused of unjustly charging and collecting late fees for video customers whose payments were processed late as the company assumed control of the FiOS service from Verizon Communications.

An internal memo sent to Frontier employees and obtained by Stop the Cap! suggests the company is expecting calls from customers inquiring about the settlement. Other than telling employees to express empathy, company officials have asked customer service representatives to avoid speculating about the case and referring customers to forthcoming communications from the settlement administrator within the next two to three months.

The lawsuit only covers Oregon residents.

Eshoo

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), the ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee, will shortly reintroduce legislation that will require wireless companies to disclose more information about the anticipated speeds of their 4G wireless networks.

Eshoo announced her legislative intentions Tuesday at the Broadband Breakfast Club, telling attendees it was important for consumers to know what they are getting before signing a two-year contract.

The anticipated legislation is expected to mirror Eshoo’s 2011 bill — the Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act (HR 2281), which never made it out of the Republican-dominated House committee.

Eshoo said consumers need clear and concise explanations of data limits, caps, or network management policies that can turn a fast 4G connection into a very slow or expensive one.

Many of the former bill’s supporters echoed carriers use “4G” as a marketing tool which can lead to consumer confusion. Networks ranging from Clearwire’s WiMAX service to T-Mobile’s HSPA+ to Verizon Wireless’ LTE network have all been dubbed “4G,” despite offering widely varying maximum speeds.

Consumers have also faced bill shock when they do not understand their monthly data limits.

Like the last bill, Eshoo’s newest effort is expected to face stiff opposition from wireless carriers and House Republicans, but may raise the temperature on data caps at the Federal Communications Commission, which has faced increasing pressure to become more involved in the issue of usage limits and consumption pricing.

Cox Cable customers in Arizona, Florida and beyond face a significant rate hike for cable, broadband, and phone service in 2013 according to a notification from the company. Rates are going up for most individual services, although customers in selected package bundles or on promotions will avoid increases for now.

Cox claims “increasing programming expenses” and the “rising costs of doing business” are responsible for the forthcoming higher bills.

In Arizona, Cox’s prices change as follows:

Cox TV and Advanced TV:
Cox TV Essential will change from $60.79 to $63.99.
Advanced TV will change from $62.59 to $63.99.
Preferred TV will change from $69.59 to $73.99.
Super Mix will change from $69.59 to $70.99.
Premier TV will change from $80.59 to $83.99.
Ultimate TV will change from $122.58 to $125.99.
Advanced TV standard definition receivers will change from $6.99 to $8.50.

Plus Package fee will change from $10 to $5. (only decrease)
Variety Pak will change from $7.00 to $10.00.
Sports and Information Pak will change from $7.00 to $8.50.
Single premium channel rate will change from $14.99 to $15.00.
Two premium channels rate will change from $23.49 to $25.00
Three premium channel rate will change from $31.99 to $34.00.
Four premium channel rate will change from $39.49 to $42.00.

Telephone:
Cox Digital Telephone Essential will change from $19.99 to $21.99.
Voice Mail will change from $7.99 to $8.99.
To comply with federal regulatory guidelines for the Access Recovery Charge, the FCC Access Charge will increase by $0.12. Toll Restriction will change from $2.75 to $1.49.
Simply 5 Long Distance will change from $3.99 to $4.95.
For information on other telephone rate changes, please visit Cox.com

Internet:
Starter will change from $25.99 to $26.99.
Essential will change from $37.99 to $39.99.
Preferred will change from $53.99 to $55.99.
Premier will change from $64.99 to $67.99.
Ultimate will change from $94.99 to $99.99.

(Thanks to ‘BryanInPHX’ for compiling the changes.)

In Florida, Cox customers will pay $68.49 for “Advanced TV” service — nearly $70 for what some would consider “basic cable.” Equipment is going up as well.

Advanced TV standard definition receivers increase from $6.99 to $8.50 a month. Advanced TV High Definition and DVR receivers rise from $7.99 to $8.50.

Many Cox Internet customers in Florida will also pay between $3-4 a month more for their broadband service.

All new homes must be equipped with fiber broadband connections if they are located in a county or city where fiber service is provided, according to a new mandate from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The Chinese government has learned turning over national broadband policy to self-regulating providers reluctant to invest in super-fast broadband service is a mistake other countries will pay for dearly as they fall behind in broadband rankings and digital opportunities only available to the broadband “well-connected.”

Now the government has taken measures to level the playing field for ordinary consumers and businesses who will share the right to equal service from various telecommunications companies over the country’s state-of-the-art fiber to the premises network.

The mandate takes effect April 1, and is anticipated to bring explosive growth in domestic fiber broadband, according to the China Daily.

With an open fiber network, expensive network redundancy and cherry-picking lucrative customers are reduced or eliminated, allowing the country to deploy fiber more rapidly in areas providers would typically deem “unprofitable.”

The new fiber policy will mean at least 40 million Chinese homes will have fiber broadband by 2015. China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd., the nation’s second largest telecom company, is among the most aggressive providers, adding 10 million Chinese families to its fiber network in the last year alone.

The bare minimum fiber speeds for Chinese families will be 4Mbps in rural areas, 20Mbps in urban zones, with 95 percent of the country blanketed with broadband within a few years.

The Chinese government’s broadband plan is laser-focused on fiber optics, with satellite and wireless service filling in rural coverage gaps. The country sees 21st century broadband as a national priority and is well on its way even as North American broadband companies are pulling back on fiber deployments. Instead, American and Canadian companies are incrementally upgrading inferior copper wire and cable HFC broadband networks. The Chinese government does not believe these older technologies will suffice.

Optical fiber manufacturers who assumed telecom companies in North America would continue aggressive fiber deployments and ramped up optical fiber production as a result have taken a financial beating, slashing prices to reduce inventory. The price for fiber cable has dropped at least 90 percent in the past decade. The Chinese government has even resorted to tariffs to stop American and European manufacturers from dumping fiber cables and equipment at rock bottom prices to the detriment of its domestic manufacturers.

China remains the largest driver in global fiber demand. In 2011, China accounted for about 50% of the global demand, reaching nearly 60 percent by the end of 2012.

Comcast Corporation has announced its intention to pay $150 million for part-ownership of Arris Group, Inc., which manufacturers set top boxes and cable modems.

Comcast will own 10.6 million shares of Arris when the deal is complete.

The investment comes at the same time Arris is completing its acquisition of Motorola Home Business, which has been a major supplier of cable equipment for years.

With the investment, Comcast is signaling its intent to remain committed to Arris and Motorola brand equipment, but also more strongly influence its future development.

Cable operators have often griped about proprietary software powering set top boxes and the cost of buying and maintaining equipment. Many operators plan to leverage their broadband networks to develop new, cloud-based software to improve the user experience and reduce the cost of equipment.

“This investment by one of our largest customers is a strong indication of customer support for the Motorola Home acquisition and its potential to accelerate innovation to the benefit of the industry and consumers,” said Bob Stanzione, Arris chairman and CEO.