Rep. Boucher (D-Va.) asked NARUC to take a position on broadband network neutrality and universal service reform. In a Tues. talk at the NARUC winter meeting in Washington, D.C., Boucher urged NARUC to “get involved. You have a special understanding of the situation and we want your advice and guidance.” NARUC also heard from industry panelists and Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.) on network neutrality.
Qwest’s break-even 4th quarter and its first fiscal year revenue increase since 2001 capped a 2005 turnaround for the carrier, which reported $3.5 billion in revenue at its Q4 investor conference call Tues. Q4 was Qwest’s 3rd straight quarter of year-over-year revenue improvement, while its annual revenue was up modestly to $13.9 billion. The carrier reversed a long trend of running operating losses and broke even in Q4 after adjusting for special items and one-time expenses, and most analysts were cautiously optimistic 2006 would be a good year not only for Qwest, which was the last of the Bells to file, but for the industry as a whole.
Congress should clarify tribal libraries’ eligibility for E-rate funding, the GAO said. Reporting on telecom services for native Americans, the GAO said Telecom Act E- rate funding rules exclude tribal libraries in at least 2 states. The Act bases a library’s E-rate eligibility on its having qualified for certain state library funds. But in at least 2 states, tribal libraries aren’t eligible for those state funds, “which has the effect of making these libraries ineligible to apply for E-rate funds,” the GAO said. The GAO said its study came because Congress is eyeing legislation “to establish a grant program to help tribes improve telecommunications services on their lands.” In 2000 about 69% of Native American households on tribal lands in the continental U.S. subscribed to phone service, compared with about 98% nationwide, the study said. Subscribership in Alaskan native villages was slightly higher, 87%, GAO said. GAO wants the FCC to decide what additional data are needed to assess progress toward more subscribership on tribal lands. But the FCC said “it is not the organization best positioned to determine what that data should be,” GAO said. Therefore, Congress should direct the FCC to figure out what data are needed, GAO said.
Congress should clarify tribal libraries’ eligibility for E-rate funding, the GAO said. Reporting on telecom services for native Americans, the GAO said Telecom Act E- rate funding rules exclude tribal libraries in at least 2 states. The Act bases a library’s E-rate eligibility on its having qualified for certain state library funds. But in at least 2 states, tribal libraries aren’t eligible for those state funds, “which has the effect of making these libraries ineligible to apply for E-rate funds,” the GAO said. The GAO said its study came because Congress is eyeing legislation “to establish a grant program to help tribes improve telecommunications services on their lands.” In 2000 about 69% of Native American households on tribal lands in the continental U.S. subscribed to phone service, compared with about 98% nationwide, the study said. Subscribership in Alaskan native villages was slightly higher, 87%, GAO said. GAO wants the FCC to decide what additional data are needed to assess progress toward more subscribership on tribal lands. But the FCC said “it is not the organization best positioned to determine what that data should be,” GAO said. Therefore, Congress should direct the FCC to figure out what data are needed, GAO said.
Sharp and Chi Mei Optoelectronics signed a cross- licensing agreement for LCD patents. Details of the 5-year contract are to be nailed down by March, the companies said. The pact allows the companies to use each other’s patents for LCD PC monitors and TVs. Meanwhile, Chi Mei is said to have landed an order from Sharp for 32W LCD panels for TVs. Chi Mei and a Sharp spokesman in the U.S. declined to comment. But Sharp Pres. Katsuhiko Machida said in Japan that the company was seeking to outsource some LCD production to one or more suppliers. “We want to start outsourcing within this fiscal year,” he said.
A federal court in La. dismissed a suit by 2 landowners alleging BellSouth ran fiber cable through their property without permission. The judge ruled the landowners hadn’t proven they were sole owners of the property. Williams Land and Rathbone Land sued BellSouth for laying cable in a narrow 6 mile strip between a state highway and railroad tracks in Tangipahoa Parish. The U.S. Dist. Court, New Orleans, in Case 02-1628, granted a BellSouth motion to dismiss after concluding the Illinois Central Railroad and the state govt. also may have ownership interests in the disputed property. It said the plaintiffs could refile their suit if they can prove clear title to the land.
Washington Trade Daily reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff handed over the government's responsibility for co-directing the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Functions (COAC) to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to the article, COAC's February 9, 2006 meeting was co-chaired by Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Deborah Spero, while previous meetings had been co-chaired by an assistant secretary of DHS. (Washington Trade Daily, dated 02/10/06, www.washingtontradedaily.com.)
DTS 5.1 Surround will be standard in Mercedes 2006 S- Class sedans and optional in Lexus and Infiniti models, the firm said Wed. The 2006 S sedan will have a Harman/Kardon DVD-Audio system that includes DTS capability and a demonstration disc featuring multichannel music from DTS Entertainment. The 2006 Lexus GS, Lexus IS and Lexus LS will offer optional Mark Levinson DVD-Video/Audio systems that can play DTS multichannel music discs plus DTS-encoded DVD-Video content. Meanwhile, the 2006 Infiniti M will offer an optional Bose Studio Surround DVD-Video/Audio system that plays DTS multichannel music discs and DVDs, DTS said. The 2004 Acura TL was the first car in the U.S. with an OEM car audio system incorporating DTS decoding as standard. Last year, Acura’s RL, Land Rover’s Range Rover and Cadillac’s STS began offering audio systems with DTS capability. Besides the OEM players, most major aftermarket autosound brands produce systems with DTS decoding, including Alpine, Clarion, Eclipse, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, Pioneer, Sanyo and Sony.
On January 17, 2006, Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff unveiled a three-part vision to ensure the use of the best new technologies and most efficient processes to improve border security, while facilitating travel and welcoming visitors to the U.S. Highlights of this vision include:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a notice announcing the availability of grant funding under the fiscal year (FY) 2006 Border Enforcement Grant (BEG) program. According to the FMCSA, this is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for carrying out border commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. Entities and states that share a land border with another country are eligible to receive grant funding. Applications must be sent no later than March 15, 2006. (FR Pub 01/31/06, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-1155.pdf)