House passed legislation Mon. that would limit fees charged by federal agencies to telecom companies for rights- of-way (ROW) on federal land. “Reasonable Rights-of-Way Fees Act of 2002” (HR-3258) passed by voice vote Mon. afternoon. It’s unclear how Senate will address issue. Rep. Cubin (R- Wyo.), bill sponsor, said fees charged by Interior Dept.’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have discouraged broadband deployment to rural areas. Cubin said during April hearing of House Resources Public Lands Subcommittee that telecom providers have been specifically targeted for fee increases. She also said that fair market value shouldn’t include federal agencies sharing in revenue associated with facilities crossing federal lands. Cubin said revision of fee schedules by BLM and U.S. Forest Service resulted in some telecom companies being charged 100-150 times their previous annual bill. During that hearing, BLM official said Interior Dept. was concerned HR-3258 would eliminate fee schedules set in 1986 and 1995. He said bill would prevent federal agencies from charging fair market value rates of return for ROW on federal lands and require “time-consuming, multiple appraisal process” for every ROW request. Eric Myers, exec. dir.-Telecom Rights of Way Coalition, said HR-3258 was needed to develop “robust national telecommunications structure.” He said high fees for federal ROW would likely create “economic digital divide” where broadband is only affordable by portion of population.
FCC launched national campaign to educate low-income consumers on obtaining affordable telephone service. Campaign called “Get Connected: Afford-A-Phone” is based on 2 Universal Service Fund programs, Lifeline and Link-Up, FCC said. Lifeline allows qualified low-income persons to obtain monthly discounts on cost of receiving telephone service, Commission said, while Link-Up “offsets half of the initial hookup fee,” of up to $30 and provides deferred payment plan. Eligible residents of Native American and Alaskan Native tribal lands can obtain $25 additional monthly Lifeline support, Commission said, and up to $70 expanded Link-Up support.
Mitsubishi is cutting DTV set prices across board, including $1,000 and $2,000 reductions, respectively, on 73” ($5,999) and 50W plasma ($15,000) DTV models as it readies derivative shipments to Best Buy and seeks to keep ties with independent regional and specialty CE retail accounts, according to dealers knowledgeable about changes. We're told price cuts cover dozen models, with most taking effect this month.
S. Korean independent online game maker NCsoft made new episode of its Lineage massively multiplayer online game series available in N. America. Episode XI: Oren adds new land for players to explore, NCsoft said. Subscription game is available at www.lineage.com. After free download and 30-day free trial period, subscription costs $15 per month, although gamers also can buy 4 months of service at one time for $11.25 per month.
Public safety groups and Motorola urged FCC to adopt channelization plan that could accommodate 802.11 technologies in part of 4.9 GHz recently allocated to public safety operations. But several commenters on proposal that would clear way for high-speed digital technologies for emergency communications in band differed on who should be eligible to use that spectrum beyond “traditional” public safety entities. Representing critical infrastructure providers such as utilities, United Telecom Council (UTC) said FCC should adopt eligibility definition that would include entities such as pipelines and railroads that coordinate with public safety during emergencies. However, Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) backed narrower definition that would prevent fire, police and emergency medical entities from having to compete with others for that spectrum. One point of agreement across broad range of comments was that 50 MHz allocation in further notice approved by FCC in Feb. was important for homeland security, but still fell far short of spectrum needed for public safety operations.
Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) announced it had reached agreement on license fees for public performance of BMI music on Viacom’s cable TV networks. BMI Senior Vp-Licensing John Shaker said BMI writers and publishers would be guaranteed stable source of income for performance of their works on Viacom’s cable networks through 2005. New contract covers MTV, VH1, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Flix, Sundance Channel, MTV2, MTV Latin America, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, TV Land, TNN (The National Network), CMT (Country Music Television), BET (Black Entertainment Television), BET on Jazz and MTV suite of digital networks (MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Espanol, Noggin, GAS, Nicktoons TV, Nick Too, VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Country, VH1 Mega Hits, and VH Uno). Terms of deal weren’t disclosed.
