Women hold smaller percentage of jobs in cable and DBS than year ago, while minorities hold more cable positions but fewer DBS jobs, FCC said in new report. Relying on annual employment reports submitted by cable operators, Commission found that total cable industry employment at companies with more than 5 employees had slipped to 130,953 in 1999 from 133,705 in 1998 and total female representation fell to 40.4% from 41.7%. Among full-time employees in upper-level posts, women held 26.9% of jobs in 1999, down from 28.9% year earlier. At same time, minorities boosted their representation in total cable work force to 32.7% from 30.9% and increased their share of upper-level jobs to 29.1% from 21.7%. Other multichannel video program distribution (MVPD) operators, consisting largely of DBS providers, nearly doubled their overall employee base to 10,322 in 1999, but total female representation fell to 43.2% from 52.7% and minorities to 27% from 27.7%. Among full-time employees in upper-level jobs, however, women increased their share to 33.6% from 32.2% and minorities to 22.9% from 16.9%.
NTIA, in notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) Wed., outlined changes for how private sector would carry out mandates for reimbursing govt. agencies that relocate from spectrum after frequency reallocations are made. NTIA Dir. Gregory Rohde outlined details of NPRM at Commerce Dept. meeting with industry on upcoming 3rd-generation wireless decisions. Govt. officials stressed proposed framework for reimbursing federal entities that were relocated to other spectrum berths could play “critical” role in upcoming 3G decisions. FCC and NTIA are examining possibility of 2 bands for additional spectrum for 3G and other advanced services: 1755-1850 MHz now used by military systems and 2500- 2690 MHz used by Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service and Instructional TV Fixed Service licensees. At meeting, some industry representatives also raised concerns that more information was needed from govt. on issues such as relocation cost estimates for private sector to complete its own analyses of different 3G spectrum scenarios.
FCC issued schedule for reviewing Verizon’s refiled application to offer long distance service in Mass.: (1) Feb. 6 for comments, including those by Mass. Dept. of Telecom & Energy. (2) Feb. 21, Dept. of Justice evaluation. (3) Feb. 28, reply comments. (4) April 16, deadline for FCC action. FCC Common Carrier Bureau said it would be available for ex parte meetings on application Jan. 30 and Feb. 23 in case parties wanted to discuss issues they planned to bring up in comments or replies.
FCC added Brasilsat A2 satellite to Permitted Space Station List at 63 degrees W orbital location. Commission said as result of ruling, routine earth stations would be able to communicate with Brasilsat, which it said should stimulate competition in U.S.
NCTA struck back at Consumer Electronics Retailer Coalition (CERC) late Tues. in continuing battle between cable and CE industries over DTV set labels. In 11-page filing with FCC, NCTA called again for Commission to reconsider its 3 proposed “Digital Cable Ready” labels for DTV receivers and instead adopt revised, more descriptive labels favored by cable industry. Accusing CERC of making “an unfortunate knee-jerk reaction to NCTA’s attempt to offer a constructive and pro-consumer labeling proposal,” cable group argued that CERC’s concerns about cable’s labeling proposals were “misplaced” because NCTA “merely has proposed more informative labels for the categories of DTV sets for which the FCC adopted labels.” NCTA also contended that CERC “is mixing apples and oranges” by confusing “the cable industry’s obligations under the navigation devices provisions of the Communications Act with the use of the term ‘cable ready’ in this proceeding.” Finally, NCTA said CERC “misrepresents” findings of cable’s focus group research indicating that consumers “reject the ‘Digital Cable Ready’ labels as inadequate and confusing descriptors of the DTV sets.” Group said CERC, which questioned findings and legitimacy of study, “offers no evidence to the contrary.”
Following months of anticipation, Intelsat finally begins 6- month quiet period today (Thurs.) before becoming private company July 18, Intelsat CEO Conny Kullman said at Washington Space Business lunch Wed. It’s final step in Intelsat privatization authorized by Orbit Bill (CD Aug 4 p2). Kullman said company would “complete all internal work” by May. Company must conduct IPO by 2002. Privatization of Intelsat has been one of major issues in satellite industry for years, with several companies, including PanAmSat filing numerous petitions at FCC protesting what many called “preferential treatment” of company (CD July 28 p11). Kullman called transition biggest step since 1964 founding.
