Lucent spin-off Flarion is conducting market trial network of wireless access technology called flash-OFDM with carrier that company hasn’t named, with plans to bring limited pool of live customers on to service shortly, company said Tues. Flarion took portable configuration of technology to FCC hq this week, including truck with 40’ antenna, demonstrating broadband cellular air interface technology for Office of Engineering & Technology and Office of Plans & Policy officials Tues. Commissioners will see demonstration of IP-based system later this week. System is operating in 700 MHz UHF band under FCC experimental license. While mobile wireless data service of Metricom, which entered Chapter 11 protection last year, relied on picocell technology to keep Internet users connected while moving, Flarion can overlay its system over wireless carrier’s existing network, CEO Ray Dolan said. As result, technology can allow wireless carriers to deploy wireless data offerings by using only 1.25 MHz air link, he said. Unlike Metricom’s Ricochet network, which used unlicensed spectrum, Flarion’s service is “basically an overlay” to cellular architecture, Dolan said. But Flarion’s offering is similar to Ricochet’s in that it gives users “native IP” connections resembling those they would receive from desktop broadband connections, he said. Flarion’s mobile broadband system uses packet- switched radio access network that transports IP services over air from IP network to user device. System operates at peak data rates of 2 Mbps, with demonstration outside FCC showing rates at 875.8 kbps because it was connected through 2 firewalls to link to FCC local area network, said Peter Carson, vp-business development & mktg. Company pitches technology as providing 3G-like services using all-IP technology that demands far less spectrum. Part of company’s infrastructure is RadioRouter, which overlays onto existing cell sites and spectrum of wireless carrier and creates link to edge router in IP network. Among aspects of offering that has created interest among carriers is ability to provide dynamically allocated priority access service (PAS), Dolan said. While Flarion hasn’t spoken directly to govt. agencies such as National Communications Service, Dolan said technology had drawn carrier interest because it had quality- of-service function that allowed priority users to gain access to network with virtually no disruption to existing voice users on system.
Executives of several telecom companies took turns Tues. trying to convince attendees at Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) conference in Orlando that their businesses were good investments despite tough economic times, but some appeared to have easier job than others. BellSouth CEO Duane Ackerman’s took podium after CSFB analyst Dan Reingold described him as operating “tightly run phone system that makes strategic moves that are value added and if [there’s not value] doesn’t do it.” Qwest COO Afshin Mohebbi had tougher time as he described why company was well-positioned for future but fielded questions about its recent cash crisis.
FCC should approve BellSouth’s Sec. 271 for La. because state regulators there have made sure that company’s unbundled network element (UNE) rates are appropriate, local markets are open to competition and performance measurements are in place, La. PSC told FCC in comments filed late Mon. PSC said it recently approved order that established “stiff self-executing penalties” if required technical processes weren’t in place within established deadlines. CLECs filing comments with FCC by Mon. deadline on BellSouth application for La. and Ga. had mixed messages. Mpower said that “after more than 3 years of effort [it] has been unable to achieve adequate access to BellSouth OSS [operation support systems] for data lines.” Mpower said “BellSouth’s databases for CLECs, and apparently for themselves as well, are often so inaccurate and incomplete as to be virtually useless to a competitive company.” Sprint said it opposed application for La. and Ga. because local markets weren’t fully open there: “In Georgia and Louisiana, residential competition has not been firmly established and Sprint questions the validity of the data used by BellSouth to support its market share estimates.” NewSouth Communications, on other hand, said “BellSouth has made significant strides in opening its local markets to competition over the past year” and its applications should be approved.
FCC’s Wireless Bureau outlined parameters of technical inquiry on issues affecting rollout of Enhanced 911 services for wireless callers. In Nov., FCC named former Office of Engineering & Technology Chief Dale Hatfield to head inquiry. Among technical and operational issues that bureau said Tues. it would examine as part of inquiry were: (1) Claims by wireless carriers that network equipment and location-capable handsets weren’t available in time to comply with FCC’s original Phase 2 deployment timelines. FCC granted waivers to 6 national wireless carriers last fall, revising deployment schedules for Phase 2 capabilities. (2) Contentions by carriers that they had difficulty obtaining necessary LEC facility upgrades for Phase 1 deployment, issue that has potential to emerge under Phase 2 roll-outs. Last fall, both public safety groups and carriers such as Sprint PCS highlighted role of LECs in closing E911 connection among wireless subscribers, carriers, databases and public safety answering points. In some cases, LEC cooperation was described as “missing link” in E911 situations. “The focus of this inquiry will be on the future of wireless E911 deployment, including any obstacles to deployment and steps that might be taken to overcome or minimize them,” FCC said. At close of Hatfield’s investigation, he will issue report of his finding that FCC plans to release for public comment. Bureau said it would use findings to evaluate potential obstacles to E911 deployment, consider methods to address these obstacles and “accelerate deployment.” Point of inquiry is to “obtain an expert, informed unbiased assessment” of such issues, FCC said. Scope of investigation will be as broad as needed with information gathered from wide array of sources, including technology and equipment vendors, carriers, public safety community, carriers. Information to be evaluated will include technology standards issues, hardware and software development and supply conditions. FCC has created docket for this inquiry (02-46), in which comments can be submitted.
