InFocus will ship a DLP-based front projector for the videogame market late Q3 priced at $500-$600, CEO Kyle Ranson told analysts in an earnings conference call. Ranson offered few details on the device, but last fall did tell investors it would contain Texas Instruments’ 0.43” DLP chip with 640x480 resolution and be packaged with a 1,000-hour Philips UHP lamp (CED Nov 8 p1). The projector is expected to be promoted with an optional docking station ($99) with a DVD player sold on its own or in a bundle, depending on the distribution channel.

Govt. should take a hands off approach to video and broadband services, said cable and telco officials and state regulators. Whether the subject was net neutrality, state telecom regulation or the universal service fund, most speakers at a Federalist Society conference said deregulation is the best course. NCTA Pres. Kyle McSlarrow and USTA Pres. Walter McCormick said net neutrality rules could delay the enhancement of broadband services. Their groups and other competing interests have joined to fight Internet rules (WID May 3 p4).

Prospects are good for passage of a telecom bill the President can sign this Congress, House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) told a Tues. National Journal breakfast. “Their bill is not all that far away from ours,” Upton said, referring to a Senate telecom bill introduced Mon. (WID May 2 p3). That bill, especially its franchise provision, offers a “hook” to get something into conference where the 2 can be reconciled, Upton said.

Prospects are good for passage of a telecom bill the President can sign this Congress, House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) told a Tues. National Journal breakfast. “Their bill is not all that far away from ours,” Upton said, referring to a Senate telecom bill introduced Mon. (CD May 2 p1). That bill, especially its franchise provision, offers a “hook” to get something into conference where the 2 can be reconciled, Upton said.

Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) Mon. introduced a telecom bill reflecting several members’ input but lacking strong Democratic support. The 10-title bill hits Universal Service Fund (USF) reform, municipal broadband, net neutrality, white spaces and broadcast flag, and would close the terrestrial loophole for cable. Bell companies applauded the Stevens bill.

Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) Mon. introduced a telecom bill reflecting several members’ input but lacking strong Democratic support. The 10-title bill hits municipal broadband, net neutrality, white spaces, broadcast flag and Universal Service Fund (USF) reform and would close terrestrial loophole for cable. Bell companies applauded the Stevens bill.

The FCC is close to issuing an order classifying prepaid calling card services as telecom services subject to Universal Service Fund contributions and access charge payments, Medley Global Advisors said last week. The proceeding grows out of a Feb. 2005 FCC decision that AT&T had to make universal service contributions and pay intrastate access charges on revenues from an enhanced prepaid calling card. AT&T said its enhanced card was an information service, but the FCC ruled it a telecom service and subject to payments.

The federal govt. must take the lead in building a stronger national information assurance policy, a former DHS adviser said Thurs. A 2-tier structure would help the federal govt. establish priorities among escalating cyber security breaches, said Paul Kurtz, exec. dir.-Cyber Security Industry Alliance.

Congress can’t just rely on free market principles in deciding how rural communications should be regulated, said a paper prepared for the Foundation for Rural Service. The U.S. Constitution requires Congress to act in the “general welfare” which “requires Congress to make a value judgment about the impact of its choices on rural communities and rural customers as well as urban areas,” the paper said: “That value judgment is not always consistent with free market theories that elevate competition and economic efficiency above all else… There are important reasons for going beyond the limited economic analysis that free marketers tout… It is in the best interest of the nation to first ask what policies will promote the general welfare before assuming that laissez-faire is the best course of action.” For example, the paper said, “a regulatory regime is essential to the continued functioning of universal service programs.” The paper said universal service should have an overlay of federal law, because without it “contributions from providers would be difficult to achieve and regulators would be free to abandon universal service.” If Congress made universal service “a goal and not a mandate,” state regulators could create “arbitrary” definitions of universal service, supported services, funding methodology and administration,” the paper said. However, there’s room for improvement in federal law, the paper said: “The law needs to specify that emerging service providers that benefit from connection to the network must make equitable contributions to universal service, just like every other provider.” The paper also criticized the FCC for distorting the goals of universal service “by turning support into an incentive for ‘cream skimming’ and artificial competition.”

A federal grand jury in Columbia, S.C. returned a 12- count indictment against a former school district official for a scheme to defraud the E-rate program. Cynthia Ayer, former technology dir. of Bamberg County School District One, Bamberg, S.C., was charged with making fraudulent applications for E-rate funding. The indictment, returned April 19, said she submitted $3.5 million in fraudulent applications for E-rate funding after awarding contracts to her own company, Go Between Communications, without competitive bidding. DoJ said Ayer has received $468,000 in payments from the Universal Service Administrative Co.