France Telecom (FT) said its Itineris GSM wireless service added 2.5 million subscribers in quarter ended Dec. 31, increasing total wireless base to 14.3 million. FT said it added record 278,000 in weekend before Christmas. In Dec., more than 450,000 Itineris subscribers used Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) services, threefold increase from Sept. FT has target of one million “active” WAP users by summer.

Wireless Internet and e-mail provider OmniSky plans to acquire NomadIQ in all-stock transaction worth at least $18.75 million based on buyer’s Wed. closing price of $7.50 per share. Privately held NomadIQ provides location-based applications and services for handheld devices. OmniSky said it would issue 2.5 million shares of common stock, as well as up to one million additional shares over 12 months if certain performance targets were met.

Despite steep rise in Internet use, consumers remain devoted to watching TV, listening to music and even reading, according to latest home media study released by CTAM. Monthly telephone survey of 1,000 consumers found home Internet usage soaring to 58% of PC households in Dec., from 38% year earlier. It also found that more than 50% of U.S. homes now had at least one PC and 40% were online. In addition, study said, 31% of consumers now have TV sets and PCs in same room. But watching TV remains most popular way of spending leisure time, with 98% of consumers reporting that they view shows, equal to ratio in 1999 and up from 96% in 1998. Study said 36% of households now owned large-screen TVs (bigger than 35 inches), up from 22% in 1998. Consumers’ top expected purchases in 2001 are PCs (16%), DVD players (11%), CD players (11%).

“Nothing would be gained by further delaying a decision” on core DTV must-carry issues, NAB Pres. Edward Fritts said in letter Thurs. to FCC in which he said Commission could defer decision on must-carry itself while adopting some “rules of the road” for carriage of DTV stations. He said there would be no benefit in delay, “certainly nothing that would be worth the harm to the progress of the transition.” NAB also pressed FCC for requirement that all new TV sets have tuner capable of receiving DTV.

Integra Telecom said it secured $41 million in equity financing from shareholders including Bank of America Capital Investors, Boston Ventures, Navis Partners, Shaw Venture Partners. Investment will be used to expand Integra’s customer base in its regional markets and pushes its total financing in 2000 to $252 million. Integra CEO Dudley Slater said he was “gratified” by market response since CLECs have been struggling for financing. Integra provides telecom services to small and midsized businesses.

With FCC overdue to act on reciprocal compensation, Bell companies and CLECs competed Wed. to present their positions to Commission and news media just in case agency schedules vote on issue at its Jan. 11 agenda meeting. If item is placed on next week’s agenda, all lobbying will have to stop tonight (Jan. 4) under agency’s “sunshine” rules. FCC hasn’t said whether it will take up reciprocal compensation at meeting, but it originally planned to vote on issue by year’s end and then deal with broader proceeding on intercarrier compensation soon afterward. “It’s ripe for decision,” industry source said.

Act Against Violence, to steer children away from acts of aggression and violence at young age, is new broadcast campaign backed by Ad Council, National Assn. for the Education of Young Children and American Psychological Assn. Sponsors said goal was to “change peoples’ behaviors and therefore the messages they send to children.” Created by volunteer agency Flashpoint Advertising, campaign includes radio and TV PSAs -- 1-877-ACT-WISE or Web site www.actagainstviolence.org.

VoiceStream is partnering with RealNames to provide keyword wireless Web searching for Web-enabled cellphones. For example, typing in Zagat instead of full URL would take user directly to Web site. New Internet address system uses network of routers and proprietary “in-memory” databases created by RealNames that basically is “layered” over Internet, said Chief Technical Officer Nico Popp. In Nov., RealNames partnered with Phone.com, mobile internet software maker, by putting RealNames Keyword Navigation System on Phone.com’s UP.Link server. RealNames key word system is multilingual -- Japanese Kangi, for instance can be entered into system, Popp said.

Me. PUC opened docket to consider replacing current nonoptional extended local calling plans with optional programs customers can select. Currently, extended local calling surcharges become mandatory if majority of local customers want expansion and PUC approves. PUC said Tues. it was considering replacing current system with either selective extended calling, where customer may add one or more distant exchanges to local area for flat monthly fee per exchange or contiguous extended calling, where customer can add groups of contiguous distant exchanges for flat monthly fees. PUC will hold Jan. 31 workshop with industry to address implementation issues such as intercarrier compensation, specific rates and terms for customers, whether extended calling should be time-unlimited.

NATPE said its Jan. 21-25 convention in Las Vegas would highlight 3 major sessions designed to provide “insight about the hottest public policy issues” in Washington in new Bush Administration. One panel, “The Digital Spectrum: Repositioning TV as the Great Broadband Solution,” is to help broadcasters and programmers “better understand what the digital future holds,” Assn. said. Another session will focus on diversity behind and in front of camera, during which industry will be presented “report card” on its accomplishments in last 12 months. Third panel will be on “contentious issue of inappropriate television programming for children” -- subject that received attention of both major Presidential candidates last fall.