Although the FCC Wireline Bureau scolded the Universal Service Administrative Co. for tardiness, the unit approved USAC’s procedures for reviewing forms seeking E-rate support in 2009. In a letter late Thursday, the bureau chided the body for filing only 14 days before the filing window closed for FCC form 471 applications. “While we appreciate USAC’s efforts, on a going forward basis we would ask that you provide the Bureau with USAC’s proposed PIA procedures at least 30 days prior to the close of the FCC Form 471 application window,” the bureau said. “This will allow the Bureau to provide USAC with feedback prior to the closing of the application filing window, enabling USAC to begin issuing funding commitment decision letters to applicants earlier in the funding year.”

Thirteen members of the health IT policy committee were announced Friday by the Comptroller General. The committee will make recommendations for a policy framework for a nationwide health information technology infrastructure. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, speaker and minority leader in the House and majority and minority leaders in the Senate will jointly appoint another seven members. The new members are: Christine Bechtel, vice president, National Partnership for Women & Families; Arthur Davidson, Denver Public Health Department; Adam Clark, director of research and policy, Lance Armstrong Foundation; Marc Probst, CIO, Intermountain Healthcare; Paul Tang, chief medical information officer, Palo Alto Medical Foundation; Scott White, assistant director, technology project director, 1199 SEIU Training and Employment Fund; LaTanya Sweeney, director, Data Privacy Lab, Carnegie Mellon University; Neil Calman, CEO, The Institute for Family Health; Connie Delaney, dean, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota; Charles Kennedy, vice president health information technology, Wellpoint; Judith Faulkner, CEO, Epic Systems Corp.; David Lansky, CEO, Pacific Business Group on Health; and David Bates, medical director for clinical and quality analysis, Partners HealthCare/Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

The White House has issued a press release on the President's April 2, 2009 meeting with South Korea's President. According to the press release, both Presidents agreed that the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement could bring benefits to both countries and committed to working together to chart a way forward. (Press release, dated 04/02/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-Following-President-Obamas-Meeting-with-President-Lee-of-the-Republic-of-Korea/.)

Congress should make cybersecurity, not net neutrality, its main communications priority in the year ahead, James Cicconi, AT&T senior executive vice president, told reporters. He said he expects quick action from the FCC and Congress on a Universal Service Fund overhaul because of growing recognition that the current system is broken. And he endorsed Verizon’s position that the 700 MHz D-block should be given to public-safety agencies for immediate use rather than go through a second auction.

House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman of California is reviving a Universal Service Fund investigation that he began last Congress, when he was the Oversight Committee chairman. Waxman sent a letter Wednesday to FCC acting Chairman Michael Copps asking for an “update to an earlier data request concerning universal service fund disbursements.” The information is needed because the committee is “likely to consider proposals to reform” the fund, the letter said. The data sought include an updated list of the top 10 recipients in the high-cost program in 2006, 2007 and 2008; a state-by-state list of total disbursements to the top 10 recipients; an updated list of the 10 largest per-line subsidies for each study area; a list of competitive eligible telecommunications carriers and the total support they receive in the study areas from 2006 to 2008; a state-by-state list of total USF high-cost support payments; and a state-by-state list of ETCs and the names of the carriers. The deadline for producing the information is April 23. Ranking member Joe Barton of Texas signed the letter, along with the leaders of the Communications subcommittee.

Regulations such as a la carte and net neutrality won’t help consumers and should be opposed, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Kay Hutchison of Texas told the NCTA convention. “I want to hold back on regulations that are going to stifle innovation,” she said. “I am very skeptical about Congress being able to do it right.” Minority House Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia delivered a similar but broader message at an NCTA lunch: “You don’t need to over-regulate. You need smart regulation.”

Regulations such as net neutrality won’t help consumers and should be opposed, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Kay Hutchison of Texas told the NCTA convention. “I want to hold back on regulations that are going to stifle innovation,” she said. “I am very skeptical about Congress being able to do it right.” Minority House Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia delivered a similar but broader message at an NCTA lunch: “You don’t need to over-regulate. You need smart regulation.”

EU officials Tuesday said they've probably reached agreement on most proposed revamps of European e- communications regulations. But they wouldn’t say what’s still under discussion. “We could agree on all the main issues” after Monday night’s ’trialogue’ among the European Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers, the information society and media commissioner, Viviane Reding, told reporters. Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer said he’s optimistic the deal will be clinched, but urged caution.

EU officials Tuesday said they've probably reached agreement on most proposed revamps of European e- communications regulations. But they wouldn’t say what’s still under discussion. “We could agree on all the main issues” after Monday night’s ’trialogue’ among the European Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers, the information society and media commissioner, Viviane Reding, told reporters. Czech Interior Minister Ivan Langer said he’s optimistic the deal will be clinched, but urged caution.

Leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee seem to have started winning over two prominent critics of the Patent Reform Act (S-515). Its damages “apportionment” provision has defined the debate (WID March 11 p5). Sens. Jon Kyl, R- Ariz., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., are co-sponsors of a manager’s amendment for S-515 approved by the committee in a markup Thursday. So is Ranking Member Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who stopped the bill on the Senate floor last Congress. Last week, Kyl quietly introduced his own overhaul bill (S-610), which leaves damages calculations unchanged. But Feinstein made clear at the markup she won’t tolerate anything less than “true compromise” on damages from the high-tech industry and its Senate supporters.