N.E. Voice and Data wins RI PUC award
PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Pubic Utilities Commission has ruled that Bell Atlantic must compensate New England Voice and Data of Marlboro, Mass., for Internet traffic that originated with Bell Atlantic customers. Bell Atlantic had announced that it was withholding compensation from NEVD for calls that NEVD was terminating because it believed that Internet traffic is largely interstate rather than local. According to the PUC decision NEVD and Bell Atlantic had agreed under their interconnections agreement that Interstate traffic would be treated as local and would compensate each other for terminating this traffic. NEVD is a single-source provider of telecommunications products and services supporting the telecommunications needs of business, government and institutional users in the Northeast.
AGs reach agreement in suit against Knoll
PROVIDENCE – Atty. Gen. Sheldon Whitehouse announced that the state’s Consumer Protection Unit, working with 36 other states has reached agreement in a class action suit against Knoll Pharmaceutical Co. and BASF Corporation. The suit arose from marketing practices involving the sale of Synthroid, Knoll’s brand of synthetic thyroid hormone product. As the result of the agreement, Kroll will pay a total of $41.8 million to the states, including $750,000 to Rhode Island. According to the announcement, the states charged in their suit that Kroll had violated their consumer protection laws by attempting to prevent the publication of a study which showed that Synthroid and some generic levothyroxine sodium products were bioequivalent and by claiming that Synthroid was unique and superior to competitive brands of levothryoxine sodium products. Synthroid and other levothryoxine sodium products are used in the treatment of hypothyroidism in which a person’s thyroid does not produce a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone. More than eight million people in the United States use the levothryoxine sodium treatment daily.
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
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EDC OKs sale of Alpha-Beta property
PROVIDENCE – Completion of the sale of the Alpha-Beta Technology property in Smithfield to Collaborative Group Ltd. of Long Island, New York, was reported by John Swen, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. The state is financing Collaborative’s purchase of the building and equipment plus intellectual capital by issuing $25 million in bonds. Collaborative announced it would employ 50 workers at the site earning salaries averaging $55,000 annually starting early next year. The manufacture of biopharmaceutical products is expected to start in September. When the plant reaches full capacity, the company said it plans to increase employment to 150.
Textron helicopters buys Tenn. customizer
PROVIDENCE – Bell Helicopter division of Textron has acquired Edwards & Associates Inc. of Bristol, Tenn., a manufacturer, designer and seller of customized helicopter kits ands accessories, as well as after-market sale of Bell helicopters. Bell is reportedly the world’s largest maker of commercial helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Edwards is also located in Stockton, Calif., and manufactures and sells more than 800 helicopter products. The two companies have been associated cooperatively for more than 20 years.
Westerly Sun sale to Conn. publisher reported
WESTERLY – Imminent sale of the Westerly Sun to the Record-Journal Publishing Co. of Meriden, Conn. has been reported in the Providence Journal. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. In one form or another, newspapers have been published in Westerly for 140 years by the Utter family. Since 1893 that paper has been called the Westerly Sun and published six days a week, skipping Saturday in deference to the religious observance of the Sabbath, as practiced by members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. One of the newspaper’s predecessors, the Sabbath Recorder, was founded by the Rev. George B. Utter, an ordained minister in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Eliot White, president and treasurer of the Record-Journal Publishing Co. announced that Dave Lucey, the general manager of the Record-Journal, would become publisher of the Sun, whose publisher, Dan O’Neil would become general manager.
Hasbro div. president to head Toysrus.com
PARAMUS, N.J. – John Barbour, president and chief executive officer of Hasbro’s OddzOn division, has been named president and chief executive of Toy ‘r’ Us’ on-line division, Toysrus.com, effective later this month. Toy ‘r’ Us is competing with Etoys and Amazon.com, which are selling both toys and children’s books through their websites. Before joining Hasbro, Barbour worked for Universal Matchbox Group, General Mills, Inc., Mars, Inc., and Procter & Gamble Co. Bloomberg News reported.
NASCAR champion signs pact with Hasbro
PAWTUCKET – Jeff Gordon, three-time NASCAR champion has signed a five-year contact to license and promote racing-car toys and games that Hasbro manufactures and sells with Action Performance. Gordon has won three of the last four Winston Cup championships. Hasbro also has contracts with drivers Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Bobby Labonte. The company also announced that it has agreed with the Gordon/Evernham Motorsports race team to sponsor Gordon’s car in five Busch Grand National Series races.