FCC released 2000 biennial regulatory review Wed. that includes details on items that agency accepts for further review that were part of staff report released last fall. On wireless spectrum, review said agency accepted staff recommendation that spectrum caps that limited spectrum entity could hold in single market be considered. CTIA and several wireless carriers have been pressing agency to consider lifting spectrum cap on 45 MHz in all markets except rural areas, where cap is 55 MHz. Agency plans to consider notice of proposed rulemaking in “near future” that will consider “existing competitive conditions and technological developments that could affect the continued need for the cap.” Agency also accepted staff’s recommendation to consider excluding rural ILECs from requirement that independent (non-Bell) ILECs must offer long distance service through separate subsidiary. FCC said it would begin proceeding to seek comment on idea. In addition, it will ask whether it should consider waivers of that requirement for other independent ILECs that showed it created hardship for them. FCC Comr. Furchtgott-Roth said he was “heartened” by more detailed analysis in 2000 Biennial Review issued by agency Wed. Review includes staff report that analyzes regulations on “subpart-by-subpart” basis to determine whether they are needed, action that Furchtgott-Roth has championed in past. That level of detail offers “meaningful opportunity for debate about each section of our rules,” he said. He urged regulated companies to take active role in commenting on process that he said was “opportunity to keep our regulations consistent with marketplace and technological change.”
CARLSBAD, Cal. -- Following end of potentially contentious fight over DTV standards (CD Jan 17 p3), NAB TV board approved financing to start public campaign to “educate consumers on the benefits of digital TV.” To get under way in spring, planning will begin Feb. 6 at joint meeting with co-sponsor MSTV, NAB announced at close of 4 days of board meetings here Wed. Cost of effort wasn’t disclosed, but broadcaster said “we've already spent hundreds of thousands” on engineering studies to determine that 8- VSB standard should be favored over COFDM.
AT&T passed on chance to petition FCC for permission to use company’s planned spinoff of Liberty Media Group to satisfy Commission’s MediaOne divestiture requirements. FCC’s Jan. 16 deadline for written petition came and went without word from AT&T, which wrestled with agency last month over how to meet merger divestiture conditions. AT&T spokesman said MSO hadn’t planned to file petition and preferred to “not elaborate” on its previous statements. FCC Cable Bureau spokeswoman also declined comment. In unexpectedly tough order Dec. 21, Commission told AT&T to carry out its stated commitment to shed its 25.5% stake in Time Warner Entertainment (TWE) or place it in irrevocable trust for sale by May 19 even though company said it preferred to meet merger conditions by spinning off its Liberty Media programming unit (CD Dec 26 p1). But FCC said AT&T still could petition agency to modify order by Jan. 16 by submitting written request “with an appropriate showing as to why such a modification would serve the public interest.” AT&T spokesman said company stood by its earlier statements in which it agreed that it had elected to divest TWE to meet Commission’s Dec. 15 election requirement but insisted that it also was proceeding with plans to spin off Liberty. Issue also is key to FCC’s recent approval of AOL’s takeover of Time Warner (TW). In accepting AOL-TW deal last week, both outgoing FCC Chmn. Kennard and Republican Comr. Powell, widely expected to succeed him, stressed importance of severing ownership links between AT&T and TW.
Verizon resubmitted its application to FCC Tues. to offer long distance service in Mass. under Sec. 271 of Telecom Act. Verizon Senior Vp Thomas Tauke said new version incorporated company’s original application “and adds further evidence demonstrating that the company provides competitors nondiscriminatory access to DSL-capable telephone lines.” Verizon filed original petition Sept. 22 but withdrew it Dec. 18 after FCC Common Carrier Bureau said it didn’t have enough information to substantiate Verizon’s claim that it offered competitors nondiscriminatory access to DSL lines. Similar concerns were expressed by Dept. of Justice in Oct.