Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN) asked FCC to protect fixed service with regulations that would govern use of satellite earth stations aboard vessels (ESVs) in fixed satellite service (FSS) networks, company said Mon. in filing. MTN, which provides commercial satellite service (video, telephony and Internet access via C-band dishes) at sea, is concerned about Commission inquiry into authorization of ESVs studying regulatory framework that would allow FS and FSS operators to operate together without harmful interference. FCC launched inquiry (IB 02-10) in Jan. on whether to set specific rules for ESVs, including appropriate regulatory status. Inquiry specifically asks whether ESV should be moved to mobile satellite service (MSS) band, and whether if they stay in FSS band Table of Frequency Allocations should be modified.
FCC approved BellSouth’s first Sec. 271 application, voting 4-0 to let company offer long distance service to customers in Ga. and La. In announcement late Wed., agency said BellSouth could start offering service May 24. “BellSouth is ready to be in the long distance business,” CEO Duane Ackerman said. “Our networks are ready, our employees are ready and our customers soon will realize why this is a watershed event.” BellSouth said 27% of its customers were located in Ga. and La. and long distance market there was worth $4 billion. Company said it would file another multistate application at FCC “within weeks.” It already has state approvals for Ky., Miss., S.C.
Industrial Telecom Assn. (ITA) asked FCC for additional 90 days to file reply comments on notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) soliciting feedback on ways to ameliorate public safety interference at 800 MHz. “The significant impact on the public safety, private wireless and communications industries as a result of this proceeding, as well as the volume of comments, is such that an extension of time is warranted,” ITA told FCC. It also cited substantial volume of initial comments (nearly 200) that NPRM had generated so far. Among options on which Commission has solicited comments is plan submitted by Nextel last fall that would reconfigure systems at 700, 800 and 900 MHz and 2.1 GHz, including additional spectrum for public safety. American Mobile Telecom Assn. (AMTA) said that while FCC ultimately might decide rebanding was needed to address interference, existing record wasn’t conclusive on that point. AMTA Pres. Alan Shark said his group thought that “we aren’t doing our members a service by coming up with a proposal when there is so much uncertainty about the technical underpinnings.” While much attention in proceeding has focused on Nextel White Paper last fall, Shark told us: “It’s the wrong thing to drive this.” Shark, who counts Nextel among AMTA’s members, said he would like to see 7 issues drive discussion: (1) Extent to which that was immediate problem and potential fixes to address interference at 800 MHz should address not just long-term ramifications but must “recognize that this is happening now.” (2) Need for “voluntary mediation” when public safety or private wireless enterprises find they can’t work out solution with interfering party. Neutral, 3rd parties could be part of pool in such cases that could make recommendations on fixes, Shark said. (3) Some reshuffling at 800 MHz. “Under any rebanding proposal, we need to pull something out of 800 MHz to come up with greenspace to make it happen,” he said, and process would have to account for extent to which equipment moves in that band would need to be done in “orderly” manner. (4) Consideration of moving Nextel out of 800 MHz. Shark said that while commercial wireless operators had expressed concern about part of Nextel proposal that would give carrier spectrum at 2.1 GHz without auction, he didn’t have problem with it. “It would leave some greenspace and take out some incredible congestion.” (5) Examination of filtering aspects of new equipment to address radiofrequency interference “on the front end.” (6) Longer term strategy that could include moving all of public safety at 700 MHz, although several conditions would be needed. Key would be to have date certain by which analog broadcasters would vacate spectrum as part of DTV transition, he said. Another condition would be postponement of current date for 700 MHz auction, which AMTA supports, Shark said. Another caveat would be that relocated operators would be given assurances equipment would be available for them in new band. (7) Guarantees of reimbursement for relocating incumbents. Shark said there was need for congressionally mandated national emergency telecom that could address that issue.
