The global semiconductor supply chain clearly “was not completely prepared for the surge” in COVID-19-induced demand across most “end markets,” as technology and “data infrastructure” became “even more critical to the world's economy" during the pandemic's lockdown restrictions, said Marvell Technology Group CEO Matt Murphy on a fiscal Q4 call Wednesday. The supply chain “needs time to increase capacity,” and the “supply gap” seems likely to persist “at least” through Marvell’s fiscal year ending in January, he said.

Senators began sparring Wednesday over the American Rescue Plan Act COVID-19 budget reconciliation package (HR-1319), including whether to increase or retain proposed broadband funding. Formal debate on HR-1319 was expected to have begun after a vote to proceed on the measure that may happen Thursday. Lawmakers and communications officials are, meanwhile, looking at whether coming infrastructure legislation should include further funding for E-rate. The House passed HR-1319 last week with $7.6 billion for E-rate remote learning use (see 2103010050).

Universal Electronics Inc.’s goal in the connected home is to “help brands deliver managed services better and directly to the end users,” Arsham Hatambeiki, senior vice president-product and technology, told a virtual Parks conference last week. UEI is porting its QuickSet Cloud and voice assistant technologies, primarily used in the MVPD space for set-top boxes and remote controls, to the smart home space, announcing first steps last month (see 2102120042) through a smart thermostat. More connected products are due later this year. “We make finished products and software and services that integrate with existing [products],” Hatambeiki told the webinar, saying UEI onboards intelligence that can be put into HVAC equipment and appliances.

President Joe Biden's administration is developing policies on AI, 5G and other areas, likely building on work done under the last administration, NTIA officials said during an FCBA webinar Tuesday. Last year, under then-President Donald Trump, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology recommended increased national focus on AI (see 2007010041). At CES last year, the Trump administration unveiled principles to govern private-sector AI development (see 2001080067).

FuboTV is well-positioned with its “lead with sports” strategy and competitive pricing to battle for share among “cord-nevers,” Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter wrote investors Wednesday, after the company’s Tuesday investor webcast. Wedbush expects cord cutting and cord shaving to continue for the foreseeable future, an addressable market at 30 million currently and “likely growing by 3 million per year for the next 10 years."

Target's revenue soared past expectations, spiking 21% in Q4 to $28.3 billion for the quarter ended Jan. 30, but shares dropped after the retailer declined to provide revenue guidance for fiscal 2021, citing economic and COVID-19 uncertainties. The stock closed 6.8% lower Tuesday at $173.49.

Nearly 16 months into the Disney+ launch, Disney admits it underestimated the “non-family appeal” the service would have, CEO Bob Chapek told a virtual Morgan Stanley investor conference Monday. “When 50% of the people in Disney+ don't have kids, you really have the opportunity now to think much more broadly about the nature of your content.”

ProSource’s lighting initiative took a back seat to the coronavirus, and the buying group is hoping to get training back on track in 2021 for its custom installer members, Vice President-Business Development Andy Orozco told Consumer Electronics Daily.

Vizio’s 2020 net profit soared 344% to $102.48 million on an 11% net revenue increase to $2.04 billion, reported the vendor in an S-1 registration statement Monday for an initial public stock offering, its second try in five and a half years at going public. Vizio shipped 7.1 million smart TVs last year, up 20.3% from 2019 and 61.4% from 2018.

Connecticut’s attorney general supported a comprehensive privacy bill, with caveats including on enforcement. The legislature’s Joint Committee on General Law heard testimony on SB-893 at a webcast hearing Thursday. The New England Cable & Telecommunications Association (NECTA) supports the bill, which mirrors Virginia's, as long as no further changes are made, said Davis Wright privacy attorney Nancy Libin.