Air Force officials will meet with industry representatives this week to discuss development of an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) network. ISR communications infrastructure envisioned by Air Force is seamless transport system that will combine global data links, satellite communications assets and Internet protocol- enabled radios. System “will operate as an integral part of the broader Global Information Grid [GIG],” an integrated worldwide network being developed by Dept. of Defense (DoD), officials said. GIG, which still is in its infancy, will create interoperability among land, sea and space communications systems of U.S. military units, linking policy-makers, Defense officials and war-fighters, they said.
Nintendo of America (NOA) and non-profit group seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday (SHiNE) started nationwide campaign to reach teens in non-traditional fashion to beautify communities and paint neighborhood murals. Through July 23, aspiring artists, gamers and others interested in making positive difference in their communities are being told they can enter “Nintendo and Mario Make My Community SHiNE” contest online at www.shine.com. Winners of contest will see their art prominently displayed in their hometowns or neighboring metropolitan area, companies said. Contest is being run as NOA gears up to release Super Mario Sunshine for GameCube in Aug. Company indicated contest matches spirit of game, saying: “Continuing the underlying theme of all Mario games, Super Mario Sunshine allows players to help Mario overcome obstacles, reach progressive goals, and restore peace and harmony across the land.” NOA Exec. Sales and Mktg. Vp. Peter MacDougall said: “This is the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to connect to its generations of Mario fans and encourage them to give back to their community. Like all its predecessors, this latest Mario game expresses positive messages related to restoring the environment, an important issue to people of all ages.” Winners of contest are to be announced Aug. 1, NOA said. In addition to design contest, SHiNE is currently holding GameCube sweepstakes on its Web site, giving participants chance to win copy of game and other Nintendo prizes.
FCC dismissed Glentel Corp. application for blanket authority to operate 50,000 mobile earth terminals (METs) to provide mobile satellite service (MSS) on common carrier basis in U.S. via Canadian-licensed satellite operating in L- band spectrum. Glentel failed to comply with direct ownership restrictions of Sec. 310(b)(3) of Communications Act for operation of MSAT-1 satellite, Commission said. Meanwhile, FCC gave National Systems & Research license to operate 40,000 mobile earth terminals using MSAT-1 satellite, operating in 1626.5-1660 MHz (transmit) and 1525-1559 MHz (receive) bands. METS will be used to provide Mobile Data Service (MDS) and Track and Manage Service (TAMS) in international coordinated frequency ranges of 1530-1559 MHz and 1631.5-1660.5 MHz. MDS mobile terminals will be used to provide packet data services to land vehicles, maritime and aeronautical vessels and temporary fixed station. Motient and Norcom Networks had filed motions to deny.
Breaux-Nickles broadband bill would be good for broadband equipment providers and related industries, Sen. Breaux (D-La.) told CCIA of his legislation co-sponsored with Senate Minority Whip Nickles (R-Okla.). Breaux reiterated his argument that his bill -- that would require FCC to create “level playing field” of regulation for broadband providers without mandating any new regulations on any industries -- took decision out of “politics” of Congress. He said move would mean that process “cannot be accused of being political,” but he didn’t address fact that it would permit FCC only one course of action -- namely, deregulation of Bell companies. House Judiciary Courts, Internet & Intellectual Property Subcommittee ranking Democrat Berman (Cal.) put CCIA members on spot on broadband issue. When pressed for his reaction to call by Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chmn. Lieberman (D-Conn.) for long-term broadband policy comparable to landing men on moon, Berman said he wasn’t good at big-picture thinking. He asked CCIA members why, exactly, broadband should be equated with moon shot, or even with universal health care or housing. Only response he received was that there was overabundance of broadband fiber that needed to be used, and that service providers lacked incentives to connect that fiber to homes. Berman smiled and said he didn’t see how that should be of concern to consumers.