Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement talks are underway today in Seoul, South Korea, with proposals on the table that would force ISPs to watch for and ultimately punish illegal downloaders of copyrighted content. For now, reports on the substance of the talks is limited to a few press reports (see this IDG story as well as an analysis from the Electronic Frontier Foundation). For service providers, the desire to be good corporate citizens on this issue has to be balanced with the practical issue of how to implement such a scheme and the ongoing battles over the outer bounds of net neutrality.

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Even Cisco’s “small acquisitions” are driven by big ambitions. In a deal announced today, Cisco said it will buy the set-top box business of China’s DVN for a total of about $44.5 million to expand its cable TV/video reach in that growing market.

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If it can’t win customers’ loyalty through great devices and service, Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VOD, NYSE:VZ) may do so through exorbitant early termination fees. The carrier reportedly is doubling its ETFs — penalties consumers must pay if they back out of their contracts early — from $175 to $350. more