Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.telcom From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: telcom Mon, Mar 23 1992 Date: Mon, 23 Mar 92 05:45:26 EST Message-ID: 03-23 0000 DECISIONLINE: Telecommunications USA TODAY Update March 23, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network DIGITAL HDTV TO BE TESTED: Washington's WETA-TV will test the first over-the-air transmission of a digital high definition TV signal Monday at noon. Only a special TV in a small office in the Capitol will be able to receive the special broadcast. Among those watching will be Rep. Tom Foley (D-Wash.), speaker of the House. (For more, see special HDTV package below.) IRS GIVES AT&T CONTRACT: The Internal Revenue Service confirmed its award of a $1.4 billion contract to AT&T to update the IRS's computer systems. When the IRS first decided to give the contract to AT&T in July, rival bidders IBM and Lockheed protested. A General Services Board of Contract Appeals had ruled that the tax agency didn't adequately justify awarding the contract to AT&T. RESULT REMAINS THE SAME: After the Internal Revenue Service re-evaluated a $1.4 billion contract given to AT&T, it found that the AT&T proposal, though the highest bid, would best suit the government's needs. IBM and Lockheed haven't decided whether to complain about the ruling. IBM says it can't imagine how the IRS can justify paying $722 million more for the AT&T system. LARSE TO SELL ALARM SYSTEM: Larse Corp. Friday announced the release of Larscan 2000, an alarm and control management system for microwave:cellular radio, and fiber optics networks. It provides on-line report generation and real-time database access for rapid troubleshooting. Larscan 2000 will be available in the fall. Pricing begins at $10,000. GTE CLOSE TO MAKING MOVE: Telecommunications giant GTE is said to be close to selling or spinning off its electrical-products business for an estimated $1.7 billion to $2.2 billion, according to USA TODAY columnist Dan Dorfman. Led by Sylvania lighting products, it had '91 revenue of $2.2 billion. CABLETRON TO ADD SYSTEM: Cabletron Systems Inc. is expected to announce a less expensive modular version of its Spectrum network management system soon, Network World reports. It is expected to include high-speed backplane and internal bridging. It will be available in modules that allow users to pay only for the capabilities they need. 3COM ROLLING OUT HUBS: 3Com Corp.'s new bridge:routers and intelligent hubs will be introduced throughout the country in the next 18 months. They will allow customers to better integrate Systems Network Architecture traffic into local area network internets. 3Com will support IBM's Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking. DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE OFFERED: FastData Corp. has launched Directory Assistance Plus. The computerized system delivers telephone directory and new listing information from the Regional Bell operating companies. The system can retrieve new listings as soon as they are recorded. Fastdata is a joint project of Donnelley Marketing Services and Integrated Marketing Services. AT&T TO OFFER CREDIT CARD DEAL: AT&T has launched an aggressive campaign Monday to lure credit card customers from other issuers to its Universal Card. AT&T will let consumers transfer balances from high interest rate credit cards to the lower rate Universal Card. Also, AT&T says it is still offering no annual fee for life Universal Cards to select new customers. SPECIAL PACKAGE ON HDTV: PICTURE IS NEARLY FLAWLESS: A digital high definition broadcast Monday in the Washington area will originate 10 miles away in Bethesda, Md. It is the first test of a technology that could change the TV industry. The 15-minute test of a system built by General Instrument and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology show if it can send a almost flawless picture using a language only computers understand. FCC WILL CHOOSE STANDARD: High definition TV features pictures as sharp as 35mm photographs. It is already on the air in Japan. But the Japanese HDTV system uses analog waves, the same as regular TV and subject to the same interference. By next year, the Federal Communications Commission must choose among General Instrument's technology and four other HDTV teams as the standard for U.S. HDTV. HDTVS ARE EXPENSIVE: HDTV broadcasts could start by the mid-to-late 1990s. But it may be years before consumers can afford HDTVs, which currently cost at least $5,000. The system developed by General Instrument and MIT can send computer-generated pictures at 1.2 billion bits per second. (End of package.) Telecommunications Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM