Sony Bcst. Pres. Edward Grebow will keynote MSTV meeting April 23 during NAB convention in Las Vegas. Session also will feature panel on broadcast spectrum, with Cox TV Pres. Andrew Fisher, Cingular Vp Brian Fontes, Senate Commerce Committee staffer Paula Ford, PCIA Pres. Jay Kitchen, FCC Chief of Staff Marsha McBride, Paxson Chmn. Lowell Paxson, House Telecom Subcommittee staffer Jessica Wallace.
FCC gave Columbia Communications authority Thurs. to launch and operate geostationary C-band replacement satellite used for communication services at 174.3 W.
Following recommendation by FBI’s Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) implementation section, FCC said Thurs. it was extending preliminary determination period for wireless carriers seeking extensions of deadline for complying with CALEA Sec. 103 to Sept. 30 from March 31. FCC said complexity of hardware and software that wireless carriers needed to comply with CALEA made it impossible for them to project accurately when they would be compliant. FCC said 7 wireless carriers that had filed extension petitions or supplements since June 30 had met requirements for preliminary determination that they warranted extension until Sept. 30. They are Americell, Concho Cellular, Glenn Ishihara, Guam Telephone, Nextel Partners, Pine Belt Cellular, Tex. RSA. Two others -- Copper Valley Telephone and Nev. Wireless -- didn’t satisfy requirements but can supplement their petitions, FCC said.
FCC conditionally granted authority to PUCs in Ind., Minn., Mo., Okla., Tenn., Vt., and W.Va. to institute thousand-block number pooling trials. It also conditionally granted W.Va. Commission authority to hear and address claims of carriers seeking numbering resources outside of rationing process and authority to maintain rationing procedure for 6 months following implementation of area code relief.
Opinions that emerged from last week’s ITU policy forum on IP telephony in Geneva (CD March 9 p3) largely addressed earlier concerns raised by U.S. and others that outcome not be too prescriptive, said Richard Beaird, acting deputy asst. Secy. of State for international communications and information policy. “We were willing to talk about studies; we weren’t willing to talk about conclusions to studies that haven’t taken place yet,” he told us. ITU forums don’t generate regulatory decisions but produce opinions for member countries to consider. Meeting that ended Fri. generated 4 opinions covering IP telephony, including Opinion D that called for “essential studies” by ITU to facilitate introduction of IP telephony, including interoperability considerations of implementing newer networks alongside circuit- switched infrastructure. Earlier versions of Opinion D, proposed by Syria with backing of countries such as Lebanon and Somalia, called on ITU to ensure there was way to measure traffic across IP telephony networks and backward compatibility between public switched telephone networks (PSTN) and IP-based systems. Version approved at forum Fri. eased off language that stirred concerns by U.S. and allies such as Canada and U.K. “At the end of the day, the opinions have a better tone from our point of view,” Beaird told us. “We have a basis for going forward on a number of studies and workshops. It’s important to bring the developing world along in this area.” Proposal for backward-compatibility in earlier versions of Opinion D had aroused particular concern. “Backward” was eliminated from final version to end confusion about exactly what would have been covered, said Helen Domenici, policy analyst with FCC International Bureau’s Telecom Div. One interpretation of original wording would have been that backward compatibility imposed same obligations on IP networks as typically were obligations of PSTN, she said. “It could have meant requiring a whole raft of regulations on the network,” Domenici said. Other opinions address general implications of IP telephony for telecom policies of ITU members, including regulatory frameworks of developing countries. Another opinion calls for actions to assist ITU members “in adapting to the changes in the telecommunication environment due to the emergence of IP telephony,” including case studies and cooperative actions. While participants in forum wrestled with how to define IP telephony, opinions ultimately steered clear of locking in definition. “This is a work in progress,” FCC International Bureau Chief Donald Abelson said, citing evolving nature of technology. “It’s difficult to lock in a precise definition.” Eric Lee, public policy dir. for Commercial Internet eXchange Assn., said resolutions generally marked compromises among participants “that while satisfying no one, didn’t do any damage.” In particular, day-long information session March 6, held before start of 3-day forum, helped bring international regulators up to speed on technology. “People came out more knowledgeable, even if they didn’t have specific policy questions answered,” he said.
