FCC has primary responsibility for encouraging broadband penetration, and FCC Chmn. Powell “is whipping the snail as fast as he can whip it,” said Bruce Mehlman, assistant Commerce Secy., Office of Technology Policy, at Fiber-to-the- Home Council meeting Wed. in Reston, Va. Powell, meanwhile, made it clear that FCC was willing to take on that responsibility, telling audience at unrelated event that FCC’s job was to lead in broadband policy development, even though that’s unusual role for regulatory agency. Powell was hosting “international policymakers” discussion on broadband at FCC hq, hoping to increase interest.

FCC denied EchoStar extension of time to launch DBS service at 175 degrees W. orbit location. Permits for 175 W. were issued in 1989 and no progress has been made toward implementation of service, and authorizations to operate 22 channels were cancelled, Commission said, and spectrum will be reassigned. EchoStar had requested extension of operation milestones until Dec., but were required to start DBS operations by Aug. 15, 1999, and Nov. 30, 1998. In 1993, Commission determined EchoStar met first due diligence requirement and assigned company 22 channels 175 W. Original deadline to begin operations was Aug. 1995. EchoStar can appeal decision. It’s one of first times major DBS company has been denied “routine extension,” industry source said: “I don’t know what you could write into it, but it could portend bad things to come” for EchoStar. Industry lawyer said decision shows Commission “is tightening up” on milestones.

Internal Dept. of Defense (DoD) data don’t reflect claims of commercial wireless interference with military training on U.S. bases, General Accounting Office (GAO) Defense Capabilities & Management Dir. Barry Holman said Wed. However, Holman told House Govt. Affairs Committee that negative effects of encroachment on defense facilities from sources such as commercial radiofrequency interference could rise. He said: “Over time, the impact of encroachment has gradually increased. Because most encroachment problems are caused by population growth and urban development, these problems are expected to increase in the future.”

FCC established new out-of-band emission limits for certain mobile earth station terminals (METs) used for Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) communications in report and order (R&O) released Wed. Restrictions apply to METs operating in 1610-1660.5 MHz band and METS in 1990-2025 MHz. Commission said it was imposing limits to prevent METS from interfering with aeronautical reception of satellite radionavigation signals in 1559-1610 MHz band. Specifically, limits are designed to improve flight safety by ensuring that emissions from METS won’t impair aircraft radionavigation during instrument approach and landing.

FCC could hasten telecom facility deployment on tribal lands by heightening awareness of its Tribal Bidding Credits program, Space Data CEO Gerald Knoblach said. Program reduces costs for winners of wireless auction bids as long as those companies receive commitments from federally recognized tribes to allow deployment of wireless facilities on tribal lands. “Carriers’ carrier” Space Data, which is deploying national network of “balloon-borne wireless repeaters,” has had “generally” positive experience in acquiring such bidding credits, Knoblach said in written comments submitted for joint hearing by Senate Commerce and Indian Affairs committees: “The tribes we have contacted were not fully aware of the bidding credit process… In some cases we have been perceived somewhat skeptically as trying to get something for nothing… Space Data recommends that the FCC place increased emphasis on publicizing the bidding credit process and encouraging the tribes to support such efforts since they have the potential of improving communications to tribal lands on a nonexclusive basis.” FCC Consumer & Govt. Affairs Bureau Chief Dane Snowden said at May 14 hearing that Commission was launching outreach program next month to educate tribes on availability of telecom support programs (CD May 15 p1).

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chmn. Inouye (D-Hawaii) ordered FCC to file report with panel on Commission’s role in protecting tribal lands from alleged illegal encroachment by wireless tower companies. Joint hearing with Senate Commerce Committee Tues. began with testimony from FCC Consumer & Govt. Affairs Bureau Chief Dane Snowden, who outlined existing and anticipated FCC initiatives to increase Indian Country access to telecom services. Although most members and panelists focused on issue of low penetration rates and measures being taken to address underserved areas, tone of hearing took abrupt turn. William Day, chmn. of United South & Eastern Indian Tribes’ Culture & Heritage Committee, said he questioned legality of FCC’s allowing cell tower companies to satisfy agency’s tribal governmental consultation obligations. This obligation involves determining the impact of telecom infrastructure on tribal lands, including sacred sites. Day lauded Congress for balancing efforts to spur electronic communications deployment on tribal lands and respect for tribal sovereignty: “Unfortunately, your work has been thwarted -- grossly thwarted -- by the Federal Communications Commission and its allies.”

After searching for new e-commerce partner since Nov., when its deal with Cyberian Outpost ended, Tweeter Home Entertainment revealed Tues. it had selected Global Sports, King of Prussia, Pa. Under agreement, terms not disclosed, Tweeter plans to open its first solo e-commerce Web site, www.tweeter.com, in fall. While Tweeter said it would handle all branding, merchandising and “designing of the look and feel of the Web site,” CE retailer said Global would “be responsible for the technology, customer service, order processing and fulfillment.”

Herman W. Land, 81, retired TV executive and first pres. of Assn. of Independent TV Stations (INTV), died April 25 in N.Y. of complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He held several industry positions and while at Westinghouse Bcstg. coined its trademark Group W. He was head of his own consulting firm before joining INTV when association was formed in Aug. 1972. Land authored several books and after retiring from INTV taught at San Diego State U. for several years. Wife, daughter survive.

Coalition of private wireless operators on Mon. backed Cingular Wireless plan for 800 MHz rebanding that would move public safety operators to 700 MHz. But in face of “political” challenges expected to beset proposal, including required legislative changes, private wireless licensees called their alternative “repacking” 800 MHz band at cost of $1.2 billion, compared with $2.7 billion of original Nextel proposal, officials said Mon. FCC filing deadline closed Mon. on notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) soliciting comments on alternatives for alleviating public safety interference at 800 MHz. Among plans on which Commission sought feedback was proposal submitted by Nextel last fall that would swap 4 MHz of guardband spectrum at 700 MHz, 8 MHz of specialized mobile radio spectrum in lower channels of 800 MHz and 4 MHz of SMR spectrum at 900 MHz. Under that plan, Nextel would receive another 16 MHz at 800 MHz and from reserve mobile satellite services spectrum. One theme running throughout comments was thorny issue of who would pay cost of relocating incumbents. “There’s an issue of can anybody really afford to do this,” Washington attorney Robert Schwaninger said at Mon. news conference of private wireless operators.

FCC is seeking comment on applications by Lockheed Martin, Comsat and Intelsat to assign common carrier and non- common carrier earth station licenses, private land mobile radio licenses (PLMR) and international section 214 authorizations from Comsat to Intelsat. Assignments are connected with Intelsat’s proposed acquisition of Comsat World Systems (CWS) and assets of Comsat subsidiaries Comsat Digital Teleport and Comsat General. Comsat also filed applications to permit earth station facilities that it wants to assign to Intelsat to be used to provide service on common carrier and non-common carrier basis. Comments are due May 24, replies June 7.