FCC’s new video description rules violate First Amendment by “impos[ing] a scheme of compelled speech” on broadcasters, according to appeal filed in U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., by NAB, NCTA, MPAA. Petition also says video description rules (FCC 01-7) violate Communications Act.
White House announced Fri. it intended to nominate 3 Washington insiders as FCC Commissioners: (1) Kevin Martin, FCC transition leader for President Bush and former aide to FCC Comr. Furchtgott-Roth. (2) Kathleen Abernathy, vp of startup network provider Broadband Office Communications, who is former U S West regulatory vp and one-time adviser to ex-FCC Comr. James Quello. (3) Mike Copps, who worked for Sen. Hollings (D-S.C.) for 15 years before leaving Hill in 1980s to work in private industry and finally Commerce Dept. in international trade area. Formal nomination won’t happen for several weeks while paperwork is prepared and security clearances completed. After that comes Senate confirmation process.
Northpoint said it will cut cable and satellite bills in half by Christmas if it gets FCC license for Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Services (MVDDS), in latest round of comments. Northpoint was supported by 10 companies and others, but continued to face strong attacks from rivals.
Adding DTV tuner to analog TV sets would add $200-$300 to cost of analog sets in 2002, Thomson Consumer Electronics warned. In comments on FCC rulemaking (MM 01-24), Thomson said that would mean “doubling or tripling the prices of roughly 40% of the TV sets sold in the U.S.,” potentially creating “a major obstacle to consumer acceptance of DTV and imperil the transition.” Company also said FCC lacked legal authority to impose “forced integration” of DTV and analog sets. Thomson said there was no need to label DTV sets that were incapable of receiving DTV over- the-air because “there are no such products on the market at this time.” Other comments were due after our deadline. Broadcasters, meanwhile, again said DTV tuner requirement was crucial to speedy DTV transition. In joint filing, NAB, MSTV and ALTV said FCC “must exercise its authority to facilitate cross-industry participation” in transition, including 100% tuner inclusion within 4 years.
Ala. PSC adopted all-service overlay with 10-digit local dialing to relieve depleted Birmingham 205 area code. PSC said it looked a 2 different geographic split plans, but rejected them as either not providing enough life for new codes or being too confusing to customers. PSC estimated overlay would last at least 8 years. Implementation schedule will be set in later order. PSC also approved statewide 711 access to state’s deaf relay service, starting July 1. Current toll-free access numbers will remain in service. FCC has designated 711 as national relay service access code to be implemented in all states by Oct. 1.
Head of Mich. PSC’s Telecom Div., Thomas Lonergan, said operation support system (OSS) testing was only major hurdle standing between Ameritech and long distance entry. If Ameritech passes OSS test, he said, it could be ready to file with FCC by year-end. Ameritech later this month is to file its latest update with PSC on its compliance with Sec. 271 interLATA long distance checklist requirements. Based on record to date, Lonergan said, Ameritech “probably” would be found in compliance with 11 of 14 checklist items, but jury still was out on OSS-related items. He said that if OSS tester KPMG gave Ameritech passing grade in its Oct. final test report, and if company had compiled satisfactory record with 3 months of actual wholesale-service performance data, Ameritech could be in position to apply for long distance entry next winter. OSS testing started last month, and Ameritech told PSC it would start collecting actual wholesale performance data in July. Lonergan said Ameritech had improved its retail and wholesale services since last summer’s service quality crisis, but some CLECs still complained that Ameritech wasn’t giving them service to which they were entitled.
Wireless CEOs plan to meet with Commerce Secy. Donald Evans April 24, apparent extension of dialog that he began with industry late last month on 3rd generation wireless issues. CTIA spokesman confirmed meeting, saying executives would meet with Evans one day before Wireless Issues Day on Capitol Hill April 25. Evans met with industry and other govt. officials late last month (CD March 31 p1), just before FCC and NTIA released separate reports on potential spectrum sharing and segmentation possibilities for advanced wireless services. Industry observers have said meeting with Evans last month signaled his interest in allaying fears over Dept. of Defense report released alongside NTIA document and indicating his direct interest in working on 3G spectrum solutions.
Total local exchange revenues for incumbent LECs for 1999 were $71.3 billion compared with $6.5 billion in same year by CLECs, FCC said in report, “State-by-State Telephone Revenues and Universal Service Data,” released Fri. Report presents estimates of state telecommunications revenue and data on Universal Service Fund. Data were obtained from information filed with FCC by NECA and USAC and report gives summary data by state, by type of carrier and by service. Highlights include: (1) Total high-cost programs for 2000 amounted to $2.28 billion. (2) Total low-income support payments for Link Up and Lifeline Assistance programs for qualifying consumers in same year were $522 million. (3) Total communications revenues for mobile wireless carriers for 1999 totaled $6.5 billion. Report is available at FCC Reference Information Center, from International Transcription Services (202-857-3800) or at www.fcc.gov/ccb/stats (file name STATREV.ZIP or STATREV.PDF).
FCC declined to specify what Internet security measures schools and libraries must use in order to continue to receive E- rate funding for Internet facilities through Universal Service Fund (USF). In decision released Thurs., Commission said local communities should select appropriate security measures, schools and libraries didn’t have to certify the effectiveness of measures and they wouldn’t be liable if measures failed.
FCC denied Reading Bcstg. license renewal for WTVE (Ch. 51, HSN) Reading, Pa., and granted license to competing applicant Adams Communications. In order released Thurs., Commission said that Reading Bcstg. didn’t show it was qualified for renewal expectation and that comparative proceeding showed Adams was best qualified. Commission also said there was no evidence that Adams was trying to pay Reading Bcstg. to withdraw ("greenmailing").