NCTA urged conditioning a telco proposal for a transition in pole-attachment rates under a potential FCC shift in price-cap carrier accounting from Part 32 rules to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). "While the transition period should be helpful in avoiding rate shock due to changes made during the initial accounting transition, it will not do anything to protect against subsequent accounting changes," said an NCTA filing posted Friday in docket 14-130 on a meeting with Wireline Bureau staffers. It noted its advocacy of a "temporary freeze" in telco pole rates, but said: "[A]s a safeguard the Commission should consider applying the 12-year transition to any rate increases attributable to accounting changes during the first three years a carrier is using GAAP, not just the initial transition."

NCTA urged conditioning a telco proposal for a transition in pole-attachment rates under a potential FCC shift in price-cap carrier accounting from Part 32 rules to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). "While the transition period should be helpful in avoiding rate shock due to changes made during the initial accounting transition, it will not do anything to protect against subsequent accounting changes," said an NCTA filing posted Friday in docket 14-130 on a meeting with Wireline Bureau staffers. It noted its advocacy of a "temporary freeze" in telco pole rates, but said: "[A]s a safeguard the Commission should consider applying the 12-year transition to any rate increases attributable to accounting changes during the first three years a carrier is using GAAP, not just the initial transition."

Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler promised the incentive auction would be an “extravaganza,” but it didn't deliver, NAB President Gordon Smith said on C-SPAN's The Communicators, scheduled for broadcast over the weekend. “It was nothing of the case,” Smith said, saying the lower-than-expected results of the auction show the spectrum crunch it was meant to alleviate never really existed. Smith said promises of large payouts to broadcasters and to the Treasury weren't fulfilled. Broadcasters will receive around $10 billion from the auction, and the Treasury over $6 billion (see 1702100064). Those numbers are smaller than was promised, Smith said: Those promises were “bravado.”

Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler promised the incentive auction would be an “extravaganza,” but it didn't deliver, NAB President Gordon Smith said on C-SPAN's The Communicators, scheduled for broadcast over the weekend. “It was nothing of the case,” Smith said, saying the lower-than-expected results of the auction show the spectrum crunch it was meant to alleviate never really existed. Smith said promises of large payouts to broadcasters and to the Treasury weren't fulfilled. Broadcasters will receive around $10 billion from the auction, and the Treasury over $6 billion (see 1702100064). Those numbers are smaller than was promised, Smith said: Those promises were “bravado.”

Stakeholders are continuing to scrutinize a Domain Name Association (DNA) proposal for a voluntary third-party mechanism akin to ICANN’s trademark-centric uniform dispute resolution policy (UDRP) that would address copyright infringement through the use of domain names. Its proponents tell us many details for the mechanism remain in flux. DNA proposed what it calls a “Copyright Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy” (Copyright ADRP) this month in its rollout of recommendations via the Healthy Domains Initiative (see 1702080085). The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Internet Commerce Association criticized HDI for including the Copyright ADRP proposal among its recommendations (see 1702100054).

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., introduced the Preserving State Commission Oversight Act Thursday, which would tweak statute by “mandating a continuing role for States in designating eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal Service program.” The lawmakers posted the bill text and framed it as an oversight change for the Lifeline program. “In a program where waste and fraud have run rampant for years, removing the ability of states to police companies participating in the Lifeline program can only lead to further misuse of public funds,” said Cramer, a former public utility commissioner, in a statement. “The FCC doesn’t have the authority, the manpower, or the local knowledge to police the entire program at a national level. That’s why the states are so important in maintaining the integrity of this program.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has come under fire from Capitol Hill Democrats for revoking certification of nine Lifeline broadband providers recently. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., led the latest letter of protest on the topic, also signed by Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and former subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “The reasons given for taking these actions do not seem to justify the extreme results,” said these House Democrats. “While the order states that the revocations are necessary to prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse, the order does not explain how its actions will accomplish those goals. Furthermore, since the Order raised many novel policy questions regarding the Commission’s current efforts to safeguard the integrity of the Lifeline program, we find it troubling that the Chairman would insist on pursuing the same course he has so often criticized his predecessors for: an improper exercise of the FCC’s delegated authority and a refusal to permit the full Commission from voting on an item that poses new questions of law and policy.” An FCC spokesman declined comment on this letter and had defended Pai’s actions last week (see 1702100047).

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., introduced the Preserving State Commission Oversight Act Thursday, which would tweak statute by “mandating a continuing role for States in designating eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal Service program.” The lawmakers posted the bill text and framed it as an oversight change for the Lifeline program. “In a program where waste and fraud have run rampant for years, removing the ability of states to police companies participating in the Lifeline program can only lead to further misuse of public funds,” said Cramer, a former public utility commissioner, in a statement. “The FCC doesn’t have the authority, the manpower, or the local knowledge to police the entire program at a national level. That’s why the states are so important in maintaining the integrity of this program.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has come under fire from Capitol Hill Democrats for revoking certification of nine Lifeline broadband providers recently. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., led the latest letter of protest on the topic, also signed by Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and former subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. “The reasons given for taking these actions do not seem to justify the extreme results,” said these House Democrats. “While the order states that the revocations are necessary to prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse, the order does not explain how its actions will accomplish those goals. Furthermore, since the Order raised many novel policy questions regarding the Commission’s current efforts to safeguard the integrity of the Lifeline program, we find it troubling that the Chairman would insist on pursuing the same course he has so often criticized his predecessors for: an improper exercise of the FCC’s delegated authority and a refusal to permit the full Commission from voting on an item that poses new questions of law and policy.” An FCC spokesman declined comment on this letter and had defended Pai’s actions last week (see 1702100047).

Some states are deciding their authority over VoIP services even as federal lawmakers eye a rewrite of the 1996 Telecom Act that could resolve the debate. In a Vermont hearing Thursday, Comcast argued against a proposed Public Service Board ruling that the state may regulate VoIP as a telecom service. The previous day, Iowa published an order saying the opposite -- that retail VoIP is an information service not subject to state regulation. Last week, a West Virginia state senator introduced a bill restricting the Public Service Commission from regulating VoIP.

Some states are deciding their authority over VoIP services even as federal lawmakers eye a rewrite of the 1996 Telecom Act that could resolve the debate. In a Vermont hearing Thursday, Comcast argued against a proposed Public Service Board ruling that the state may regulate VoIP as a telecom service. The previous day, Iowa published an order saying the opposite -- that retail VoIP is an information service not subject to state regulation. Last week, a West Virginia state senator introduced a bill restricting the Public Service Commission from regulating VoIP.

The House Agriculture Committee on Feb. 16 advanced a bill that among other things will increase registration fees for EPA import approval-related services under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the committee announced (here). For instance, the legislation would raise base registration service fees to establish import tolerances for a new active ingredient or first food use for fiscal years 2017 and 2018 from the current $289,407 to $319,072. “All requests for new uses (food and/or nonfood) contained in any application for a new active ingredient or a first food use are covered by the base fee for that new active ingredient or first food use application and retain the same decision time review period as the new active ingredient or first food use application,” the bill text states. “The application must be received by the agency in one package.” The base fee covers a maximum of five new products.