The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective July 15, 2005, which revises certain entries on the Commerce Control List (CCL) that are controlled for national security reasons in Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Part I (telecommunications), 6, 7, 8, and 9, and definitions to conform with changes in the Wassenaar Arrangement's List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies and Statements of Understanding maintained and agreed to by governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar Arrangement).
Sea Launch said it won a bid for 2 PanAmSat launches in 2006 and 2007. The satellites, Galaxy 16 and Galaxy 18, will be built by Space Systems/Loral. Sea Launch officials said Galaxy 16 is headed for 99 degrees W, to provide cable TV, data and telecom services to the continental U.S., Ala., Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. Galaxy 18 will be at 123 degrees W with a similar footprint. Under the agreement, Sea Launch said, it will offer PanAmSat with a Land Launch option, plus options for more Land Launch missions. A collaboration between Sea Launch and Space International Services, Land Launch missions take off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia. Sea Launch officials also said PanAmSat will use Land Launch to lift the PAS 11 satellite by mid-2007.
Utah’s UTOPIA municipal fiber infrastructure consortium told a federal court Qwest lacks data to underpin a raft of complaints against UTOPIA. Qwest claims UTOPIA will be able to engage in predatory pricing thanks to tax subsidies; UTOPIA illegally occupies its pole space; and UTOPIA installations have damaged Qwest facilities. The consortium of 11 Utah cities asked the U.S. Dist. Court, Salt Lake City, to dismiss Qwest’s June 1 suit because it hasn’t stated claims against UTOPIA that courts can grant. UTOPIA (Case 2:05-cv-00471-PGC) told the court any market advantages provided by limited tax exemptions are more than offset by state legislative curbs on financing and accounting, and mandatory accountability to elected officials and the public. It also said Qwest claims of illegal pole occupation and facility harm are exaggerated. UTOPIA said most of its attachments are on poles owned by electric utilities. It said there were 3 Qwest-owned poles where UTOPIA mistakenly attached its lines, but those quickly were removed when Qwest complained. UTOPIA cited one incident in which its contractor damaged a Qwest underground cable, but blamed the damage on Qwest’s failure to mark the worksite properly. Meanwhile, the City of Riverton flatly denied a Qwest claim in the suit that the city forced private land developers to provide free underground conduit for exclusive future use by UTOPIA. The city said when it does require developers to lay underground telecom conduit, such conduit must be made available to all telecom providers that want access to it.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule, effective July 15, 2005, which revises certain entries on the Commerce Control List (CCL) that are controlled for national security reasons in Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Part I (telecommunications), 6, 7, 8, and 9, and definitions to conform with changes in the Wassenaar Arrangement's List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies and Statements of Understanding maintained and agreed to by governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar Arrangement).
Sen. Ensign (R-Nev.) Wed. introduced a broad telecom update bill that would erase local video franchise requirements, let municipalities invest in broadband networks via competitive bid and set consumer protection standards for carrier service. The bill did not address universal service fund (USF) reform, an issue Ensign said Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) and co- chairman Inouye (D-Hawaii) want to handle separately. A Committee aide confirmed that Stevens plans to address USF this year, separately or in a larger telecom bill.
Sen. Ensign (R-Nev.) Wed. introduced a broad telecom update bill that would erase local video franchise requirements, let municipalities invest in broadband networks via competitive bid and set consumer protection standards for carrier service. “Changes in technology necessitate that we update these rules,” Ensign told reporters at a press briefing. “We're still regulating these companies based on ancient history instead of recognizing the realities of the marketplace,” Ensign said. “This legislation addresses these concerns, “ he said. Ensign, who said he was in daily contact with Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) during the bill’s drafting, said he expects it will be a “discussion” point moving forward with more co-sponsors signing on.
SANTA CLARA, Cal. -- DBS can sleep soundly knowing the competitive threat of IPTV is wielded by uncreative Bells, a satellite veteran said. “These are people that have screwed up my bill the last 3 months,” said Larry Chapman, formerly exec. vp of DirecTV and pres. of its Latin American operation: “Their idea of innovation is call waiting… If I had to pick a competitor, they'd be at the top of my list.” He spoke on a panel late last week organized by TiE, a Silicon Valley networking group organized by Indian-Americans and originally called The Indus Entrepreneurs. Bells, including IPTV leaders SBC and Verizon, weren’t represented.
SANTA CLARA -- DBS can sleep soundly knowing the competitive threat of IPTV is wielded by uncreative Bells, a satellite veteran said. “These are people that have screwed up my bill the last 3 months,” said Larry Chapman, formerly exec. vp of DirecTV and pres. of its Latin American operation: “Their idea of innovation is call waiting… If I had to pick a competitor, they'd be at the top of my list.” He spoke on a panel late last week organized by TiE, a Silicon Valley networking group organized by Indian-Americans and originally called The Indus Entrepreneurs. Bells, including IPTV leaders SBC and Verizon, weren’t represented.
A plan by FCC Chmn. Martin to reclassify telecom- provided DSL as an information service is circulating among the other commissioners’s offices, seeking approval, sources said. The new classification would lessen regulation of Internet access service provided by incumbent phone companies. The move was expected after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brand X ruling, which upheld similar FCC handling of cable modem service (CD June 28 p1).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued notices announcing the release of updated versions of the Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI). On December 4 and 28, 2004, PNSI Versions 1.5.01 and 1.5.02 were released, respectively. On March 25, 2005, PNSI Version 1.5.03 was released. In addition, on July 9, 2005, PNSI Version 1.6.00 was released.