As expected, Sen. Landrieu (D-La.) introduced legislation Tues. t...

designed to aid Northpoint, which seeks to share spectrum with DBS service providers in that range of spectrum. In Senate floor speech, Landrieu said bill was essential to ensure rapid deployment of Multichannel Video Distribution & Data Service (MVDDS), which will provide competition for both cable and broadband services. It has several notable co-sponsors, including Senate Minority Leader Lott (R-Miss.), Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee ranking Republican Burns (Mont.), Senate Judiciary Committee Chmn. Leahy (D-Vt.), Senate Small Business Committee Chmn. Kerry (D-Mass.). Other co-sponsors are Sens. Baucus (D-Mont.), Dodd (D-Conn.), Mikulski (D- Md.), Gregg (R-N.H.). Bill was sent to Senate Commerce Committee, of which Landrieu isn’t member. She said FCC decision to subject MVDDS providers, and not satellite companies, to auction process was “discriminatory tax on an innovative new technology.” She also said auction process was producing effects opposite of original intention. “In this case, industry incumbents can use the auction to block the introduction of new competition.” Under ECCA, applicants that can demonstrate through independent testing that technology won’t cause harmful interference to DBS operators would be granted licenses. Bill also would require services to build out systems within 5 years, not 10 now required by FCC. Parties that apply for licenses under that provision would have to assume specific public interest obligations, including full must-carry of local television stations, Landrieu said. Also, 4% of system capacity must be set aside for other purposes, such as telemedicine and distance learning. ECCA would require MVDDS licensees to air Emergency Alert System warnings, Landrieu said, which often aren’t seen by DBS viewers. Licensees would have to make transmission systems available to national security and emergency preparedness personnel in national emergency, she said. Landrieu said Consumers Union supported legislation since it would foster competition with cable, which she said had raised rates 45% since it was deregulated in 1996. “MVDDS can go head-to-head with incumbent cable systems everywhere, and I believe that this good old-fashioned competition will result in lower prices and better service for consumers -- even those who don’t choose to subscribe to MVDDS,” Landrieu said. Legislation also has been endorsed by National Grange, farm and rural public interest organization, she said. Burns said bill would give rural TV viewers in Mont. opportunity to get local TV stations, where DBS providers don’t offer local TV to residents.