Telecom may be set for merger spree; Texas bans warrantless e-mail snooping

Telecom industry news from across the web:

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> This could be the "biggest year for mergers" in the telecommunications industry since 2006, says a Bloomberg report. Article

> Four ways that big telecoms can save themselves from extinction. Article

> Texas is the first state to ban warrantless email snooping, as Governor Rick Perry signed a bill into law. Article

> The UK's "three strikes" plan, created under the Digital Economy Act, is unlikely to come into operation before 2016, if ever. Article

> Consumers say Internet access is just as important as food and sleep. Article

Cable News

> MSG named Ryan O'Hara, a former executive at both TV Guide and BSkyB, as president of content distribution & sales. Article

Online Video News

> Netflix is highlighting family-friendly programming through a new hub, "Netflix Families." Article

> Boxee may have found a buyer. Article

Wireless News

> Earthlink is back in the wireless business, this time as an MVNO of Clearwire. Article

> Former CTIA chief and FCC commissioner nominee Tom Wheeler backed away from past comments about the AT&T-T-Mobile USA merger in his Senate hearing. Article

And finally … Always wanted an NSA-scale information collection and analytics database, but didn't know where to look? Sqrrl is now offering a commercial version of the agency's Accumulo software. Article