Group representing wireless providers criticized Multi-Assn. Group (MAG) plan for reforming rural telephony regulation Mon. but gave slightly more favorable review to another plan proposed by Rural Task Force (RTF). In comments to FCC Mon., Competitive Universal Service Coalition (CUSC) said much of MAG plan failed to “satisfy the access charge and universal service guiding principles of competitive neutrality, economic efficiency and transparency.” CUSC said 2 parts of MAG were consistent with those principles -- proposed increase in subscriber line charges in rural areas and plan to make universal service funding portable. However, most parts of MAG proposal raise “policy pitfalls that the Commission should avoid,” CUSC said. On other hand, it said it “generally supports the RTF recommendations which will advance the goal of competitive neutrality and will prevent excessive growth in the size of the fund.” However, CUSC said some parts of RTF plan should be rejected, such as “safety value” adjustment that would permit increases in amount of funding in some study areas. FCC took comments on 2 plans separately but on same schedule.
FTC appointed ex-FCC official Dale Hatfield as its monitor trustee to oversee AOL-Time Warner merger, as expected. Monitor authority was part of consent decree companies signed in Dec. (CD Dec 15 p1), which requires merged entity to add at least one independent ISP to its cable systems before adding AOL, and 2 more after. Trustee also will deal with other technical issues, such as capacity constraints. Hatfield recently restarted his Boulder, Colo., consulting business after retiring as chief of FCC Office of Plans & Policy. He’s also ex-staffer of Commerce Dept.
Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio told state regulators fastest way to develop local competition was to “give competitors the freedom to take risks and enjoy the reward.” In keynote speech Mon. at NARUC winter committee meetings in Washington, he called himself “unabashed capitalist” willing to put money at risk where there’s best possibility of return. Talk came just one day before NARUC decision on its policy toward 2 federal-level deregulation proposals.
Joint 3G comments submitted to FCC by CTIA, Telecommunications Industry Assn. and PCIA outline scenarios under which industry sees feasible spectrum sharing or relocation of federal users in 1.7 GHz band. Making 1710-1850 MHz available through relocation and sharing, along with spectrum in 2110-2150 MHz and 2160-2165 MHz, would meet next-generation wireless requirements through 2010, groups said. Joint comments were among responses FCC received last week on how to make additional spectrum available for advanced wireless services (CD Feb 26 p4). Under proposal, associations said it would be feasible to make 1.7 GHz band available in 2-3 years. They proposed: (1) Relocating conventional fixed point-to-point systems to commercial systems, fiber, frequency bands above 3 GHz that are available for govt. point-to-point systems. Or systems could be relocated to nongovt. frequency bands available for point-to-point operations. (2) Sharing tactical radio relay systems with 3G through geographic and frequency segmentation. One possibility would be giving access to 3G systems in urban areas, where capacity demands were greatest, and giving Dept. of Defense access in rural areas where it conducts training exercises. (3) Acting on apparent infeasibility of spectrum sharing between 3G services and Air Combat Training Systems on geographic segmentation basis. Groups cited possibility for next-generation Joint Tactical Combat Telemetry System to be accommodated in spectrum used as guardbands for 3G operations. Groups also proposed ways for 3G systems to operate in spectrum now occupied by satellite control systems, including relocating earth station facilities to rural areas as short-term fix. Detailed technical report submitted by groups described reallocation of 1710-1850 MHz as providing “opportunity for DoD to modernize its communications systems and align its operations with the use of spectrum globally.” Report said DoD satellite operations in band didn’t conform with standard international operations for similar satellite operations. For example, Pentagon has harmonized satellite operations in downlink direction but uses nonstandard uplink, group said. Report also said that many federal fixed point-to-point systems were analog and relocation would provide chance to upgrade systems to digital. Relocation would provide users opportunity to be compensated for cost of relocation.
FCC Chmn. Powell appointed Mary Beth Richards to spearhead “comprehensive FCC reform project.” Richards, who was given title of special counsel, moves from deputy managing dir. Appointment is first step in Powell’s plan to overhaul agency’s operations (CD Feb 23 p1). In announcing Richards’ appointment Mon., Powell said his goal was to make Commission “more efficient, more decisive and more responsive” to changes in technology. Richards, 17-year veteran of FCC, frequently has been tapped for task forces on organizational changes. In Sept. 1997 she headed team to smooth arrival of 4 new commissioners, including then new Chmn. William Kennard. In 1994 she was involved in “Reinventing Govt.” project that resulted in creation of Wireless and International Bureaus. In early 1990s she was on team that helped implement Cable Act. While in Common Carrier Bureau she served on internal bureau reorganization effort and helped implement Telecom Act. Richards said she would be seeking comments from industry and others on how to make agency operate more efficiently. Powell “takes this very seriously,” she said.
Panel of consumer advocates and industry representatives Fri. blamed everything from regulatory impediments to lack of trained workers for slow progress in bringing long-promised technological improvements to public. Speaking at “policy summit” sponsored by Alliance for Public Technology, Mike Nelson, dir. of Internet technology at IBM, said he didn’t realize how much regulatory uncertainty could impede technology until he entered private sector. USTA Vp Larry Clinton recommended govt. establish national broadband policy to encourage development of high-speed data transmission. PathNet Gen. Counsel Mary McDermott, who was in audience, said lack of trained technicians to develop and manufacture new products was growing problem for technology companies.
FCC extended deadline to March 1 for carriers to file numbering utilization and forecast data for 6 months ending Dec. 31. Waiver was sought by XO Communications, Focal Communications and BellSouth. Companies said they needed time to correct their data, which became “corrupted” when they updated their numbering administration databases.
ISPs are at disadvantage in providing competitive advanced data services because they have to rely on incumbent telcos (ILECs) to offer their customers competitive choice in DSL service, U.S. ISP Alliance (USISPA) said in letter to FCC Chmn. Powell. ISPs “cannot effectively compete if the Commission grants the requests of ILECs to eradicate long-standing FCC restrictions on the bundling of enhanced and basic telecommunications services and customer-premises equipment,” USISPA said. Bundling would allow ILECs to “leverag[e] their persistent monopoly over the local loop into a dominant position within the nascent high-speed Internet access market,” it said. It said ILECs already were gaining competitive advantage by bundling services and equipment.
Legal seminar offered lawyers for last 20 years on day before start of NAB convention is being totally revamped this spring to focus on “a soup-to-nuts” station audit to help attorneys advise their clients “on daily issues from antitrust to zoning.” That’s word to go out SOON to prospective attendees from sponsors NAB, American Bar Assn. Forum on Communications Law and, for first time this year, Federal Communications Bar Assn. Titled “Representing Your Local Broadcaster,” seminar is scheduled April 22 at Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, NAB said FCC Chmn. Powell would speak at Chairman’s Breakfast April 24. Regulatory panel later in day will include FCC Comrs. Furchtgott-Roth, Ness, Tristani.
Some top civil rights leaders active in telecom and broadcasting fields have privately adopted “hands-off” policy during “honeymoon period” of FCC Chmn. Powell and are encouraging political supporters to do same thing, officials confirmed. It’s effort to allow 2nd consecutive African-American FCC chmn. to maintain conservative constituency and “grow into a difficult job” formerly held by William Kennard, “who seemed to always be under attack” from public interest groups, board member of one civil rights telecom group told us. “We don’t want to undermine” Powell agenda, civil rights telecom attorney said: “It’s a conscious choice many of us have made.” FCC officials wouldn’t comment.