Bucknell SBDC offers broadband seminar... [Derived headline]

Bucknell SBDC offers broadband seminar

LEWISBURG -- The Bucknell University Small Business DevelopmentCenter (SBDC) will offer the seminar, "Broadband Internet Access: AneBusiness necessity: A Look at Availability and Broadband DependentBusiness Applications," from 8 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the NewGovernment Center. Presenters include James Baker, chief,Information Technologies Group, SEDA-COG; Michael Cubbins, Verizon;Robert Brown, director, PTAC, SEDA-COG; and Keith Brown, projectmanager, Vertex Internet.

Topics include: regional broadband landscape and outreachactivities; video choice legislation and broadband deployment;wireless broadband technologies; why a web presence is necessary intoday's marketplace; using the Internet to find federal and statebid opportunities; the online federal and state vendor registrationprocess; using a Web site to market business to the federalgovernment; electronic invoicing requirements for federalcontracting; DOD-online bidding with the defense supply centers; andfinding federal military drawings and specs.

The seminar is free and includes handouts and refreshments.Seating is limited; registration is required. Call 577-1249, emailSBDC@bucknell.edu, or register online at http://www.bucknell.edu/SBDC/

The Bucknell SBDC also provides free small business consultingservices to residents of Juniata, Montour, Northumberland, Perry,Snyder and Union counties. To request free business consultingservices, complete the online request at http://www.bucknell.edu/SBDC/

Workshop for home improvement contractors

LEWISBURG -- Home improvement contractors in central Pennsylvaniaare invited to take part in a workshop focused on home energymarkets. It is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. Friday at the Union CountyGovernment Center.

Attendance is limited to home improvement contractors. Pre-registration for the workshop is required, and there is a $10 fee.To register, visit www.seda-cog.org/energy or call Kay Aikey at 800-332-6701.

Freescale to be bought by consortium

Texas (AP) -- Freescale Semiconductor Inc., a maker of cell-phone chips that was spun off by Motorola Inc., said Friday itagreed to be purchased by a private-equity consortium for $17.6billion.

The announcement comes days after Austin-based Freescale, whichhas been a publicly traded company for just over two years,confirmed it was in talks for a possible "business transaction."

The price of $40 per share represents a premium of about 7.6percent over Freescale's Friday closing share price of $37.16 on theNew York Stock Exchange. The shares were trading at $39.43 in theafter-hours session, after the deal was announced.

The company's board has unanimously approved the transaction.

The consortium is led by Blackstone Group and includes CarlyleGroup, Permira Funds and Texas Pacific Group. The deal includes aprovision under which Freescale may solicit alternative bids fromthird parties for the next 50 calendar days.