Charter backs FCC Lifeline efforts; AT&T comes under fire for $100M California cash grab

More cable news from across the Web:

> Charter Communications released a statement, confirming its support for the FCC's efforts to modernize its Lifeline program. CED Magazine story

> Time Warner Inc. led a $15 million investment into Mashable that will include Kevin Reilly, chief creative officer of Time Warner's Turner Networks division, getting a seat on the digital publishing platform's board. Deadline Hollywood story

> Lionsgate and Kevin Hart have partnered on a new VOD platform, Laugh Out Loud, which will be the exclusive home of video content created during the comedian's tours and feature-filming efforts. Deadline Hollywood story

> Dish Network is providing free previews of the Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network. Multichannel News story

Telecom News

> AT&T has begun testing G.fast technology in its labs and now is looking at how it could be used to bring up to 300 Mbps to multi-dwelling units (MDUs) by leveraging a building's existing wire versus installing fiber to individual premises. Article

> AT&T has come under fire from a telecom consultant who claims the telco is negotiating an agreement with the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) that would apparently provide AT&T $100 million to bring broadband service to nearly all of the state's residents. Article

Wireless Tech News

> Yet another acronym can be added to the list: IoST, for the Internet of Small Things, which presumably is something different from the Internet of Things (IoT) and also known by the term NB-IoT, for narrowband network. Article

> Ericsson is asking the FCC to grant it the ability to modify an existing license so it can advance its 5G testing with Verizon. Article

Wireless News

> The analysts at Wells Fargo Securities expect BlackBerry to report shipping roughly 850,000 Priv smartphones during the company's most recent quarter, a figure the financial analyst firm said would help push the vendor's overall corporate quarterly revenues to around $571 million -- slightly above Wall Street expectations of $565 million. Article

And finally… Cable channel Disney XD will air 18 ultra-low-budget videos produced by Maker Studios creators. Variety story