NEW ORLEANS -- The major presidential candidates want the FCC to be less political, former commissioners speaking for them told the NCTA conference. If elected, Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., John McCain, R-Ariz., and Barack Obama, D- Ill., each would push for an independent, open commission, they said. Candidates’ heralds Susan Ness (Clinton), Michael Powell (McCain) and Bill Kennard (Obama) agreed on high- technology policies including broadband deployment and tax breaks, but differed on cable a la carte.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) signed a telecom tax bill (HB-2514) ordering a study committee examination of American Indian tribal governments’ payment obligations. The committee will look into liability for state transaction privilege taxes, identifying an appropriate tax distribution and revenue sharing process for tribal governments, and recommending appropriate legislation for tribal and state governments. The six-member committee is to complete work before 2010.
Qwest urged the FCC to reverse three audit findings by the Universal Service Administrative Co. In the audit, USAC decided that Qwest must report partial Lifeline credit amounts on FCC Form 497 line 9, that the Bell inappropriately seeks enhanced Lifeline support for customers not living on tribal lands and has failed to keep customer certifications.
At the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America's Annual Conference, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Basham stated that he expects CBP to publish a final rule in Summer 2008 to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
LAS VEGAS -- The pending FCC order approving a Universal Service Fund cap does not have a sunset date, as was recommended by the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, sources said Thursday. The order grants more than 40 pending applications for eligible telecom carrier (ETC) status. It also caps the fund at March 31 levels. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has yet to circulate text of the order, complete with proposed edits, but is expected to do so in days. Sources said the order will likely have at least three votes if it contains expected language, with Martin and Commissioners Robert McDowell and Deborah Tate in support.
LAS VEGAS -- FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told CTIA attendees he expects to move quickly to adopt a cap on payments to competitive eligible telecom carriers (CETCs), now that Commissioner Robert McDowell is a likely third vote in favor (CD April 1 p1). Martin said he still plans an en banc hearing of the commission to look more closely at early termination fees (ETFs) often imposed by wireless carriers and other regulated companies. Martin also said he was starting to circulate an order dismissing a Skype petition seeking Carterfone rules for wireless.
LAS VEGAS -- FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell sent FCC Chairman Kevin Martin a list of edits on an order that would cap Universal Service Fund payments to competitive eligible telecom carriers (CETCs) at end-of-year-2007 levels, agency sources said. McDowell backs a carve-out for tribal lands in all 50 states, including Alaska, but without language specific to Alaska carrier GCI. McDowell proposed language saying that the FCC would make an earnest effort to undertake comprehensive USF reform.
The FCC must get better at collecting data on cellphone use on tribal lands, the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA) said in a filing. In February, the Wireless Bureau sought comment on the annual CMRS competition report. NTTA said the FCC doesn’t do enough to promote competition on tribal lands. The latest CMRS Market Report refers only once to wireless services on tribal lands -- a quote from CTIA, the group said.
An FCC task force on the digital TV transition was rechartered this month by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, agency officials said. The body, largely dormant for years, is being reanimated amid Capitol Hill scrutiny on what some legislators call laggard efforts to coordinate industry and government efforts to educate Americans on how to get over- the-air TV after Feb. 17, 2009 (CD Feb 14 p1).
An FCC task force on the digital TV transition was rechartered this month by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, agency officials said. The body, largely dormant for years, is being reanimated amid Capitol Hill scrutiny on what some legislators call laggard efforts to coordinate industry and government efforts to educate Americans on how to get over- the-air TV after Feb. 17, 2009 (CED Feb 14 p1). Martin announced the resumption of the task force’s work at a Feb. 13 House Telecom Subcommittee hearing. He provided few details, and his comments drew little notice.