Greece calls for bailout strategy from European Union

EUROPE

Greece makes appeal for bailout strategy

Greece's finance minister said a detailed rescue plan from other European Union nations would be the best way to soothe the crisis over market fears that Greece could default on debt payments.

Last week, euro nations pledged to aid Greece "if needed to guard financial stability in the euro area" -- but did not say how. Market worries have raised the cost of borrowing for Greece and pushed down the shared E.U. currency against the dollar.

Greece says it isn't asking for a bailout and won't need one. But George Papaconstantinou, the finance minister, said he would like to see E.U. countries "work out a mechanism so that if necessary the mechanism will be there" for member nations that cannot pay debts.

-- Associated Press

TELECOM

Comcast rebrands services in District

Comcast is trying to make over its image with a new name and marketing blitz in the District and several other markets.

Xfinity, the new name of its broadband, cable and phone service, was introduced recently to the area in newspaper, magazine and television ads, and comes as the firm attempts to turn itself into an entertainment powerhouse.

Comcast's $30 billion bid to merge with NBC Universal faces regulatory reviews. The company will keep the Comcast name, but a new brand for the services could help it start fresh from its reputation for poor customer service. The American Customer Satisfaction Index puts Comcast below average for the cable and satellite industry.

The move comes as firms race to provide faster Internet service; Google announced last week that it would test networks of 1 gigabit-per-second speeds -- about 100 times as fast as consumers now receive.