Some groups backing low-power FM have concerns that an FCC rulemaking notice (CD July 13 p5) may not propose to leave enough spectrum available for new LPFM stations because it proposes to parcel out translators that may use similar frequencies in certain markets. “We are concerned that a ‘market based’ approach would be unfair to markets that have a large amount of land mass as those areas could be taken into consideration as having LPFM availability while continuing to disadvantage the metropolitan areas,” REC Networks founder Michi Eyre wrote on the group’s website. Using “population coverage instead of county/market boundaries would better fairly distribute frequencies for LPFM while continuing to make them available for translators,” she wrote. Some members of the Amherst Alliance, which itself is “neutral” on the commission’s proposed market-by-market approach, see that tack as a “bird in the hand” to LPFM but one that offers them “less security” because translator applications will be processed first, President Don Schellhardt told us. “Now that the option of processing LPFMs before translators seems to be clearly ‘off the table’ at the FCC, the option of supporting a ’super window'” for both types of stations to have their license requests considered “may become more attractive” to some at Amherst, he said. Common Frequency said the rulemaking addresses its concerns that licensing all translator requests the agency received in 2003 would leave little room for new LPFM stations in urban areas. The nonprofit said the approach the commission proposes “will lead to the proliferation of LPFM service in cities nationwide.” The rulemaking is at http://xrl.us/bkzwvn.
U.S. consumers bought 3.5 million Blu-ray 3D discs in the year ended June 21, the format’s first year on the market, said an IHS Screen Digest report. Another 1.7 million 3D discs landed in homes with hardware purchases through bundling deals, IHS said. For 2010-2011, 93 Blu-ray 3D titles were expected for release in the U.S., IHS said. By comparison, 448 Blu-ray titles were released during that format’s first two years in the market, IHS said. A total of 507,293 Blu-ray 3D discs were sold in 2010, IHS said. The major reason for the limited number of Blu-ray 3D titles on the market is the “relatively small quantity” of 3D titles released theatrically in previous years, IHS said. There were 23 theatrical 3D movies released in 2010, but “virtually all the big tent-pole movies” in 2011 are being released in 3D, which should result in an uptick in Blu-ray 3D titles, IHS said. The growing number of titles —- combined with the large installed base of Blu-ray 3D players and 3D TVs —- will drive additional 3D disc sales this year, IHS said. The Digital Entertainment Group has said more than 100 Blu-ray 3D titles will be available by the end of the year.
The Department of Homeland Security has published its spring 2011 semi-annual regulatory agenda for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Internet access subscribers could have their service cut off if they ignore repeated “alerts” that copyright infringement has been detected on their accounts, though ISPs participating in a new “Copyright Alert System” unveiled Thursday emphasized they were unlikely to do that. But measures short of cutoff, such as throttling down to 256 kbps or “restriction” of access for some period, are explicitly laid out in a memorandum of understanding between ISPs and content providers dated July 6 and marked “final,” provided to us by the RIAA. (What appears to be an identical copy is circulating online.) Some digital rights groups gave a cautious nod to the new system while voicing concern that the ambiguity in the agreement could lead to termination or suspension of service without judicial review.
Internet access subscribers could have their service cut off if they ignore repeated “alerts” that copyright infringement has been detected on their accounts, though ISPs participating in a new “Copyright Alert System” unveiled Thursday emphasized they were unlikely to do that. But measures short of cutoff, such as throttling down to 256 kbps or “restriction” of access for some period, are explicitly laid out in a memorandum of understanding between ISPs and content providers dated July 6 and marked “final,” provided to us by the RIAA. (What appears to be an identical copy is circulating online.) Some digital rights groups gave a cautious nod to the new system while voicing concern that the ambiguity in the agreement could lead to termination or suspension of service without judicial review.
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has announced the following entity name and/or address change(s) for new DDTC license applications. New license applications received after the listed deadline will be considered for return without action for correction to the new name and/or address (dates hyperlinked):
After many hiccups and false starts, Spotify is coming to the U.S. The European on-demand music streaming service splashed a cartoon-decorated announcement on its home page, saying it will “soon be landing on U.S. shores,” with millions of tracks available “on your computer and your phone. … And it’s free!” It’s taking requests for invitations to the U.S. service. A spokeswoman for Spotify declined to provide details, such as how many hours of free listening U.S. users will get, pricing for ad-free and mobile versions, specific label deals and a launch timetable: “All we can say right now is watch this space!” The service in the past year has imposed limits on free listening following a crush of heavy users. Spotify has gotten hung up on securing licenses from labels in the U.S. even as its European service took off, crossing 1 million paid subscribers this spring (WID March 9 p8).