Disney Co. made “false statements of facts” to FCC in refusing request of KEZI Eugene, Ore., to air ABC prime-time programming at 7-10 p.m. in order to add 10 p.m. local newscast, according to station’s Gen. Mgr. John Prevedello. In Nov. 20 ex parte filing on behalf of ABC, parent Disney claimed dispute wasn’t about adding local news, “it is about money” to permit KEZI to recoup losses from syndicated programming (CD Nov 26 p1). “Nothing could be further from the truth,” Prevedello wrote FCC Chmn. Powell in ex parte letter filed Tues.
Most of time in 2-hour closed session on Hill Tues. on progress being made on transition to DTV was devoted to discussion of copyright issues and just what digital sets would be able to do to protect rights of content providers, we're told by some of participants. Several private deals have been reached among programmers, cable and manufacturers and House Commerce Committee members present told participants they wanted to see those documents. According to others at meeting, FCC participants -- led by Task Force Chmn. Rich Chessen -- were asked several questions about upcoming Ch. 60-69 auctions and related issues, such as interference, but said they weren’t prepared to respond. Among other issues brought up -- at what was described as “a very interesting meeting” -- were specifications for set-top boxes and what they were capable of doing, as well as program repurposing over Internet. Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) and Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) were only members present, but staffers represented several other committee members. Because of many remaining questions, Tauzin said he planned to call 4th meeting on DTV transition, to be followed by public hearing before Upton’s subcommittee. Meanwhile, at FCC deadline was Mon. for commercial stations in markets 31-plus to file requests for extension of time to equip for DTV transmission. Noncommercial stations have until May 2003. As of 4 p.m. Tues., Commission official said 562 (mostly electronic) requests had been logged in “and still counting,” mostly paper filings. By far largest majority seeking extensions (351) cited equipment problems, another 197 cited legal (zoning, FAA, FCC, which still hasn’t granted 160 stations digital construction permits, some of which filed for extension, some didn’t because they were told they didn’t need to). Financial difficulties were cited by 78 stations as reason they needed extension, and another 92 cited miscellaneous reasons (such as need to move FM antenna from tower). FCC Mass Media Bureau Chief Roy Stewart told NAB conference late last month that requests would be acted on “as they come in… rapidly” (CD Feb 26 p3).
Progeny LMS, which owns Location & Monitoring Service (LMS) licenses at 902-928 MHz, petitioned FCC Tues. to provide flexibility to licensees in that band and to change certain restrictions on that spectrum. Progeny, which won LMS licenses in 1999 FCC auction, asked agency to relax restrictions on type and content of messages and spectrum aggregation. Carrier said it wanted Commission to apply “to the LMS band its market-oriented policy of allowing licensees flexibility to offer whatever services the market can support and demand, so long a those operations do not hinder or interfere with the operations of primary users in the band.” Restrictions represent “outmoded approach” to spectrum management, Progeny said. It said service dated to early 1970s, when Commission adopted order allowing introduction of automatic vehicle monitoring service, later renamed LMS. Service was seen as providing tracking and monitoring of large vehicle fleets and providing information to allow vehicles to be better used through dispatch and routing information. In 1999, of 528 LMS licenses that were auctioned, nearly 250 were unsold, Progeny said. “Attempts at implementing this service demonstrate that some modifications are necessary in order for LMS to succeed,” it said. If LMS operators were given additional flexibility by FCC, they could compete with commercial wireless operators, which “are rolling out enhanced 911 location technologies that will provide similar economic and public safety benefits,” Progeny said. Eliminating certain restrictions would allow LMS licensees to offer voice and data messaging services in addition to advanced location technologies, petition said. Progeny urged FCC to consider eliminating or modifying: (1) LMS spectrum cap so single licensee could hold all of LMS licenses in given economic area. (2) Restriction on real-time interconnection with public switched telephone network. (3) Restriction on types of communications services. (4) Safe harbor provision that creates presumption of non-interference for secondary users. Progeny cited additional regulatory flexibility that commercial wireless operators had been granted, including ability to offer range of services. In period of substantial growth for commercial wireless sector, “the 902-928 MHz LMS industry, unfortunately, languished,” Progeny said. “As a result, LMS remains subject to a regulatory scheme born out of political compromises that more appropriately characterize the stratified wireless industry of 1993 than today’s competitively robust wireless industry,” petition said.
FCC Chmn. Powell and SEC Chmn. Harvey Pitt will testify Thurs. (March 7) at Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice and State Subcommittee hearing on fiscal year 2003 budget requests for respective agencies. Hearing is 10 a.m., Rm. 253, Russell Bldg.
Correction: Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) didn’t request additional e-rate funding from FCC (CD March 4 p6). Instead, USAC filed report with Commission that showed estimated demand for e-rate discounts had increased. E-rate funding is capped at $2.25 billion and can’t be raised without major FCC proceeding, so higher demand results not in additional funding but in some applicants’ not receiving money.
Comcast and AT&T Broadband said their merger would accelerate deployment of facilities-based broadband across country and companies promised variety of public interest benefits, including increased competition, and new and improved video, data and telephony services. Comments came in 97-page merger application filed Fri. at FCC and made available Mon. Companies said their deployment of broadband would “benefit the nation at large by stimulating productivity gains and economic growth.” Efficiencies and cost savings achieved through merger would prompt company to deploy high definition TV, video-on-demand (VoD) and other interactive (iTV) services on wider scale, they said. In addition to FCC approval, companies also must get endorsement from Justice Department. They hope to close deal by end of year.