Business news in brief

The Federal Communications Commission released Thursday the 400-page text of its open Internet order that passed, 3-2, in a partisan vote on Feb. 26. Senior FCC officials reiterated that the government agency did not intend to regulate Internet rates or packages. But industry leaders say provisions in the order could allow consumers to complain to the agency about rates, leading to potential investigation and action. Comcast Corp. and other telecommunications companies opposed the FCC's order as heavy regulation, and challenges are expected in federal court. - Bob Fernandez

The Food and Drug Administration released stricter guidelines for manufacturers of reusable medical instruments, including specialized endoscopes used in about a half-million U.S. medical procedures each year. For the first time, the FDA is asking manufacturers to submit scientific data showing that their devices can be safely disinfected. The government announcements come amid escalating criticism of the FDA's oversight of the hard-to-clean devices, which have been linked to sometimes-fatal outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at several hospitals. Some of the "superbug" cases occurred at a Philadelphia hospital in 2014. One of the manufacturers, Olympus, has a facility in Center Valley. - Associated Press

Pennsylvania American Water said Thursday that it would spend $6.7 million this year to rehabilitate 15 water storage tanks, including three in the Philadelphia area. The private water utility said it would sandblast and repaint a 1.2 million-gallon ground storage tank in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County, a 1.1 million-gallon ground storage tank in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County, and a 250,000 gallon elevated tank in Coatesville, Chester County. The repairs involve stripping the original paint and applying a coating that extends the life of the tanks. - Andrew Maykuth

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Bill Ryan said Thursday during a budget hearing in Harrisburg that the board was still waiting for information needed to evaluate applicants for a casino license at the Lawrence Downs harness-racing track in Mahoning Township. Penn National Gaming Inc. is the managing partner for the group, which filed its application in May 2013. Local investors in Endeka Entertainment L.P. were led by insurance executive Manuel Stamatakis, who owns slightly more than 18 percent. Stamatakis' investment partners - builder Peter DePaul, lawyer Thomas Leonard, Flyers owner Ed Snider, and the Melissa Silver Trust, a charitable family trust controlled by the late Lewis Katz's daughter - each own 17.988 percent of Endeka. - Harold Brubaker

Cedric Rockamore has been named vice president in charge of American Airlines and merger partner US Airways' hub operations at Philadelphia International Airport, the airline said. Rockamore currently runs American-US Airways operations at Reagan National Airport in Washington. Before that, he was US Airways director of ramp services in Philadelphia. Joe Taney, the current vice president of the American-US Airways hub in Philadelphia, will take on a larger role overseeing the technology integration and operational systems at seven airports as American and US Airways combine frequent-flier programs and move to a single ticket reservation system this year. - Linda Loyd

Destination Maternity Corp. reported a 2 percent decline in same-store sales for the quarter that ended Jan. 31. Besides moving its headquarters from Philadelphia to Moorestown, the company is shifting to a financial reporting calendar to align with the National Retail Federation's fiscal calendar. The change is effective with the company's fiscal year 2015, which began Feb. 1 and will end Jan. 31, 2016. - Inquirer staff

Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose this week yet remained near historic lows reached in May 2013. Long-term rates resumed their upward trend of recent weeks after declining last week. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said the national average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased to 3.86 percent from 3.75 percent last week. The average rate for a 15-year mortgage rose to 3.10 percent from 3.03 percent last week. - AP

Google-backed genetic testing company 23andMe is launching its own drug development unit, betting that it can translate its database of customer DNA information into novel medicines. The Silicon Valley-based company is best known for its saliva-based test kits, which offer users the chance to peek into their genetic code for clues about their ancestral past. - AP

Intel Corp., the world's largest chip maker, reduced its first-quarter sales forecast, citing lower than anticipated demand for corporate computers and weakening economies, particularly in Europe. Intel's chips are in more than 80 percent of PCs, making its earnings a bellwether for the industry. - Bloomberg News