The potential benefits of Wi-Fi and how best to encourage the roll out of the Internet across the world are among the likely hot topics at the ITU’s 2004 Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) next week, which for the first time will be chaired by a U.S. regulator -- FCC Comr. Abernathy. Abernathy told us Mon. she’s approaching the session with an open mind and the U.S. also has much to learn, for example on how other nations are handling universal service.
State regulators don’t see a VoIP-like FCC preemption of broadband over power lines (BPL), said Mich. PSC Comr. Laura Chappelle, who heads the NARUC BPL task force. “I don’t see the FCC or FERC [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] as overly anxious to jump and try to preempt BPL,” she told us. The task force is in the final stages of its BPL inquiry and expects to present a white paper to NARUC by Feb., she added.
As House and Senate staff closed offices for Thanksgiving, the prospects of several telecom bills seemed extremely bleak due to struggles over Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain’s (R-Ariz.) boxing bill. House, Senate and industry sources indicate there don’t appear to be negotiations on the issue. House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.) objects to moving the boxing legislation, and sources said McCain will let nothing else pass unless the boxing bill is passed.
Pa. legislation on broadband deployment -- which could prevent Philadelphia and all other Pa. “political subdivisions” from providing high-speed Internet access to residents -- isn’t expected to get action from the governor until next week, officials said. But Philadelphia officials said the bill wouldn’t kill plans for a citywide public Wi-Fi network. The legislation (HB- 30) sent to Gov. Gov. Edward Rendell (D) includes a controversial provision that prohibits cities and towns from providing their residents with high-speed Internet access services “for any compensation,” unless the incumbent local exchange carrier says it has no plans to provide such services.
The Ariz. Corporation Commission (ACC) staff agreed that Qwest’s price regulation plan needs amendment but disagreed on the amount of relief Qwest should get. Qwest’s petition claimed a $318 million revenue shortfall, which it wanted to make up through additional pricing flexibility, basic-service rate increases and a larger draw from the state universal service fund. The ACC staff, however, said Qwest’s deficiency claim is exaggerated because of an excessive depreciation allowance. The staff (Case T-01051B-06-0454) proposed changes that would increase Qwest’s revenue by about $11 million. The staff would keep the caps on basic services unchanged, but allow Qwest cost-based increases on selected optional and discretionary services. The staff disagreed with Qwest’s proposal to declare the state’s major cities to be competitive market zones where the carrier would have broad freedom across the board to change prices in response to the market. The ACC staff urged that Qwest instead should be required to apply for pricing freedom by specific zip codes and demonstrate to the commission that there’s enough competition to warrant pricing freedom. The staff also opposed Qwest’s plan to expand the size of the state universal service fund by $64 million and allow Qwest and other local providers to draw out these additional funds. Qwest’s reply to the staff’s comments is due Dec. 10. Hearings in the case are to start Feb. 10.
Congress left town without acting on some telecom bills, but also left a window of opportunity for telecom- related legislative measures to move in Dec. Congress finished its most important work -- the omnibus appropriations bill -- and set time to allow work to continue on intelligence reform, meaning there’s a chance telecom actions could be taken as well. Congress this weekend did approve the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) and the Senate approved FCC Comr. Adelstein for a 2nd term (CD Nov 21, Special Report). The omnibus appropriations bill also included a ban on the FCC’s imposing a USF “primary line restriction” and an exemption of AT&T from collecting fees on calling card use.
Congress left town but also left a window of opportunity for telecom-related legislative measures to move this year. Congress finished its most important work -- the omnibus appropriations bill -- and set time to allow work to continue on intelligence reform. Congress this weekend did approve the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) and the Senate approved FCC Comr. Adelstein for a 2nd term. The omnibus appropriations bill included several telecom-related items, including a ban on the FCC’s imposing a USF “primary line restriction” and an exemption of AT&T from collecting fees on calling card use.
At our deadline, several communications-related issues had yet to be resolved as time wound down on the 108th Congress. The fate of many seemed tied to boxing legislation pushed by Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.), which has some House opposition. Industry and congressional sources said McCain was insisting on passage of the boxing bill before other bills pass.
Members of Congress were still trying to push forward several telecom measures on Thurs. as Congress prepares to wrap up a “lame-duck” session. Senate sources said the Senate was likely to move at least 3 telecom bills in a legislative package that would also include Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain’s (R-Ariz.) bill to establish a national boxing commission. The package would include the spectrum relocation trust fund, E-911 legislation and a bill that would temporarily exempt the universal service fund and E-rate from Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA) accounting requirements, which have raised fears that millions in E-rate funds couldn’t be delivered. Sen. Snowe (R-Me.) introduced a bill Wed. (S-2994) that would create the temporary exemption. But Senate sources told us the package could unravel. McCain was adamant that the boxing provision remain in, but Senate staffers indicated there could be objections to the measure in the House. One source said there were worries that House leadership could block the package to retaliate against McCain for voting against energy legislation supported by House leadership. And Senate source said the House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.) could try to add spyware legislation to the package.
The prospects for FCC Comr. Adelstein to be renominated to the Commission appeared bright Thurs. after his hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee. Senators from both parties praised his attention to rural issues and Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) told reporters afterwards that he expected Adelstein’s nomination to pass.