Rogers prepares for Netflix by lowering download limits; Virgin Media may be talking digital content service with SeaChange

> There could be a brouhaha brewing north of the border where Canadian MSO Rogers Communications (NYSE: RCI) has lowered limits on some of its Internet usage plans, apparently without explanation. The MSO's top plan is 80 gigs a month compared to the previous 90 and its light plan has dropped from 15 GB from 25. The moves came shortly after Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) said it would invade the great white north this fall with a video-on-demand service. Story.

> Virgin Media (Nasdaq: VMED) is reportedly in talks with U.S. vendor SeaChange (Nasdaq: SEAC) over the launch of a new "pause and resume" service that would let subscribers watch digital TV content on the move. Story.

> Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) said it has developed what it calls a "compact" IPTV solution to support IPTV networks between 1,000 and 100,000 set-top boxes. The compact part must refer to the hardware, which is powered by Microsoft Mediaroom, because there's nothing compact about 100,000 set-top boxes. For what it's worth, Cinergy MetroNet is the first to use the technology, feeding about 50,000 (and there's a nice number slotted compactly into the middle) in six cities in Indiana. News release.

> Frontier Communications (NYSE: FTR) , which delivers broadband to multiple rural communities, was a little offended by the FCC's recent comments that broadband is lacking in, well, in rural communities. "Even with an average density of just 13 homes per square mile, Frontier has delivered high-speed broadband service to 92 percent of the homes and businesses in its legacy territories," the carrier said in a news release.

> About 35 percent of Cox Communications'  workforce in Middle Georgia (70 employees) will be laid off as the MSO consolidates with Cox Florida. On the other hand, about 50 new jobs will be created, the service provider said. Story.

And finally... Here's a surprise. Only days after SCTE named Daniel Howard as the first CTO in the organization's history and specifically charged him with improving its understanding of IP, it released news that the annual Cable-Tec Expo workshop agenda this year will ... wait for it, spotlight IP technologies. Ya think? News release.