Broadband Services Forum Elects Board

The Broadband Services Forum, an industry group that fosters collaboration across the broadband value chain including content, service and technology providers, announced its first Board of Directors:

• Derek Kuhn of Alcatel, Chairman



• Craig Forbes of net.com, Vice-Chair



• Andy Birchall of On Demand, Vice-Chair, Europe



• Jerry Passione of Juniper Networks, Secretary



• Keith Wehmeyer of Thomson, Treasurer



• Matthew Marnik of Nortel, VP, Marketing



• Joe Mosher of Aliant Telecom/Innovatia, Member at large



• Thomas Ostendorf of Siemens, Member at large



• Helmut Leopold of Telekom Austria, Member at large

At the first two quarterly meetings of 2005 (March in Santa Monica, California and May in Cardiff, Wales), the Broadband Services Forum confirmed the direction of the group's future initiatives -- IPTV and dynamic and interactive services (such as gaming and video) were given top priority.


The BSF is developing a series of whitepapers around IPTV and interactive services, and is currently evaluating potential IPTV pilot projects. The group is also creating a liaison program for reaching out to other industry groups in the broadband space, and broadened relationships with the analyst community.
http://www.broadbandservicesforum.org

IPTV: Making it Work by Derek Kuhn, Chairman of the BSF

The market window for value-added broadband services is open, but video is not a business for the uncommitted or inexperienced player. Cable companies have had years of experience in acquiring and delivering content to subscribers and have had several years' experience in developing their pay-per-view (PPV) - and in some cases VOD - businesses while they converted their networks to two-way to support high-speed Internet (HSI) services. Time-to-market can be significantly shortened by leveraging installed assets and partnering with suppliers who have demonstrated experience in implementing video and other broadband entertainment infrastructures. Here is what you need.

• In November 2004, the Broadband Content Delivery Forum (BCDF) and the Service Creation Community (SCC) agreed to merge to form the Broadband Services Forum.

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PMC-Sierra Confirms Q2 Outlook, Trims R&D

PMC-Sierra confirmed that is revenues in the second quarter of 2005 are expected to be at or near the high-end of the revenue range provided on April 20, 2005, following its first quarter earnings release. At that time, the revenue outlook provided was $70 million to $72 million in revenues for the second quarter of 2005, or 6% to 9% sequential growth. Additionally, by the end of the second quarter, the company's book-to-bill ratio is expected to exceed 1.1 as current quarter bookings are already greater than the Company's second quarter revenue outlook.


PMC-Sierra announced previously that it was eliminating 26 positions at a restructuring cost of approximately $1.5 million. The company has decided to eliminate approximately 63 further positions, primarily related to research and development, at a restructuring cost of approximately $5.9 million. PMC-Sierra currently has 902 full-time employees in its worldwide operations. The restructuring primarily relates to PMC's design and operations center in Santa Clara, California.


"Business conditions across all of our product groups are improving, with new communications and storage products contributing to our business momentum," said Bob Bailey, Chairman and CEO of PMC-Sierra. "Additionally, we are continuing to focus on improving the efficiency of our operations to enhance our on-going business performance."http://www.pmc-sierra.com

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Broadcom Settles Securities Class Action Litigation

Broadcom agreed to settle the securities class action litigation currently pending against the company and certain of its current and former officers and directors for an aggregate cash payment of $150 million. Broadcom expects that approximately $40 million of that amount will be paid by its insurance carriers, with the balance of approximately $110 million to be paid by the company.


The class action was brought on behalf of persons and entities who bought or acquired shares of Broadcom's common stock, or options on such shares, between July 31, 2000 and February 26, 2001. The proposed settlement remains subject to the satisfaction of various conditions, including negotiation and execution of a final stipulation of settlement, approval by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California following notice to members of the class, and a commitment by the company's insurance carriers to fund a portion of the settlement payments.
http://www.broadcom.com

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