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Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Gottfried who wrote (14675)	4/27/2005 9:56:20 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 25522

High-Tech Giants Push for Digital-TV Wednesday April 27, 9:24 pm ET High-Tech Giants Push for Fast Digital-TV Transition, Saying It's Critical for Innovation and Jobs WASHINGTON (AP) -- A group of U.S. high-tech heavyweights on Wednesday urged Congress to set a firm date for the transition to digital signals for television broadcasts, saying it's critical for innovation and jobs. The High Tech DTV Coalition, launched Wednesday, includes Dell Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. The group's executive director, Janice Obuchowski, who has been mentioned as a possible future Federal Communications commissioner, said "we have had 88 megahertz of spectrum lying fallow," referring to a swath of the 700 megahertz band currently occupied by broadcasters. Once television signals are switched to digital from analog, that spectrum would be freed up. Auctioning parts of the spectrum to the private sector for use in advanced telecommunications services could bring in $20 billion to $30 billion to the government, Obuchowski estimated. "Not only will (the spectrum) lead to viable competition to existing broadband providers, it will also reach far into rural areas, at relatively low cost, giving consumers in underserved areas broadband options that they have never had before," Intel Chief Executive Craig Barrett said. Public safety officials have also said that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks highlighted the need for additional spectrum to allow emergency first responders to communicate. The coalition backs efforts by House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, to set a firm transition date of Dec. 31, 2006. Under current law, the digital transition will occur on that date but with the critical caveat that 85 percent of homes be ready to receive digital signals either by owning a digital television or converter box. Barton wants to drop that caveat. Barton said recently that he hopes to have legislation ready soon. His committee is also considering broad changes to the nation's telecommunications laws. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing Tuesday that no region currently meets the 85 percent threshold, and "it doesn't look like we're going to meet 2006 on the path we're heading." Transition proponents say that without the urgency that comes with a firm date, the transition could drag on for many years. However, making changes to people's television sets is fraught with political risk, especially if a good chunk of the population sees their sets go dark after the transition date. In a letter Wednesday to Barton and other House Commerce Committee leaders, National Association of Broadcasters Chief Executive Edward Fritts said local broadcasters "are strongly supportive of efforts to bring this transition to a timely end." "However, we also agree with many members of Congress who have expressed concern that a premature end to analog television would be terribly disruptive to millions of Americans," Fritts added. "A country that put a man on the moon and is now eyeing Mars should have no problem getting converter boxes to 15 percent of the population" that depend on over-the-air broadcast signals for their TV, said Obuchowski.

To: Gottfried who wrote (14675)	4/28/2005 1:04:33 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 25522

Hynix, ST begin work on China memory fab Peter Clarke EE Times (04/28/2005 12:34 PM EDT) LONDON — Work has begun on the construction of a memory manufacturing wafer fab in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China; a joint-venture between STMicroelectronics NV and Hynix Semiconductors Inc. The companies laid the first stone at the site Thursday (April 28) in the presence of municipal, regional, and state officials from China and Korea. The total investment planned for the project is $2 billion, financed with the equity split between Hynix and ST 67 percent and 33 percent respectively. ST is providing $250 million in long-term debt from ST and Chinese local financial institutions are providing finance, which will involve debt and a long leasehold. ST and Hynix are in the process of securing the required governmental approvals and financing package. In 2005, the equity investment from ST and Hynix is expected to reach around $375 million. When completed the Wuxi fab is scheduled to manufacture both DRAM and NAND flash memories as an extension an existing manufacturing relationship between Hynix and ST. The factory will also provide both companies with improved access to the Chinese market. ST said the Wuxi fab would give ST access to Hynix DRAM chips, enhancing its capabilities in delivering multi-chip package stacked memories and system-in-package integrated circuits. A line for processing 200-mm diameter wafers is scheduled to begin production by the end of this year, initially with a manufacturing process transferred from Hynix' existing fabs in Korea. A line for 300-mm diameter wafers is due to begin production in late 2006. The China market is currently about 15 percent of the worldwide semiconductor market and is projected to grow at an annual rate of more than 20 percent through 2008. "With this joint venture, STMicroelectronics is further reinforcing its strong integrated presence in the world's most exciting semiconductor market. Building on the successful collaboration that Hynix and ST have already achieved in process and product developments that serve our complementary interests, this new venture in Wuxi City will make ST, which is already the second largest semiconductor supplier in China, even more competitive both here and around the world," said Carlo Bozotti, president and CEO of STMicroelectronics, in a statement. "Hynix Semiconductor has obtained solid footing to be a global memory manufacturer as we have established a global manufacturing network that connects Korea, the United States and China. Through the Joint Venture, Hynix believes the cooperative relationship between ST, Wuxi and Hynix will be further strengthened, and the new fab will be mutually beneficial for each party's long-term growth," said Eui-Jei Woo, chairman and CEO of Hynix Semiconductor, in the same statement.