The Enterprise Wireless Association asked the FCC to act on a 2008 petition for clarification it filed with Sprint Nextel asking for a tweak to the agency’s 900 MHz business and industrial/land transportation (B/ILT) license application freeze. Both asked the FCC to change its policy to “permit the acceptance and processing of 900 MHz B/ILT applications prior to six months after rebanding has been completed in a NPSPAC region, provided that the application is accompanied by a letter of concurrence from Nextel” (http://xrl.us/bkypgk). The change “would provide access to vacant 900 MHz channels for business enterprise and commercial operators in areas where Sprint has determined that it does not need additional 900 MHz spectrum to meet its 800 MHz rebanding obligations,” EWA said in a filing (http://xrl.us/bkypg7) last week. EWA asked the commission to move forward on a rulemaking notice allowing the licensing of interstitial, full-power, 12.5 kHz channels in the 800 MHz band: “EWA noted that the record in response to the FCC’s request for comment on the Petition confirmed broad land mobile support for the proposed rule change, which would provide additional opportunities for deployment of digital systems in this band.” EWA also raised concerns about a proposal that TV Channels 14-20 be repurposed for broadband since “this spectrum is heavily used by business enterprise, commercial and public safety entities in 11 key markets” in the U.S., the filing said.
Google trumpeted support it has received in the days since announcing the FTC was broadly investigating the company’s business practices (WID June 27 p9). In a post on Google’s public policy blog, Mistique Cano, manager of public policy communications, highlighted comments by others that mirror Google’s own messaging. Antitrust law is supposed to protect consumers and the broader marketplace, not companies from competitors, wrote Greg Sterling at the industry blog Search Engine Land. “Google acts as a market facilitator, not market enforcer,” and is “quite transparent” with how it determines the “quality score” that determines ad pricing and placement, said Craig Macdonald, chief marketing officer at search engine marketing firm Covario, at the marketer website Multichannel Merchant. Former FTC antitrust official David Balto from the Clinton administration, now at the Center for American Progress, said on the Huffington Post that a “close examination” of Google’s entry into various consumer markets shows “where Google competes, consumers benefit.” Balto also predicted erroneously that the Google Books settlement with authors and publishers, which faced opposition from the Justice Department and others who said it would give Google a monopoly, would survive judicial scrutiny (WID Aug 12/09 p1). And the free-market Technology Policy Institute’s Tom Lenard and Paul Rubin wrote at Forbes.com that there was “thus far no evidence in the public domain” that Google has taken actions similar to Microsoft’s in the 1990s to draw the Justice Department’s antitrust scrutiny. Google will “quickly” lose its search dominance “if someone can find an even better ranking algorithm,” they said.
An ITU-T study group will approve three new recommendations unless sufficient objections from administrations arise before Nov. 25, the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau said in a letter to members. A draft new recommendation on remote management of consumer premises equipment over broadband networks defines requirements for the remote management of networked devices by a service provider in a consumer’s home, the letter said. The standard describes how various technical specifications in a family of technical specifications are related, it said. A second draft new recommendation is on physical layer specifications for narrowband OFDM power line communication transceivers communication via alternating and direct current electric power lines over frequencies below 500 kHz, it said. The recommendation supports indoor and outdoor communications over various voltage lines through various voltage transformers and land power lines in both urban and in long distance rural communications, it said. The recommendation addresses grid to utility meter applications, advanced metering infrastructure, and other smart grid applications such as “electric vehicle to charging station,” home automation, and home area networking communications scenarios, it said. A third draft new recommendation specifies an operations, administration and maintenance mechanism for the Multi-protocol Label Switching-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) in packet transport networks, the letter said. “This Recommendation is compliant with the transport profile of MPLS as defined by the” Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the letter said. “In the event of a misalignment in MPLS-TP related architecture, framework, and protocols between this ITU-T Recommendation and the normatively referenced IETF” specifications, the IETF specs “will take precedence,” it said. Consideration of possible approval is scheduled for Dec. 16 if there is sufficient support from ITU member administrations, the letter said.