T-Mobile asked the FCC not to adopt new requirements for dual-mode CMRS-VoIP phones as the commission revises rules for VoIP E-911. The dual-mode phone issue loomed as commissioners debated a rulemaking required by the NET 911 Improvement Act. Other commenters said the dual-mode issue appears unique to T-Mobile and asked the FCC to table the issue to focus on the Act’s main thrust: Ensuring that interconnected VoIP providers have access to E911 services.
The NetChoice Coalition and eBay are pushing a grassroots effort to halt retail-theft bills in Congress. They say they would burden online marketplaces with enforcement demands by big-box chains that want to reduce price competition.
The FCC’s request for an additional $20 million for consumer education on DTV may be dropped when Congress puts together a continuing resolution at the end of the session, said Hill aides and lobbyists familiar with the appropriations process. The desire to pass a “clean” bill that includes only the money needed to keep the government running could put the commission’s request on hold until the next Congress. Although the House and Senate appropriations committees easily approved the FCC request this year, congressional leaders may be reluctant to make an exception for fear of opening the door to requests for other programs that aren’t essential, aides said.
The Bush administration is “worried” by recent FCC steps toward more regulation of the broadband, broadcast and cable industries, said Meredith Baker, acting NTIA administrator. Concern she felt earlier over an agency finding that Comcast network management discriminated against peer-to-peer file sharing (CD Aug 1 p1) has been reinforced by recent broadband developments, Baker said in an interview. Adding to her concern is an FCC rulemaking on unbundling programming that she said could violate First Amendment rights without increasing cable competition. A commission proposal to require more community service of radio and TV stations also could have unanticipated effects, she said.
The FCC immediately should start looking into Arbitron’s audience-measurement devices (CD Aug 8 p12), said a coalition of advocacy groups and 10 companies serving minority audiences. Arbitron’s Portable People Meters “grossly undercount” the number of minorities in radio audiences, said its emergency petition for a commission inquiry under section 403 of the Communications Act. The petition was filed by the PPM Coalition, whose members include the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, the Spanish Radio Association, Spanish Broadcasting and Univision. “Unless the Commission acts now, the current PPM methodology will most likely wipe out half of the nation’s minority broadcasters -- beginning on October 8, 2008, when PPM attains currency in eight markets including the top four radio markets,” they said. “Years of negotiations with Arbitron have produced only stonewalling and delay.” Arbitron said the groups raised no new points and failed to acknowledge that the company still is talking with urban and Hispanic broadcasters, and that the PPM outperforms a written diary of radio listening. Arbitron said the FCC lacks jurisdiction over it but the company is “committed to continue our voluntary meetings with the FCC.”
The FCC’s request for an additional $20 million for consumer education on DTV may be dropped when Congress puts together a continuing resolution at the end of the session, said Hill aides and lobbyists familiar with the appropriations process. The desire to pass a “clean” bill that includes only the money needed to keep the government running could put the commission’s request on hold until the next Congress. Although the House and Senate appropriations committees easily approved the FCC request this year, congressional leaders may be reluctant to make an exception for fear of opening the door to requests for other programs that aren’t essential, aides said.
Leap Wireless accused Verizon Wireless and Alltel of refusing to answer the many questions Leap has raised about Verizon’s buy of the smaller carrier. The Rural Telecommunications Group called Verizon’s commitment to rural America “disingenuous.” Other small carriers and groups that represent them similarly slammed the $28.1 billion deal now before the FCC, in reply comments filed at the commission.
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein questions the wisdom of asking questions about dual-mode phones, which can also make calls over the Internet, he said in a statement on an FCC rulemaking aimed at implementing the Net 911 Act. Adelstein reminded the agency that T-Mobile sought guidance on its dual-mode phone service three years ago. “I note that while there are a number of E911 compliance and policy questions raised by dual-mode mobile commercial mobile radio service/VoIP handsets that use Wi-Fi technology, these issues are more appropriately addressed in a separate proceeding,” he said.
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein questions the wisdom of asking questions about dual-mode phones, he said in a statement on an FCC rulemaking aimed at implementing the Net 911 Act. Adelstein reminded the agency that T-Mobile sought guidance on its dual-mode phone service three years ago. “I note that while there are a number of E911 compliance and policy questions raised by dual-mode mobile commercial mobile radio service/VoIP handsets that use Wi-Fi technology, these issues are more appropriately addressed in a separate proceeding,” he said. Meanwhile, APCO and the National Emergency Number Association said Tuesday in a joint statement that they are pleased with the rulemaking. “We applaud the Commission for its work to ensure that VoIP/911 calls are properly routed to the correct [public safety answering point],” said APCO President Chris Fischer. “We also greatly appreciate the efforts of all of the Commissioners to find solutions for 911 calls from wireless VoIP devices.”
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective August 21, 2008, to expand the scope of reasons for adding parties to the Entity List.