Wireline news from across the Web:
Today is the 20th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Just one more year and we'll be able to take it out for a drink. #96X20
— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) February 8, 2016
> Lawmakers, former and present FCC commissioners weigh in on the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Telecom Act. Broadcasting and Cable article
> Cogent Communications announced that its CEO Dave Schaeffer will present at three upcoming investor conferences. Release
> Empire Access has deployed Genband's Network Transformation solution, which includes the C15 Call Controller to upgrade its communications network with the latest in Internet Protocol (IP)-based technology. Release
> Telefonica has created Telxius, a new global company which brings together certain infrastructure assets belonging to the group. TeleGeography article
Cable News
> After declining by around 7.2 million subscribers over the last three years, ESPN's audience erosion has abated, at least for now, said Bob Iger, CEO of parent corporation The Walt Disney Company. Article
> FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler continues to stump for his new set-top proposal, assuring the Washington Post that under his plan, makers of third-party devices sold at retail will have to abide by the same privacy concerns that cable and satellite set-top makers do if they are to work in the pay-TV ecosystem. Article
Installer News
> Charter Communications said that more than 95 percent of its truck rolls are now being handled in-house, a strategy that is improving churn and other metrics. Article
Online Video News
> Richard Plepler, CEO of HBO, has finally revealed that HBO Now has just 800,000 subscribers since it was launched nine months ago. Article
Wireless News
> After emerging from bankruptcy and settling interference disputes with three GPS vendors, LightSquared is rebranding as Ligado Networks. But Ligado's precise strategy for leveraging its spectrum has yet to be determined. Article
> Ting Mobile saw the number of accounts on its network increase by 36 percent last year over 2014, according to parent company Tucows Inc., and the number of devices increased by 37 percent. Article
And finally … Researchers from the University College of London's Optical Networks Group achieved a data rate of 1.125 Terabits per second. Motherboard article