The FCC won’t adopt changes to the E-rate Eligible Services List proposed by the Universal Service Administrative Co. (WID Sept 22 p3), the agency said Friday as it released the 2009 ESL. “As such, the funding year 2009 ESL … is the same as the funding year 2008 ESL,” it said. The FCC waived an agency rule requiring it to issue the ESL public notice at least 60 days prior to opening the E-Rate filing window, authorizing USAC to start taking submissions this Tuesday, the commission said.

Panelists differed Friday on U.S. models for international broadband competitiveness and domestic competition, at a forum of the Innovation Technology & Information Foundation. They did agree that a new national broadband policy that promotes competition is needed from the new presidential administration.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., wrested the Commerce Committee chair from John Dingell of Michigan in a 137-122 Democratic Caucus vote Thursday that stunned many of the closest observers of the hard-fought race. Waxman would not preview his plans for telecom policy, but he brings a strong technology background to his new post. He also is said to be more inclined than Dingell to back net neutrality legislation, a campaign promise of President-Elect Barack Obama. Waxman likely will look hard at the universal service fund. As Oversight Committee chairman, he investigated the top 24 major telecom companies receiving USF subsidies. He completed that investigation in the summer but announced no action.

Citing “devastation inflicted by Hurricane Omar,” Virgin Island Telephone asked the FCC for an emergency waiver of accounting rules that could reduce the company’s high-cost loop support under the Universal Service Fund. While the FCC considers the petition, it should tell the Universal Service Administrative Co. to put any reduction to high-cost subsidies on hold until Feb. 28, the company, Vitelco, said Wednesday in a petition. Vitelco expects to spend $2.5 million through mid-January repairing wireline infrastructure in the Virgin Islands, it said. Unless the FCC waives rules requiring that carriers include net salvage value in USF support calculations, the high plant removal costs combined with “relatively low plant investment over the last several years,” will mean it gets less USF high-cost money, Vitelco said. “This outcome is not appropriate because the negative net plant balance is not the result of an over-recovery of invested capital,” it said. Vitelco’s finances are strained because parent company Innovative Communications is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and because the Virgin Islands Public Service Commission is investigating Vitelco’s earnings, the company said. Vitelco expects the investigation to cost it more than $1 million, it said.

When the annual Future of TV conference was held seven years ago, talk centered around reality TV, global issues and interactivity. At this year’s event, which opened Tuesday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in lower Manhattan, the focus is on revenue challenges, Internet video, TiVo, and yes, interactivity.

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association rejected another rural carrier association’s proposed edits to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s overhaul for intercarrier compensation and the Universal Service Fund. The revised plan, which includes revisions by the Western Telecommunications Alliance and the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies, is one of three proposals currently out for comment. In a Monday letter to the FCC, NTCA shot down five changes, saying they would drive “many rural ILECs … out of business within ten years.” NTCA also condemned Martin’s original plan, saying it would be “a smothering blanket on efforts to extend and maintain broadband to the most rural, high-cost parts of the United States.” NTCA said the FCC should instead “adopt a set of completely new comprehensive [intercarrier compensation] and USF reform measures,” as described previously by NTCA. Formal comments on the three plans are due Nov. 26, with replies Dec. 3. FCC members other than Martin have said they want to vote on an overhaul at the Dec. 18 meeting, but Martin said Tuesday it’s unlikely that will happen (CD Nov 19 p2).

The FCC banned Joseph Mello of Connecticut from the Universal Service Fund E-Rate program for three years. Mello, who was vice president of Innovate Network Solutions, pleaded guilty to mail and income-tax fraud related to telecom upgrade projects in four Connecticut school districts, the commission said.

When the annual Future of TV conference was held seven years ago, talk centered around reality TV, global issues and interactivity. At this year’s event, which opened Tuesday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in lower Manhattan, the focus is on revenue challenges, Internet video, TiVo, and yes, interactivity.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin joked about his struggles to revamp the Universal Service Fund in remarks Tuesday at the FCBA Chairman’s Dinner. “When I saw what was happening with the subprime meltdown, I said to myself, ‘What can I do to help?'” he said. “My answer: Draft a plan that would shift around billions of dollars in universal service subsidies and cause overemployment for every telecom lawyer on K Street. It had no chance of passing, but that wasn’t the point.” Earlier that day, in a Phoenix Center conference, Martin told reporters that a December vote on the overhaul plan was unlikely (CD Nov 19 p2). At the dinner, a self-deprecating Martin also poked fun at his decision to sponsor a NASCAR vehicle, noting that it “crashed in two out of three races.” Listing his job options after he leaves the commission, he mentioned working in the NTIA mail room, sending out DTV coupons. Martin closed by thanking FCC staff. “This sense of achievement would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, public service and ability of the commission staff,” he said.

When the annual Future of TV conference was held seven years ago, talk centered around reality TV, global issues and interactivity. At this year’s event, which opened Tuesday at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in lower Manhattan, the focus is on revenue challenges, Internet video, TiVo, and yes, interactivity.