Textron names Tardanico as v.p. of corporate communications

PROVIDENCE – Textron Inc. announced Nov. 18 that Susan M. Tardanico has been named vice president of communications, overseeing all aspects of the corporation’s internal, external and marketing communications activities. She also has been appointed an officer of the corporation. Tardanico reports to Textron Executive Vice President Mary L. Howell.

“Effective strategic communications are vitally important to the achievement of our business objectives and our ultimate aspiration to become the premier multi-industry company. (Tardanico’s) proven track record and outstanding leadership capabilities, combined with her energy and expertise, make her exceptionally well-suited to this critical role,” said Howell.

Tardanico joined Textron in 1988, and during her 16-year tenure has held positions of increased responsibility, most recently serving as executive director corporate communications for the $10 billion multi-national corporation. Prior to joining Textron’s corporate office in 1994, she spent six years at the company’s Lowell, Mass.-based Specialty Materials division in various communications roles, culminating as director of communications and market development. In 2000, Tardanico assumed a special assignment in London to further hone her global communications skills.

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Gamer Graffix enters marketing agreement

PROVIDENCE – Gamer Graffix Worldwide Inc., a sister company of Tristar Merchandise, a product licensing company, announced it has entered into an agreement with Reverb Communications, a California-based marketing, sales and public relations agency, to handle promotion of their Gamer Graffix product line.

Reverb will handle marketing, sales and distribution of Gamer Graffix patent-pending protective “Skins,” which personalize the exteriors of video game consoles and other portable electronics.

“Gamer Graffix lets gamers add a unique personality skin to their console,” explained Chris White, CEO and owner/founder of Gamer Graffix Worldwide Inc. and Tristar Merchandise.

Google sued by adult magazine publisher

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Google Inc., the world’s most used search engine, was sued for copyright infringement by a publisher of adult magazines that says Google is allowing users to access stolen images from its publications and videos.

Perfect 10, which offers videos, magazines and a subscription-based Internet site, claims that “much of the adult content” located by Google searches comes from third-party Web sites that have infringed Perfect 10s copyrighted works, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court.

Google, whose shares have risen 99 percent since its August initial public offering, generates revenue by selling advertising linked to terms entered by consumers. Perfect 10’s suit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims Google infringes its copyrights by showing the stolen photos in a “Search Images” function and offering links to the infringing Web site.

Steve Langdon, a spokesman for Mountain View, Calif.-based Google, said he hasn’t seen the lawsuit and couldn’t immediately comment. (Bloomberg News)

APC introduces new distribution unit

WEST KINGSTON – American Power Conversion announced Nov. 17 the InfraStruXure 150kVA Power Distribution Unit, a higher-capacity, single rack-based solution that helps data center managers easily address changing power needs.

APC’s new InfraStruXure PDU product improves speed of deployment and adaptability, as well as lowers total cost of ownership for IT networks in small to large data centers. The new PDU is part of APC’s InfraStruXure system, an on-demand architecture that integrates power, cooling, management and services in a rack-optimized design.

Legislators urge FCC to avoid card-fee hike

WASHINGTON – U.S. lawmakers urged the Federal Communications Commission to avoid raising prices on prepaid calling cards used by military personnel. AT&T Corp. may benefit if regulators heed the request.

Congressional negotiators included the language, which isn’t binding, in a statement accompanying a $388 billion spending bill approved Nov. 20 by the House and Senate, said Melanie Alvord, spokeswoman for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican.

Phone-card issuers are required by the government to pay fees to competitors that help transmit the calls, and to set aside some sales for a fund that subsidizes phone service in rural and poor areas. AT&T, the No. 1 U.S. long-distance company, has avoided paying $500 million in those fees and opposes moves that would make prepaid cards more expensive.

The lawmakers’ position “could be helpful to AT&T in its efforts to shield its prepaid calling card” from the fees, Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc. Blair Levin wrote in a report. AT&T officials have said in interviews and regulatory filings that the company’s calling cards should be exempt from certain fees partly because the services are used by military personnel and low-income customers. The unpaid fees date to 1999, according to regulatory filings.

“At a time when our men and women in uniform are giving so much to our country, we are pleased that the Congress has directed the FCC to ensure that members of the military can affordably stay in touch with their friends and family,” AT&T said in a statement sent via e-mail.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell said AT&T’s failure to pay the fees may lead to fines and lawsuits.

“The FCC is considering subjecting these cards to increased regulation,” lawmakers wrote in the statement. “The conferees direct the FCC not to take any action that would directly or indirectly have the effect of raising the rates charged to military personnel or their families for telephone calls placed using prepaid phone cards.” (Bloomberg News)

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