A measure adopted by the Senate to exempt the Universal Service Fund (USF) from the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA) (CD Sept 16 p9) would let rural telecom companies “continue investing in their networks,” 4 rural telecom groups said. “We look forward to working with members from the House… to create a permanent fix,” the Independent Telephone & Telecom Alliance, NTCA, OPASTCO and Western Telecom Alliance said. The measure would extend for one more year an existing exemption of the USF from ADA provisions.
FCC Chmn. Martin will propose a new Public Safety/Homeland Security Bureau to “coordinate public safety, national security and disaster management activities within the FCC,” he said at the FCC meeting in Atlanta. “The Bureau will develop policies and rules to promote effective and reliable communications for public safety, national security and disaster management,” he said.
Broadband video services would be federally regulated but local authorities authorized to assess franchise fees up to 5% of gross revenue, under a draft of the House Commerce Committee telecom update bill released Thurs. The bill would put VoIP services, broadband video services and “broadband Internet transmission services” (BITS) under federal regulatory authority. House leaders who worked on the legislation -- Committee Chmn. Barton (R- Tex.), ranking member Dingell (D-Mich.) Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton, ranking Subcommittee member Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Pickering (R-Miss.) -- agreed on the discussion draft Wed. and began distributing copies to members Thurs., House sources said.
The Senate unanimously adopted an amendment to the Commerce-State-Justice appropriations bill that would exempt the Universal Service Fund E-Rate program from Anti-Deficiency Act rules until Dec. 31, 2006. The amendment, offered by Sens. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) and Snowe (R-Me.), resembles a 2004 Congressional action that expires Dec. 31, 2005. The Senate approved the CSJ bill Thurs. 91-4.
The FCC said it planned to fine 2 international carriers for not contributing to the Universal Service Fund and filing related paperwork -- BCE Nexxia, which faces a $282,000 fine, and Telecom House, $529,300. The companies have 30 days to pay or seek reduction or cancellation of the fine. Canada-based BCE Nexxia provides international telecommunications in the U.S. and since 2003 also provides interstate service. Telecom House began providing service, such as 800 access for international calling and prepaid phone cards, in the U.S. in 2000.
As FCC Chmn. Martin and Comr. Copps visited the Gulf Coast Thurs., the Commission issued an agenda for its Sept. 15 open meeting devoted to “presentations” on Hurricane Katrina’s impact on communications. No action is expected.
State commissions in La., Miss. and Ala. soon will face Hurricane Katrina’s regulatory aftermath as telecom carriers continue to restore service and rebuild destroyed facilities. Regulators in states hardest hit by the storm are only now returning to work to address policy issues the storm left.
DTV legislation will be the first priority for Congress when it resumes session today (Tues.), with markups expected on House and Senate bills in the next 2 weeks. The bills will be part of a reconciliation package the House and Senate Commerce Committees must get to the Senate Budget Committee by Sept. 16. However, that deadline isn’t statutory and some expect a postponement, given the Supreme Court nomination hearings and focus on hurricane relief. The arrival within weeks of House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton’s (R-Tex.) baby might lead him to seek a deadline extension, some have speculated. Committee sources told us earlier this week there are no plans for a natal delay.
Responding to Hurricane Katrina, the 800 MHz Transition Administrator (TA) adjusted the band reconfiguration plan Fri., moving La. to Wave 3 from Wave 2, TA officials told us. Miss. and Ala. already are assigned to Wave 3, they said. “We wanted to give Louisiana more time” because “Wave 2 will be starting soon,” TA Attorney Robert Kelly said: “We will continue to monitor the situation” to decide if the La., Miss. and Ala. regions need further deferral. Meanwhile, parties disagreed on the pace of other rebanding efforts.
The FCC is likely to address digital radio multicasting and copyright protection issues at its agenda meeting Sept. 15, Commission sources said. “Parts are still in flux, but the FCC will address the issues,” an FCC source said.