NCTA pitched “common ground” in speech Wed. to Advanced TV Systems Committee (ATSC) annual meeting in D.C. ATSC has worked for development of voluntary specifications for advanced TV systems used by terrestrial broadcasters on DTV, data broadcasting, other technologies. “Nowhere is the need for consensus -- for finding common ground among our industries -- more important than in the transition from analog to digital television,” Pres. Robert Sachs said. “Our businesses are converging in ownership, in content and in technology. And while we compete vigorously in the marketplace -- for ad dollars and viewers -- we also must work together to make the next stage of advanced television a reality.” Sachs said digital transition was “not as simple as saying that if every cable operator carries every broadcaster’s digital TV signal,” goal would be achieved quickly, pointing out that 16 million noncable TV households would have to buy integrated DTVs or DTVs with set-top decoders just to get to 85% digital threshold. Sachs said cable was first to fully support FCC Chmn. Powell’s DTV plan, and that cable’s digital capacity wasn’t unlimited, saying high-speed Internet, cable telephony and other services must compete for space on cable plant. NAB Pres. Edward Fritts said broadcasters were leading DTV transition, with 410 stations on air and another 700 DTV transmitters on order. In top 30 markets, 113 of 119 network-affiliated digital stations are on air and that number would be higher were it not for terrorist attack in N.Y. that knocked off some DTV signals there, Fritts said. He said more than 86% of homes in U.S. had access to at least one DTV signal and nearly half were in markets with at least 4 DTV signals. He said NAB was first to support Powell plan, although he said it would seek amendments and modifications if Congress were to adopt his plan as blueprint for legislation. He said NAB would continue to insist that manufacturers include DTV tuners in sets, that cable operators provide full carriage of all free, local DTV signals in their entirety, and that cable MSOs not be allowed to meet their pledge to carry 5 channels of HDTV by carrying Discovery 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. “Cable stripping out or degrading the quality of a free broadcast signal should not be an option,” Fritts said.
Nuala Kelly promoted to chief counsel, Commerce Dept. Technology Administration… Promotions at AOL: James Bankoff to exec. vp-operations, AOL interactive services; David Gang to exec. vp-product mktg.; Joel Davidson, exec. vp-COO, Web Properties Group, replaces Bankoff in overseeing group… Jay Itzkowitz promoted to senior vp-mergers & acquisitions, Vivendi Universal… Additions at Access Spectrum: John Bruno, ex-Pentech Financial Services, vp- finance; Charles Ellis, Ellis Engineering, vp-engineering; John Vislosky, ex-Korn/Ferry International, senior vp- sales… Discovery named Vivian Schiller, ex-Turner Bcstg., gen. mgr., Discovery Civilization Channel… Joy Howell, ex- FCC, opens Washington office for Weiser Group, marketing communications firm… Don Winters, Whitehawk Partners, joins Hyperspace Communications advisory board.
FCC ought to impose freeze on universal service outlays and reevaluate programs funded by universal service money, VoiceStream said in reply comments filed Mon. in Commission’s proposed rulemaking on how universal service contributions were collected (CD April 24 p6). “Federal taxes and regulatory fees already exceed 10%” of consumer’s bill and “continued, unexamined fee growth could push these federal regulatory assessments toward 15%,” VoiceStream said: “There is a crisis looming over the [universal service] program, but the crisis is not caused by the contributions methodology in place today. The crisis is rather due to the fact that the size of universal service subsidy outlays has been allowed to grow -- with additional growth in disbursements already planned -- without a thorough examination of the sufficiency of the program.” Changing methodology, main topic of FCC call for comments, won’t help if program keeps growing in size, VoiceStream said. It said it was “firmly committed to universal service” and to providing its “fair share… even though it does not receive any subsidy dollars in the provision of its mobile services.” However, company said, it’s “unreasonable” to keep raising contributions from wireless customers. Current 15% safe harbor for wireless contributions is “equitable,” despite criticism by coalition of wireline companies and customers that wants to raise it, VoiceStream said. “There is no evidence to suggest that on average, wireless customers have higher interstate usage levels compared to customers of fixed landline service,” company said. Critics have said wireless safe harbor understates amount of interstate revenue earned by wireless providers. Universal service contributions are based on interstate revenue. “The only evidence that the Coalition presents in support of their allegation is that the growth in CMRS interstate revenues [reflected in contributions] has not matched the decrease in IXC interstate revenues,” VoiceStream said. That argument “is simply not credible” and “ignores technological bypasses of the networks and the economic downturn,” company said. “Wireless migration is, of course, a partial reason that IXCs are losing revenues but it is certainly not the sole cause.”
