Software Defined Radio (SDR) Forum said it was preparing report for FCC on security and authentication of radio software. SDR Forum is soliciting feedback from industry on report that will be provided to Commission by midyear. Forum said it would release recommendations that focus on security, authentication and validation issues related to SDR download and field reconfiguration. In Sept., FCC adopted order on SDR technology. Forum said report would focus on: (1) Development and deployment of software security-related technologies including dynamic security algorithms and technologies. (2) Authentication technology, including biometric devices and digital rights management for content protection. (3) Security initiatives in special interest groups. (4) Activities of standards bodies. Forum regulatory committee -- 602-339-2373 or sdrmidyear@sdrforum.org.
FCC started proceeding to determine how multiple satellite network systems would be licensed to operate in spectrum designated for nongeostationary satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service (NGSO FSS) and to determine service rules that would apply to Ka-band NGSO FSS applicants. Commission said 2nd round NGSO FSS systems would introduce additional means of providing broadband services to public and would increase satellite and terrestrial services competition. Applicants propose to provide high-speed Internet and online access as well as other high-speed data, video and telephony services. Teledesic is only NGSO FSS system authorized to provide Ka-band service as result of first round. Its authorization requires it to share burden of coordination with other NGSO FSS systems and to coordinate in good faith. Commission proposed to license all 5 of 2nd round Ka-band applicants seeking access to spectrum in 18.8- 19.30 GHz and 28.60-29.10 GHz frequency bands, including @contact, Hughes, Lockheed Martin, SkyBridge II, TRW. It seeks comment on best way to accommodate all of applicants within available spectrum, “bearing in mind [its] previous authorization to Teledesic to operate domestically in the 500 MHz of paired spectrum designated for primary NGSO FSS services.” Commission proposed 4 options for sharing spectrum as starting point for comment: (1) Flexible band segmentation. (2) Dynamic band segmentation. (3) Avoidance of in-line interference events. (4) Homogeneous constellations. Flexible band segmentation option would segment available spectrum to accommodate all 2nd round proposals while providing flexibility for system implementation and expansion. NGSO FSS uplink and downlink would be divided into distinct, equal spectrum segments based on number of 2nd round system proponents authorized. Each 2nd round licensee would be authorized to operate throughout entire spectrum allocated on primary basis to Ka-band NGSO FSS but could claim priority use with respect to other 2nd- round licensees only in its own selected spectrum assignment. Each licensee may provide service anywhere else within unoccupied spectrum allocated to NGSO FSS, FCC said. Dynamic band segmentation is similar to Flexible band segmentation. Under plan, Commission proposes to subdivide NGSO FSS spectrum equally by number of operational systems. Each time new system becomes operational, other systems would have to surrender spectrum. Avoidance of in-line interference events option is premised on fact that separate NGSO satellite systems could share same spectrum frequency and coverage as long as they avoided near in-line interference events, which happens when one NGSO FSS system’s in-line transmission path between its satellite and one of its earth stations is intersected by an in-line transmission path of another NGSO FSS system’s satellite or its earth station. There are 2 possible techniques for coping with in-line interference events, Commission said: satellite diversity and frequency isolation. Licensees could agree to split spectrum between 2 systems, solely for duration of potential in-line interference event, avoiding interference through frequency isolation, FCC said. Requiring homogeneous constellation standard is another option, it said. Several NGSO FSS systems can share same frequency band without interference when systems employ identical orbital parameters. To minimize interference, systems’ transmission characteristics also must remain relatively uniform. Commission also seeks comment on additional service rules for NGSO FSS licensees that weren’t addressed in first round of licensing, specifically: (1) Sharing principles or mitigation techniques for multiple NGSO systems. (2) Whether Commission’s financial requirements would be license qualification for future processing rounds. (3) Imposition of milestones and assignment of intersatellite links (ISLs). (4) Licensing of earth stations and corresponding power flux density limits. Teledesic filed petition asking Commission to clarify feasibility of using noncoordinated orbits. FCC denied request to clarify that it wouldn’t subdivide 500 MHz of spectrum that was allocated to NGSO FSS systems on primary basis. Teledesic also requested clarification that it would be protected from interference from future licensees. Agency said Teledesic shouldn’t have to alter or redesign its system, and newly licensed systems would have to coordinate their systems with Teledesic. It said it intended to allow expeditious deployment of NGSO FSS in U.S. for benefit of consumers by establishing spectrum-sharing plan and service rules so systems could be implemented in compliance with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deadlines and by allowing market forces to play role in implementation of systems. Comments are due 30 days after publication in Federal Register, replies 45 days later.
Late Jan. west coast meetings of affiliate boards of Fox and ABC TV with network officials failed to solve divisive issues, with major problems of both groups put off for another day, according to accounts we've received from participants. Common problem with both groups has been practice of ABC and Fox of renegotiating affiliation contracts when station is sold -- which often results in reduction or elimination of compensation, even though network contract with station may have years remaining -- one of major issues about which affiliates complained in petition to FCC (CD Aug 24 p3).
FCC is proposing to fine radio translator station operator $140,000 for failing to cease unlicensed operations in Alaska, it said. Commission said Peninsula Communications failed to comply with earlier order to end operation. FCC also began hearing to revoke all Peninsula licenses for full- service radio stations and other translator operations. Commission said operation of 7 translators wasn’t allowed because all were non-fill-in stations rebroadcasting primary stations licensed to Peninsula.
FCC opened filing window for applicants for analog TV stations on Ch. 52-29 to modify channel requests, in order released Wed. Window is to be open for 45 days (DA 02-270).
Leading media company executives predicted ownership restrictions would crumble in coming year in both broadcast and cable. On panel at Precursor Group conference in Washington Wed., Shaun Sheehan, Tribune vp-Washington office, said FCC’s newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership restrictions and other ownership rules were “very much in play.” With Tribune properties in L.A., N.Y.C., Hartford, and Ft. Lauderdale-Miami, at risk, Sheehan called his company “the poster child” of FCC rule. NCTA Pres. Robert Sachs said horizontal ownership rules in cable got lots of attention, but most NCTA members probably were affected more directly by pending FCC decision on broadband access. Reason horizontal rule of 30% audience cap would have less impact, Sachs said, is that, as practical matter, no company is in danger of bumping up against limit. Proposed AT&T Broadband-Comcast merger would involve 22 million subscribers, which is only 25% of multichannel video programming services users, Sachs said. Only area where proposed merger could become “dicey” is if federal govt. assigns more subscribers to merged company because of minority stakes it would hold in other companies, such as AT&T’s 25% of Time Warner Cable, Sachs said. “The FCC really needs to be taking a comprehensive look at attribution rules across the board,” he said. NCTA wants those rules overhauled so companies aren’t credited with subscribers they have no control over. Current rule attributes subscribers if company holds 5% or more, even though it may not have board seat or otherwise have role in making decisions.
House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) told investment community Wed. that he was enthusiastic about ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless technology and hoped FCC would look at it carefully. Proposal to permit UWB products to operate as unlicensed Part 15 devices is expected to be on FCC agenda at Feb. 14 meeting, he said in speech at Precursor Group conference in Washington. Tauzin said he visited UWB company Time Domain and was impressed by its founder Larry Fullerton, “an interesting guy who has been called the new Marconi.” Tauzin told investors UWB was trend to watch, explaining how technology goes through walls, could result in high-tech home security systems, communications devices for military, disaster recovery aids. “My hope, my prayer, to the Commission is to give it a good look,” he said. Tauzin said that taking up “twin issues” of privacy and security were among his Committee’s most important tasks this year. “The first battle line” is copyright, he said, “how to provide a digital product without losing value… coupled with security needs.” He said other “things to watch” were: (1) Efforts to develop privacy policy that would “enhance private efforts to self-regulate. (2) Broadband deployment. (3) Digital TV transition. (4) “Increasing capacity of wireless communications.” He also made pitch for Tauzin- Dingell bill, saying it was “not about pleasing the Bells” but rather was designed to “complete the Telecom Act.” Act didn’t contemplate growth in data communications and Internet, he said. As it is now, Act stymies development of high-speed data transmission because of restrictions on Bells, he said. Act’s mistake was to put FCC in charge of deciding when Bells could provide interLATA communication, which is required to offer broadband effectively, Tauzin said. Decision was left to “these bureaucrats whose raison d'etre is to regulate,” he said. “We left it to them to eliminate regulations, what were we doing? The FCC has become an agent for the past.” He said he thought Tauzin- Dingell would pass House and “then we will go and deal with Mr. Hollings [Sen. Hollings (D-S.C.) and chmn. of Senate Commerce Committee]), who has a different view.” Talking with reporters later, Tauzin said if Committee’s meetings with industry leaders on DTV transition didn’t result in agreement soon (CD Nov 30 p6), legislation to resolve issue probably would be introduced in April-May time frame. He said there had been progress in last 2 meetings and another was planned later this month. Meanwhile, spokesman for House Commerce Committee said it appeared House leadership would schedule vote on Tauzin-Dingell on either Feb. 27 or 28, slightly sooner than March projection given when bill was pulled from floor in Dec.
