Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) reported third quarter earnings today of $1.67 billion or $0.59 diluted earnings per share on $24.7 billion in revenue. Net income was up 31 percent. Adjusted earnings per share was $0.66. Revenue was up 4.1 percent year on year, just above a poll of analysts by Thomson Reuters (NASDAQ: TRIN) which had forecast revenue of $24.5 billion.

Although they don't currently target ads to their broadband subscribers, representatives from *AT&T*, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon Communications appeared before a Senate committee and promised to adopt a system that would seek customers permission first before serving behavioral ads, ClickZ reported. In a period of increased scrutiny on behavioral targeting, cable companies and telcos are still holding out hope that they can convince lawmakers to allow the industry to self-regulate.

ATandT, Time Warner Cable and Verizon Communications vowed Thursday that they will not provide information about subscribers' Web activity to ad companies without first obtaining users' explicit consent. Testifying at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing about broadband providers and privacy chaired by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), representatives from the Internet service provider representatives said their companies had not in the past deployed behavioral targeting techniques.

Lotsa digital media-related legal news coming out today: