Independent Cable & Telecom Assn. changed its name to Independent Multi-Family Communications Council (IMCC) and elected new 31-member board. Group, which represents private cable operators, multifamily dwelling unit (MDU) owners and product manufacturers and vendors, said it made switch to focus more on “improved products and services for multifamily community residents” and MDU owners. IMCC said it would continue pushing for repeal of cable mandatory access laws in states and elimination of “barriers to competition” at FCC.
Fox won’t promote Temptation Island in family-oriented shows, it said in letter responding to concern of FCC Comr. Tristani (CD Jan 19 p11). It said promos had been carried during such shows “on a limited number of occasions,” but that would stop “in the spirit of” network’s new policy of not accepting ads for R-rated films in family-oriented shows.
FCC Comr. Powell “remains the clear front-runner” to be next agency chairman and expects to be tapped this week, House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) told reporters at TechNet lunch Fri. “I talked with him last night,” Tauzin said. “He said he hadn’t heard yet.” Addressing rumors Powell might be holding out for another Bush Administration position, Tauzin assured reporters: “He wants it.”
FCC rejected 5 petitions for reconsideration of modified rules for C- and F-block PCS auction that began Dec. 12. Petitions challenged rules that split C-block spectrum into 10 MHz blocks for 422-license auction. In order (CD Aug 28 p1), Commission reconfigured 30 MHz of C-block spectrum into 2 tiers, with first covering populations of at least 2.5 million and 2nd below that threshold. Two of three 10 MHz blocks in first tier and one of 3 blocks in lower tier are subject to open bids. Others are closed for entrepreneurial bidders. Alpine PCS, National Telephone Cooperative Assn., Northcoast Communications, OPASTCO, Rural Telecommunications Group (RTG) and U.S. Small Business Administration petitioned for reconsideration. On spectrum blocks, agency reiterated finding that “10 MHz is a viable minimum license size.” Order also: (1) Rejected Northcoast request to eliminate tiers and allow open bids only for single 10 MHz C-block license in each market. Northcoast raised concerns it wouldn’t be able to meet business plans to vie competitively for licenses in larger markets. (2) Rejected contentions by Alpine that by eliminating some entrepreneur eligibility restrictions, agency failed to follow statutory objectives, such as avoiding excessive license concentration. Some petitioners pointed to recent news reports in which large carriers said they had enough spectrum. Agency said by doing away with some, but not all, of eligibility restrictions for small business bidders, it balanced as many statutory goals as possible. (3) Denied request by Nextel to put in place bulk bidding procedure. (4) Rejected petitions for Northcoast, OPASTCO and RTG to increase bidding credits in open bidding as well as Alpine request on legislation passed by Congress in Aug. that granted qualifying Alaska Native regional corporations relief from transfer restrictions for small business bidders, as well as from unjust enrichment payment requirements. Legislation had effect of allowing Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI) to transfer license to large carrier without paying unjust enrichment penalties. Alpine wanted agency to give same relief to entrepreneur bidders. If FCC were to reject that request, Alpine wanted it to amend auction rules to exclude CIRI from PCS auction altogether. Agency denied request, saying: “The relief accorded CIRI under the statute was specifically authorized by Congress and narrowly tailored.” Congress could have chosen to broaden relief to all similar bidders, but instead created exemption that applied to CIRI, order said.
FCC Wireless Bureau denied Pegasus Broadband petition asking Commission to dismiss Northpoint application for violating ex parte rules. Bureau said it would only “admonish” Northpoint to follow rules, which regulate disclosure and documentation, more closely. FCC said Northpoint “committed no significant violation” of ex parte rules.
In series of DTV technical decisions, FCC affirmed 8-VSB modulation, started rulemaking on requiring TV sets to have DTV tuner and took several other actions. FCC Chmn. Kennard said decisions would give broadcasters “the clarity and flexibility… to accelerate the buildout of their DTV operations.” He said he was pleased DTV tests “put… to rest” debate over modulation standard. Comr. Ness said FCC actions removed transition uncertainty and it was “time for all industries involved in the digital broadcast food chain to come together and redouble their efforts to achieve a speedy transition.”
