Welcome to the broadband news roundup, T.G.I.F edition.

Arris Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRS) has taken a minority stake (the amount wasn't disclosed) in Rev2 , an OSS software startup that specializes in business risk analytics. Via the collection and aggregation of network data, Rev2's goal is to help service providers prevent outages and cut down on truck rolls and repeat service calls by prioritizing preventative maintenance and identifying system-wide issues brought on by chronically failing equipment. As part of the investment, Arris will integrate and co-sell Rev2's RiskView software to cable operators around the globe.

Rev2 also announced the promotion of CTO Robert Cruickshank III to CEO. Before joining Rev2, Cruickshank was VP of Customer Service, Operations Center at Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC). And he knows a few things about Arris -- he spent part of his career there as VP of operations and business support, coming on board in 2004 after Arris bought C-COR Inc., where Cruickshank had served as VP, worldwide market strategy and chief corporate technologist and architect. (See Arris Acquires C-COR.)

More changes are afoot at Charter Communications Inc. as new CEO and former Cablevision exec Tom Rutledge settles in. On Thursday, the operator announced that President of Operations Steve Apodaca will leave after a nine-year stint with the company. He reported to Charter COO John Bickham, another ex-Cablevision exec. (See Another Ex-Cablevision Exec Lands at Charter.)

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has formed a 4K Working Group focused on the higher-resolution, next-generation HDTV platform, with the first meeting set for June 20. Notably, ESPN VP of Strategic Business Planning Bryan Burns will head up 4K discussions with content providers, producers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) CMO Mike Ritter told CNET that broadband pricing will indeed rise when the company releases its new FiOS tiers, led off by its new 300Mbit/s (downstream) service. But he said more flexibility in service bundles may enable some Verizon customers to pay less each month than they are now. (See Verizon Tees Up 300-Meg FiOS Tier .)

Cox Communications Inc. has promoted Paul Cronin to SVP of customer experience, where he'll handle customer care across the operator's service lines. He most recently served as GM of Cox's New England-Cleveland system, and is late of Media One and Continental Cablevision (now both part of Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)).

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable