FCC Wireless Bureau said it modified its universal licensing system (ULS) to help auction winners file for tribal land bidding credits. Changes include screens to signal intent to seek credit when filing long-form applications for license at close of auction, ULS ability to select tribal lands to be served in each market, submission of required tribal govt. certification. Last June, FCC created tribal land bidding credit program for future auctions to provide incentives to wireless carriers to serve those lands. Eligible bidders for credit commit to use license to supply service to tribal lands that are unserved by any carrier or have wireline subscription rate equal to or below 70%.
Network Affiliate Stations Alliance (NASA) -- long at odds with Big 4 TV networks on station ownership cap -- declared war on another front by asking FCC to open inquiry into what it charged were “unlawful network tactics and practices.” Immediately after personally delivering petition to commissioners Thurs. (11:30 a.m. appointment with Chmn. Powell), NASA leaders took their argument to members of Congress who, they hope, will pressure Commission to act. Members of NASA are affiliates of ABC, NBC and CBS, and they also asked FCC to look into Fox actions.
FCC postponed auctions for FM reserved band allotments until Dec. 5, from originally scheduled May 9, in notice issued late Wed. Commission also lifted FM minor change application freeze announced Jan. 19 that was to continue through March 19. FCC cited “reasons of administrative convenience” for delay. Form 175 for Dec. 5 auction now is due Sept. 24 -- 717-338-2888.
Moody’s assigned B2 rating to pending issue of senior subordinated notes by American Cellular, joint venture owned equally by AT&T Wireless and Dobson Communications. Moody’s said proceeds from proposed subordinated notes would be used, in part, to repay $200 million of bank debt. It said planned issue marked “sound financial management.” Moody’s said rating assumed that American Cellular would use financial flexibility of offering “with prudence” and that venture “does not become a vehicle for the launch of additional PCS properties, such as those Dobson recently won at auction from the FCC.”
FCC has “all the information it needs” to specify cost recovery mechanism for carriers’ number pooling costs, National Exchange Carrier Assn. told Commission in March 7 reply comments. NECA also urged FCC to let carriers recover those costs through “existing means” such as interstate access charges.
Elizabeth Lyle, ex-FCC, named vp-disability access and technology practice, Wallman Strategic Consulting… Robert Nichols, ex-Electronic Industry Assn., joins Treasury Dept. as deputy asst. secy. for public affairs… Robert Friedman, ex-New Line, named pres., AOL TV… Changes at Tribune Bcstg.: Patrick Mullen advanced to pres., Tribune TV, replacing Michael Eigner, who moves to pres., Tribune Cable; Peter Walker steps up to senior vp-Tribune TV; John Reardon promoted to west coast regional vp… William Weiss, Promar Group, joins International Telecommunications Clearing Corp. advisory board… Beth Hampton, ex-American Chemistry Council, named vp-membership mktg., CTAM… Steven Green, ex-U.S. ambassador to Singapore, appointed to Asia Global Crossing board… Natasha Cohen promoted to dir.-business development, Digital Media Group, Showtime Networks… Robert Long, vp-news, WRC-TV Washington, moves to vp-news and operations… Pamela Bertino advanced to vp-gen. mgr., Weatherscan Local, Weather Channel… Christopher Kelly promoted to gen. mgr., DiscoverOmaha.com, Cox Interactive Media… Arthur Sando, ex- Winstar, named senior vp-communications, CBS Enterprises.
Mike Copps, longtime aide to Sen. Hollings (D-S.C.), has “a lock” on appointment to one of 2 Democratic seats soon to open up on FCC, according to prominent Democrat. Giving credence to that position is statement to us by Senate Republican that Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) has told Hollings (former Commerce Committee chmn. when Democrats controlled Senate) that he could fill Democratic seat. Copps left Hollings’ staff last year to become asst. secy. of Commerce for international trade (CD Feb 1 p1). Candidates for other Democratic seat include front-runner Andy Levin, aide to Rep. Dingell (D-Mich.), former chmn. of House Commerce Committee.
FCC Wireless Bureau plans to auction 14,000 licenses in lower paging bands of 35-36, 43-44, 152-159 and 454-460 MHz on June 26. Auction also covers 1,514 licenses in upper paging bands of 929- 931 MHz that remained unsold in auction that closed March 2. FCC is seeking comment on several proposals by March 19, with replies due March 26: (1) To award licenses in single, simultaneous multi-round auction. (2) To make upfront payments equal to minimum opening bids. FCC proposes that amount of upfront payment determine bidding units on which participant can place bids.
Conn. Dept. of Public Utility Control (DPUC) asked FCC to authorize trial of service-specific area code overlay for wireless carriers and any other providers not capable of local number portability. Petition didn’t specify whether overlay should go atop 203 (New Haven) or 860 (Hartford) code, both of which are projected to run out of numbers by end of 2002. DPUC said its request was based on Dec. FCC request for comments on using service- or technology-specific area codes as relief tool. If FCC grants permission for test, DPUC will determine which depleted code would get wireless overlay. If 203 were chosen, new code would be designated 475; if 860 is chosen, new code would be 959. DPUC said service-specific overlay would delay need for further code relief for “extended period” of time.
FCC Chmn. Powell sounded familiar theme in speech to USTA conference Wed., extolling marketplace over regulation, need to run Commission more efficiently and to add more technological knowhow. He joked with reporters in audience about how many times they had heard his themes. Powell told audience that “the market has to be at the pinnacle of government philosophy” but reminded that deregulated companies faced more risk because “the market can be a killer.” Marketplace can “strangle bad business models,” he said, “doing what regulators fear to do.” There’s need for “enlightened competition policy” that recognizes importance of innovation, he said. Asked whether he would work to reduce number of court remands, Powell said there had been times when agency had been “a little too aggressive” in pushing boundaries of law. It’s understandable, he said, because it’s challenging to fit new technology issues within confines of Communications Act. Solution is to be conservative, he said. “I can’t make up a rule” and doing so could damage FCC’s relationship with Congress, Powell said. “There are things I know are wrong but they are the law,” he told audience. “Many of you will get no’s from me not because I disagree but because I can’t find it [in law].” In answer to another question, he said he doubted new commissioners would be named within next 2 months but said it was hard to tell. It all depends on how deals are struck, he said. Asked whether merger of WorldCom and Bell company still would be “unthinkable,” as ex-FCC Chmn. Reed Hundt said in connection with AT&T-SBC, Powell said “nothing is unthinkable.” He quickly added that it would be “totally inappropriate” for him to say anything about any contemplated merger until request for action had been presented to FCC.