Federal-State Joint Board on Separations plans en banc hearing on separations reform, 10:30 a.m., Feb. 13, FCC meeting room. Joint Board will hear views of selected speakers on options for reform that were proposed in so- called “glide path” paper filed by state members of Joint Board Dec. 18. Paper proposes 7 options for transition to new jurisdictional mechanism that reflects changes in telecom environment. Separations factors are frozen while regulators seek way to reform process.
Mich. Attorney Gen. Jennifer Granholm and AARP urged SBC/Ameritech to follow Qwest’s lead and drop plans to share sensitive customer information with affiliates until FCC issued new national privacy rules, expected this summer. Granholm also said Mich. telcos other than Ameritech were sending out account privacy notices and warned all phone customers to pay attention to any notices their carrier might send with bills. She cited “special notice” Verizon was sending to customers with their Feb. bills that advised them to call toll-free number to opt out of account information sharing with Verizon affiliates. Granholm said Verizon discussed its sharing plans with her staff and program was under review. Ameritech so far says it’s continuing with plan to share customer account information within corporate family to help improve customer service, but insists information won’t be shared with unaffiliated 3rd parties to market their products. Granholm said many Ameritech affiliates such as Cingular Wireless, Pacific Bell and Prodigy might as well be 3rd parties as far as customers could tell. She said privacy notices Ameritech sent to customers were confusing and failed to communicate enough accurate information so users could make informed privacy decision. AARP said restricting telephone account information to affiliates still opened customers to marketing of wide variety of services. AARP urged FCC to ensure by its privacy rules that customers had chance to make informed decisions on release of sensitive account information. Qwest last week admitted it hadn’t done good job of explaining its opt-out privacy policy and dropped its plans to share account information with affiliates until after FCC issued new rules on privacy.
Defense Dept. (DoD) said in report to Congress released Tues. that there were ways to share 138-144 MHz band with public safety users. Classified Pentagon report, described in news release, follows joint reports released late last month by FCC and NTIA that indicated there were no readily available spectrum bands that would be alternatives for public safety users besides 138-144 MHz. Both reports depicted congestion that public safety systems experienced in existing spectrum, such as VHF high band. “We believe it is possible to share portions of the 138-144 MHz band with public safety users on a limited, coordinated basis,” said Steven Price, deputy asst. defense secy. for spectrum and command, control & communications. He said DoD was willing to work with NTIA, state and local govts. and first responders on “a case-by-case basis to explore sharing the band for the common good.” Pentagon said 138-144 MHz still was “critical to DoD operations” but that department had found it helpful in emergencies to share communications systems with other first responders. “A small number of channels may be shared on a regional basis when it is to the mutual benefit of DoD and public safety officials,” Pentagon said. Operations that it said could feel impact of “heavy use of too many channels” included air-surface-air systems, air traffic control and ground support functions at military airfields, tactical communications for close air support, land mobile radios for installation infrastructure support, land mobile radios, specialized equipment for training and test range support. Other systems include fire and security alarms and hydrology and utility controls. Report to Congress was conducted by DoD’s Joint Spectrum Center. DoD operations in band cover nearly entire continental U.S. “Large distance separations would be required to prevent co- channel and adjacent-channel interference between DoD equipment and potential state and local public safety systems, particularly in the case of DoD air-ground-air radios,” DoD said. Fiscal 2001 defense authorization legislation required studies by FCC, NTIA and DoD to examine possibility of sharing in 138-144 MHz band by existing military users and public safety systems. In fiscal 2000, defense authorization language had directed President to reclaim for “exclusive” use on primary basis bands totaling 3 MHz between 138-144 MHz. Bands were part of spectrum chosen for reallocation from govt. to nongovt. uses in 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Fiscal 2001 defense authorization legislation then required DoD and other agencies to identify any part of that band that military could share in various geographic areas with public safety services.