GiantLoop Network and 360networks announced alliance in which latter will be GiantLoop’s preferred provider of N. American and transatlantic broadband services. In addition, 360 networks made “very minor” equity investment in GiantLoop, Waltham, Mass.-based fiber network.

Time Warner Cable began offering commercial video-on-demand (VoD) service in Tampa Bay, expanding total reach of its nascent VoD service to 130,000 digital cable homes in Fla.’s Pinellas County. Concurrent Computer Corp., which is supplying technology for Time Warner, said deployment now exceeded total U.S. installed base claimed by other VoD suppliers. Time Warner also is using Concurrent’s video server and software system in Honolulu area.

XM Satellite Radio signed agreement with Visteon to jointly design, develop, manufacture, market and license XM satellite radio technology receivers. XM also said it would unveil its full product line from Alpine, Pioneer and Sony at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Fri. and offer sneak preview of service leading up to launch of first satellite on Mon.

Brian Mulligan, ex-Seagram, appointed chmn., Fox TV… James Hedges promoted to senior vp-CFO, ABC TV Network; Jeff Frost moves up to vp-legal affairs, ABC Entertainment & Touchtone TV… Christopher Bogart promoted to pres.-CEO, Time Warner Cable Ventures… Karen Heisler, ex-Comcast, named corporate vp-human resources, Pegasus Communications… Stacey Nachtaler, ex-i- traffic, appointed vp-ad sales mktg., CNBC… Changes at Paxson: Jennifer Getson promoted to dir.-sales research & audience analysis; Joe Siegel advanced to creative-dir., East Coast… Douglas Hanson, chmn.-CEO, Internet Commerce & Communications, becomes chmn., CompTel board… Ned Sauthoff, head of Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, becomes pres. of Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers-USA… Named to Navic Networks board: Robert Davis, Terra Lycos, and Tony Werner, Aurora Networks… Winston Maxwell, ex-Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, named partner- communications group, Paris office of Hogan & Hartson.

House Republicans surprised few with their choices for new committee heads late Thurs. Choices still had to be ratified by rank-and-file at our deadline. As expected, Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) was promoted to Commerce Committee chmn., and Subcommittee Vice Chmn. Oxley (R-O.) was given expanded Banking Committee, apparently clearing way for Rep. Stearns (R-Fla.) to take over Subcommittee. Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) won Judiciary Committee, as expected, while Rep. Thomas (R-Cal.) gained Ways & Means.

Commerce Secy.-nominee Donald Evans was cautious on Internet and telecom issues in his appearance before Senate Commerce Committee Thurs., assuring panel members that he would give attention to their pet issues but making no specific commitments. Evans has been busy wandering halls of Senate since his nomination, having visited virtually all Committee members before hearing. He appeared to have little to no opposition, and several lawmakers said they expected to see him confirmed quickly following President Bush’s inauguration. Among topics raised by Senators: (1) NTIA’s Technology Opportunity Program (TOP), lauded by several members for providing technology funds to underserved regions. “I know how important the issue is,” said Evans of digital divide: “I will give it my attention.” He said he would try to convince business leaders to increase private efforts. (2) Wireless spectrum, which several senators said was major topic in their private meetings with Evans. Sen. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said country needed “spectrum management strategy… We go from crisis to crisis.” Evans acknowledged that he had just learned about 3rd-generation wireless technology “in the last 48 hours or so,” but said it might help solve digital divide. He agreed that govt. needed long-term strategy for managing and auctioning spectrum. (3) Bureau of Export Administration’s Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, which Rockefeller said was “underfunded, understaffed.” (4) Internet taxation quandary, which Evans said was “going to be on all of our minds as we approach” Oct. end of current e-commerce taxation moratorium. However, he said, Bush Administration was “sensitive to what it might mean to the tax base of… the cities and the counties and the states. And so those factors need to be considered.” Evans said “important thing is to get all the right constituents to the table to talk” and “this is not something that we should wait until October or September or whenever to talk about it.” (5) Privacy. Asked by Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.) what his “general approach” would be on topic, Evans said only that he would work with ranking Democrat Hollings (S.C.) and Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) and others interested in issue. But he said “we shouldn’t continue to procrastinate.”

Strategis Group report issued Thurs. cited “commercial uncertainties” that remain on 40-43.5 GHz band that European regulators were considering licensing for fixed wireless services. Study said band could allow new market entrants to gain foothold against dominant competitors. European Radiocommunications Committee has designated band for broadband, multimedia wireless systems, Strategis Group said. Among potential challenges for that spectrum is that adequate hardware may not be available for commercial operations, said Diane de Polignac, Strategis Group Europe consultant.

Entravision Communications said it closed on purchase of 2 New England TV stations: WUNI (Ch. 27, Univision) Worcester, Mass., from Jasas Corp. for $47.5 million and WHCT-TV (Ch. 18, Valuevision) Hartford from Astroline Communications for $18 million. WHCT-TV call letters will be changed to WUVN-TV and it will affiliate with Univision, Entravision said, giving group owner 18 Univision affiliated TV stations. WUNI Gen. Mgr. Gary Marder also was named to same post at WUVN-TV. In separate deal, Hubbard Bcstg. said it closed on $9.5 million purchase of KAAL (Ch.6, ABC) Austin, Minn., from Gocom Holdings.

Verizon Wireless said it added 1.2 million customers in quarter ended Dec. 31, increasing its year-end total to 27.5 million, with 16% subscriber growth rate -- 3.7 million new customers -- compared with 1999. Verizon Wireless said growth had been fueled in part by surge in contract customers, which represented more than 99% of new subscribers in 4th quarter, compared with 60% year earlier. Customer turnover in quarter remained unchanged from year ago at 2.6%. Carrier also said more than half of its customers now use digital service and more than 750,000 are using its wireless data offerings.

FCC will consider possible reform of intercarrier compensation at its Jan. 11 open meeting but long-awaited reciprocal compensation didn’t show up as companion item (CD Jan 4 p1). FCC is overdue to act on reciprocal compensation, which is one of many intercarrier payment schemes that will be addressed in broader notice of inquiry listed on agenda. Other agenda items agency will consider at meeting: (1) Proposal for technical and operational rules for use of frequencies by public safety entities. Idea is to assure various jurisdictions could talk to each other. (2) Memorandum opinion and order on reconsideration concerning rules that require broadcasters, cable operators and other video programming distributors to provide video description and make emergency information more accessible to visually impaired. (3) DTV transition and reception issues for broadcasters. (4) Declaratory ruling in case of DTV-only Fla. station that’s seeking cable must-carry status. (5) Implementation of Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act, including DBS local-into-local, must-carry, network non-duplication, syndicated exclusivity and sports blackout rules.