Several cable operators awaiting FCC approval of basic-tier encryption likely will get an order approving it industrywide, officials said. Cable, consumer electronics and nonprofit officials said the Media Bureau continues work toward an order (CD Feb 14 p7) that would OK encryption by any operator that takes certain steps to make subscribers with older TVs whole after scrambling, such as by giving them a CableCARD for free for a period of time. The coming order would let all-digital systems scramble signals of TV stations and pay networks to cut down on theft and perhaps help the environment by eliminating service calls.

Among the most significant after-effects of the FCC’s rejection of LightSquared’s proposal for terrestrial use of satellite frequencies is likely to be a renewed focus on receiver standards, officials said. The likely next step is release of a public notice by the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology aimed at trying to find some consensus, an FCC official said Wednesday. A workshop on the issue is also likely. A document requesting guidance on how to tackle the many issues presented has been in the works for some time and is likely to be released shortly, the official said. The FCC took on receiver standards one time before, formally ending an inquiry five years ago.

The FCC unanimously approved an order Wednesday extending outage reporting rules to interconnected VoIP service providers. As expected (CD Feb 15 p3), the order imposes rules similar to those that already apply to legacy systems, is limited to the complete outage of a company’s own interconnected VoIP services, and doesn’t contemplate broadband reporting. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the new rules would close a “glaring gap” that has prevented the commission from obtaining the information it needs to analyze major VoIP outages.

Comcast said in an earnings call it’s set to introduce a slew of new products in 2012, while also working to bring down its capital spending. Upgrades to its network it has already made, such as installing digital converter adapters in customer homes, DOCSIS 3.0 equipment in its headends and state-of-the art servers at its content delivery network facilities will leave it poised to bring new products to customers quicker and more cost-effectively, it said. Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts said he expects the introduction of a new cloud-enabled set-top box called the X1, formerly Xcalibur, could be just as important a technology rollout as some of the company’s other recent initiatives.

Rural telecom companies protested the FCC’s Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation revamp efforts, in testimony at a hearing Wednesday of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare. Witnesses also complained about high administrative costs to apply for federal grants and loans. Subcommittee leaders urged accelerated broadband buildout, particularly in rural areas. Chairman Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., urged passage of her bill (HR-2128) to stop the federal government from imposing penalties on health care providers who can’t make electronic prescriptions.

The FCC approved changes to its telemarketing rules, hindering the placing of unwanted automated telemarketing calls, also known as “robocalls.” The Commission voted 3-0 Wednesday to approve the report and order which changes current rules and eliminates loopholes telemarketers have been using to make the calls.

The FCC International Bureau proposed to block LightSquared from beginning terrestrial service (CD Feb 15 p1), severely dampening the company’s prospects and possibly increasing the likelihood of a bankruptcy filing in the near future. While the agency initiated Wednesday a proceeding on the proposals, many consider that process largely perfunctory, said industry observers.

GENEVA -- The ITU should “maintain its focus on the management of frequency assignments,” not take on the operational role of assigning identification numbers to satellites or becoming involved in satellite tracking, a U.S. official told us. A World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) decision aims to assign and use an identification number for spacecraft as part of due diligence information submitted for certain broadcasting satellite service (BSS) networks in regions other than the Americas, officials said. Use of a new “queue jumping” concept for priority access for certain satellite network filings should not be considered in other bands or situations in the future, the U.S. official said. Further approvals will be needed this week before the decisions become final.

The FCC’s VoIP outage reporting order will impose rules fairly analogous to the obligations facing traditional TDM voice services, industry and agency officials said Tuesday. The order, scheduled for a vote at Wednesday’s FCC meeting, will limit VoIP outage reporting requirements to hard outages of a company’s own interconnected VoIP services, the officials said. A “hard outage” refers to calls that, once originated, cannot be terminated.

Candidates in political campaigns are increasingly using cellphones and mobile technologies, which is fundamentally transforming politics in the U.S. and around the world, said speakers at a Brookings Institution panel on mobile technology’s impact on political campaigns. Experts said how candidates are using mobile technologies is getting more sophisticated as the 2012 campaign season unfolds.