The FCC is seeking estimates on costs to hire event planners to organize DTV outreach events attended by commissioners and senior staffers, and to have civic groups install DTV converter boxes and otherwise help consumers. A request for quotations, due Oct. 21, “seeks grass root organizations” and community groups “including faith-based organization location” offers to help people get and install converters and other DTV equipment. Another RFQ, with a closing date of Monday, seeks 10 event planners to organize town-hall style meetings, workshops and other events for regulators to attend in 82 areas where the FCC is stepping up viewer education (CD Aug 19 p1).
The FCC is seeking estimates on costs to hire event planners to organize DTV outreach events attended by commissioners and senior staffers, and to have civic groups install DTV converter boxes and otherwise help consumers. A request for quotations, due Oct. 21, “seeks grass root organizations” and community groups “including faith-based organization location” offers to help people get and install converters and other DTV equipment. Another RFQ, with a closing date of Monday, seeks 10 event planners to organize town-hall style meetings, workshops and other events for regulators to attend in 82 areas where the FCC is stepping up viewer education (CED Aug 19 p2).
The FCC will change the DTV table of allotments so WXOW La Crosse, Wis., can broadcast in digital on channel 48 rather than 14, said a Media Bureau order released Monday. Signals’ potential to interfere with land-mobile operations will be “limited” by the channel substitution, which will increase by 50,000 those who can get its DTV signal.
The future is uncertain for legislation seeking a delay in the Feb. 17 analog cutoff, as House leaders have not formally decided to reconvene after the elections. The Senate plans a brief session, but unless the House goes along, there will be no legislation passed. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called for the House to recess last week, rather than adjourn, which leaves the window open for it to reconvene. The Senate plans to move some land bills in a “brief” session starting Nov. 17, but for other business, “we will wait and see what, if anything, the House does,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. But support is strong among many members for legislation calling for a short-term delay of the Feb. 17 analog cutoff to allow public safety broadcasts. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., have proposed similar bills (S-3663, HR-7013) that would allow analog broadcasts of emergency information and include steps about how to get a converter box. Only stations that don’t have to vacate analog spectrum could take advantage of the delay. If Congress reconvenes, a bill (S-602) that would ask the FCC to study parental control technology could also pass, as it has widespread support. The Senate passed the measure, sponsored by Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., but the House amended it, so it needs another Senate vote.
The future is uncertain for legislation seeking a delay in the Feb. 17 analog cutoff, as House leaders have not formally decided to reconvene after the elections. The Senate plans a brief session, but unless the House goes along, there will be no legislation passed. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called for the House to recess last week, rather than adjourn, which leaves the window open for it to reconvene. The Senate plans to move some land bills in a “brief” session starting Nov. 17, but for other business, “we will wait and see what, if anything, the House does,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. But support is strong among many members for legislation calling for a short-term delay of the Feb. 17 analog cutoff to allow public safety broadcasts. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., have proposed similar bills (S-3663, HR-7013) that would allow analog broadcasts of emergency information and include steps about how to get a converter box. Only stations that don’t have to vacate analog spectrum could take advantage of the delay. If Congress reconvenes, a bill (S-602) that would ask the FCC to study parental control technology could also pass, as it has widespread support. The Senate passed the measure, sponsored by Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., but the House amended it, so it needs another Senate vote.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a summary of various programs it considers to be Industry Partnership Programs.
Service can begin on the first phase of the Trans- Pacific Express submarine cable system linking mainland China, the U.S., South Korea and Taiwan, said Verizon, an investor in the system. The 11,000-mile fiber cable system was designed to boost capacity and speeds for Asia-Pacific region IP, data and voice communication, Verizon said. The system will add a submarine cable link to Japan, giving the project six landing sites - one in Japan, two in China and one each in Taiwan, South Korea and the U.S.
A MOD Systems countersuit accusing consultant and former Warner Home Video President Warren Lieberfarb of breach of contract is in the works, MOD attorney Randall Beighle told Consumer Electronics Daily in an e-mail Friday. MOD Systems, just landed significant financing from Toshiba to launch on- demand delivery of music and video content to SD memory cards (CED Sept 18 p1). Lieberfarb sued MOD Sept. 4 in U.S. District Court, Seattle, seeking almost $730,000 in claimed unpaid fees and expenses for bringing MOD and Toshiba together. He’s a shareholder in privately held MOD, his suit said, without specifying his holdings. Lieberfarb’s suit said he has resigned from the MOD board and in negotiations with Toshiba the company misrepresented him as still consulting for the company. But MOD “parted ways” with Lieberfarb and did so “for good reason,” Beighle said, promising that details will emerge in court. “We think Mr. Lieberfarb’s lawsuit is misguided and incorrect, and MOD Systems looks forward to completing the lawsuit and expects to prevail in the litigation,” Beighle said. Lieberfarb didn’t respond to our requests for comment and his attorney, Michael Bolasina, declined to comment.
The FCC should reject CTIA’s petition to impose deadlines on state and municipality action on celltower and wireless facility siting applications, said the National Association of State Aviation Officials. The NASAO said a revised siting process could harm aviation safety. The Electromagnetic Radiation Policy Institute also urged the FCC to reject CTIA’s petition, as did numerous municipal and state groups. CTIA’s bid has backing from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Alltel and a few other wireless industry filers.
1. DDTC Forms With Expiration Date of 9/30 Still Valid