ICO Global Chmn. Craig McCaw dismissed Cingular Wireless and Sprint PCS filing on proposed ancillary terrestrial usage of mobile satellite service (MSS) spectrum as “much more complex than the incredibly simplistic Telcordia approach to it.” Cingular and Sprint told FCC this week, citing analysis commissioned by Telcordia, that ATC usage of MSS spectrum proposed by ICO would eat up capacity of satellite uplink. They concluded even “modest” ancillary terrestrial networks would pose risk to rendering satellite incapable of providing any MSS services (CD May 14 p4). “It’s much more complex than the incredibly simplistic Telcordia approach to it,” McCaw told us. He reiterated message of several recent ICO filings at FCC -- that company was seeking to provide limited terrestrial services in MSS band to serve underserved rural areas and not to compete with larger cellular operators. “We don’t understand what they are worried about,” McCaw said of wireless operators. “We are after new areas,” he said, citing “global vertical markets” such as U.S. multinational corporations, govt. agencies with global presence, underserved rural customers. Of reaction of wireless carriers, he said: “We're almost mystified except to say that we understand that there’s a tendency not to want to see anybody else in the wireless space.” ICO has asked FCC to move “expeditiously” on its request to use MSS spectrum for terrestrial wireless operations. “Our satellites are complete and ready to launch. We have a lot of work to do to integrate the plan,” McCaw said. “It’s very painful to have to delay.” ICO Vp-External Affairs Gerry Salemme didn’t disagree with conclusion of Telcordia analysis that “at most” 18 ATC handsets could operate outdoors and transmit at full power per CDMA carrier pair within one of ICO’s satellite beams. But he said Telcordia ignored “many techniques that would allow the terrestrial and satellite components to be integrated into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.” By using dynamic spectrum assignment, multiple satellite beams and other mitigation measures, ICO could provide ATC service on co-frequency basis to 1.6 million additional users in U.S., he said: “For Telcordia to exclude these techniques from its analysis, yet pretend to be making a careful study, is like playing Hamlet without the prince.” Globalstar has opposed severance of any part of spectrum for assignment to separate ATC provider. Company has told FCC it could use L/S band MSS spectrum in select urban areas while maintaining MSS service in U.S. and that MSS-ATC service could be coordinated with another CDMA/MSS licensee in band. Bill Adler, Globalstar vp-legal & regulatory affairs, said Telcordia analysis didn’t properly account for extent to which MSS operators would dynamically manage channels to make some spectrum available for terrestrial use and rest for MSS in same geographical areas.
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).
Consensus is building that Bush Administration needs to articulate national broadband strategy, but White House is getting varied signals on just what that policy should look like. Those contrasts were on display Tues. at forum sponsored by Computer & Communications Industry Assn. (CCIA). Twelve representatives of IT, content and telecom industries joined with FCC official at George Washington U. (GWU) Va. campus in Ashburn to debate broadband deployment and copyright protection, with many echoing IBM E-Commerce Program Dir. Greg Waddell: “By the end of ‘02, the Administration should have a clear 10-year vision for wired and wireless infrastructures [for broadband] and adopt them as part of an economic development strategy.” Progressive Policy Institute Vp Robert Atkinson agreed, although he told us after session that Bush Administration “doesn’t have the ideological ability” to craft broadband strategy that didn’t rely solely on free-market solutions. Several panelists said wireless would play critical role in broadband deployment, and with its management of spectrum, federal govt. would be key player in that rollout.