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands filed request with FCC March 7 for expanded universal service option support for low- income consumers there. Marianas seek support similar to measures adopted in FCC Tribal Order for low-income subscribers living on tribal lands. In Tribal Order, agency adopted measures designed to promote increased subscribership levels in tribal communities, including enhanced Lifeline support, expanded Link Up support and additional criteria for eligibility for Lifeline and Link Up support. Comments are due at FCC by April 13, replies April 30.
High-tech e-businesses are even less inclined to add women to their boards than traditional telecom and media companies, Annenberg Public Policy Center said in study released Wed. Study shows women comprise 12% of board members at media companies, 11% at telecom and cable corporations but only 4% at Internet businesses, fact that surprised panel of top communications industry executives at conference at which study was released. Panelists said they would assume new, more youth-oriented e- businesses would be more aware of benefits of adding women to their ranks.
Linda Kinney promoted to acting assoc. gen. counsel, FCC… Nortel COO Clarence Chandran takes medical leave of absence, with CEO John Roth assuming day-to-day control… Leo Hindery, HL Capital, elected to Keynote Systems board… Michael Pirrone, ex- Vyvx, appointed vp-strategic sales for broadcast and cable industries, GeoVideo Networks… David Berman, ex-PanAmSat, named CEO, Airia Limited… Jay Kernis, ex-CBS, appointed senior vp- programming, NPR… Advanced to shareholders (partners) Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand: Marla Grossman and Julian Shepard, of counsel… James Rosenthal promoted to pres.-New Line TV… D'Anne Hurd, ex-NaviPath named CFO-gen. counsel, Vividon… Jan Aggerbeck, ex-@Network, appointed CEO, 2netFX… CNET reporter Patrick Ross, ex-Communications Daily, receives Maxwell Media Award for coverage of cable.
Alliance for Better Campaigns report “got it all wrong” in asserting that broadcasters in elections last year “gouged” political candidates and charged exorbitant air time rates, NAB officials said Wed. NAB Pres. Edward Fritts told press briefing in Washington that broadcasters “are abiding by the rules and regulations set forth by the Congress and administered by the FCC… The risks are too high and the rewards too low” for stations to break the law, he said. NAB Gen. Counsel Jack Goodman said stations didn’t steer candidates to premium spots; rather candidates were willing to pay premium rates for fixed ad spots to ensure greater visibility.
FCC rulemaking on Multichannel Video Distribution & Data Services (MVDDS)continues to stir debate in comments to Commission (CD March 14 p3). Startup Skybridge said it believed MVDDS systems such as one proposed by Northpoint were “grossly discriminatory against NGSO FSS systems that it plans to use. It said rulemaking “accepts practically every unsupported and contradictory assertion proffered” by MVDDS supporters while “ignoring the clearly documented and critical needs” of NGSO-FSS operators. EchoStar said conclusion by FCC on spectrum sharing was wrong and agency should examine its own history to make determination that “ubiquitous satellite service and ubiquitous terrestrial” cannot share same frequencies. Northpoint motives are opportunistic and form of unjust enrichment, EchoStar said: “There is no valid reason other than enrichment hopes” why Northpoint needs to operate service in DBS band (12.2-12.7 GHz). EchoStar said Northpoint could best service public interest by purchasing LMDS or wireless cable license, either at auction or in secondary market. DirecTV said rulemaking jeopardizes DBS in way that’s unfathomable. Idea that Northpoint will operate in DBS downlink band as good citizen without causing interference is untenable, it said. DirecTV said Northpoint’s proposed MVDDS was nothing more than fixed wireless service offering video and broadband capabilities and would be better off in another frequency band such as 2.5 GHz (MMDS), 24 GHz (DEMS), 28 GHz (LMDS) or 39 GHz. Meanwhile, Minority Media & Telecom Council (MMTC) backed Northpoint. MMTC said Northpoint’s service would aid minorities and rural residents while “increasing the diversity of voices available to all citizens.” Satellite Bcstg. & Communications Assn. (SBCA) and Boeing said they will challenge rulemaking launched during term of Chmn. William Kennard with petitions for reconsideration. Both plan to file next week.