SAN JOSE, Cal. - Telecom leaders need to develop regulatory strategy and regulators should become more flexible and less prescriptive, panelists said at Wireless Communications Assn. annual technology symposium here Wed. Regulators can help improve Internet broadband access and promote innovation by imposing regulations that are “technology-neutral,” said Industry Canada Spectrum Engineering Deputy Dir. Gen. Veena Rawat. Canadian regulatory agencies, she said, were moving away from “prescriptive, detailed technical standards” in favor of minimum constraints and only “essential technical rules.”
FCC Wireless Bureau is seeking comments on request for expedited waiver from Nextel subsidiary FCI 900 for 5-year construction period for 900 MHz major trading area (MTA) licenses. Nextel asked for extension of deadline from Aug. 12, 2001, to Aug. 12, 2004, for all 900 MHz MTA licensees. Commission rules require MTA licensees to provide coverage to at least 2/3 of population within 5 years of license’s being granted. One option for licensees is that they can demonstrate that they are providing substantial service. Nextel has told Commission that it needs waiver because equipment isn’t yet available to integrate 900 MHz MTA licensed spectrum into existing national 800 MHz iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network). Equipment won’t be available by Aug. 12 construction deadline. Nextel also said it planned to deploy 900 MHz pico cell technology to address coverage gaps and alleviate certain kinds of interference between its 800 MHz commercial operations and adjacent 800 MHz public safety communications systems in July. Nextel told agency that deployment of that technology would be delayed if it had to build analog 900 MHz systems to meet Aug. 12 construction deadline. Bureau is taking comments on waiver requests through Feb. 1, with replies due Feb. 8. Nextel is seeking expedited consideration of request because if it doesn’t get extension, it will have to order analog equipment in time to provide required coverage by existing deadline. Neoworld Licensing Holdings, which plans to deploy national 900 MHz digital dispatch system, is seeking similar waiver of 5-year construction period. Neoworld is seeking extension until Dec. 31, 2002, citing timelines needed for equipment delivery, testing, deployment.
Fox should re-evaluate its advertising for Temptation Island, FCC Comr. Tristani said in letter to News Corp. Chmn. Rupert Murdoch. She said “many parents” had complained about ads for show airing during children viewing hours, saying “children should not be exposed to advertisements for programming that is inappropriate for children.”
Changes at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips: Robb Watters, Internet Alliance, named to govt. and international trade and policy unit; Luke Rose, ex-staff of Rep. Wilson (R-N.M.), legislative adviser; Walter Gonzales, ex-staff of Rep. Green (D-Tex.), legislative asst… Terry Haines, ex-Boland & Madigan and former FCC chief of staff, named staff dir. and chief counsel for newly created House Finance Services Committee… Jed Petrick promoted to pres.-COO, WB TV Network… Jacqueline Bosque adds Tucson office leadership to vp-gen. mgr., Radio Unica, Phoenix… Aaryn Slafky advanced to dir.-communications, National Telephone Coop Assn… Changes at Net2Phone: Scott Anderson, ex-Exist, named exec. vp-sales; Glenn Williams moves up to exec. vp-business and legal affairs; Bruce Shoulson appointed gen. counsel; Brian Haimm promoted to exec. vp-strategic alliances… Changes at Sinclair Bcst. Group: Scott Sanders adds gen. mgr. of WRLH-TV Richmond to gen. mgr., WTVZ-TV, Norfolk; William Lane adds station mgr. to gen. sales mgr. title… Changes at OpNext: Harry Bosco, ex-Lucent, named pres.- CEO; Minoru Maeda, ex-Hitachi, appointed COO; Chris Lin, ex- Lucent, becomes senior vp-global sales and mktg… Richard Murphy, ex-Rogers Wireless Communications, named COO, congruency… Janice Cooley promoted to dir.-work force planning and talent acquisition, Cox Communications.