An FCC mandate that VoIP providers disconnect customers who don’t acknowledge notices warning them of E- 911 limitations has ignited concern among providers and Congress. The VON Coalition in a letter Thurs. urged the FCC to reconsider the plan or at least extend the disconnection deadline. At the same time, key members of Congress plan to send a letter to the FCC today (Fri.) making a similar request. “This is the first time to our knowledge that the FCC has ordered basic service disconnected,” said an aide to Rep. Gordon (D-Tenn.). Gordon and Sen. Nelson (D-Fla.), who have sponsored bills on E-911 access by VoIP services, are the main proponents of the letter to the FCC, which other lawmakers probably will sign as well.
The Journal of Commerce reports that in July 2005, Representative Dave Weldon (R-Fla) introduced H.R. 3319, the "Short Sea Shipping Tax Exemption Act of 2005" in order to exempt coastwise container, ferry or roll-on, roll-off traffic moving between U.S. mainland ports from paying the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT, or HMF), which is seen by advocates as one of the major barriers to developing coastwise shipping as an alternative to land freight transport. (JoC, dated 07/25/05, www.joc.com )
States believe an absence of industry consensus on issues such as financing dim chances for federal e-waste legislation. That was the “generic perspective” among lawmakers at last weekend’s National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) annual meeting in Seattle, said NCSL Federal Affairs Counsel Michael Bird. He said he expects next year to see another slew of state-level e-waste bills.
Industry and consumer groups pledged support for an FCC “Strategic Plan” in comments released last week, but many weren’t shy about pushing favorite regulatory issues. Under the 1993 Govt. Performance & Results Act, the FCC must devise a plan outlining its future direction. In its July 5 release of a draft 2006-2011 plan, the FCC asked for comments by Aug. 5 and last week released 19 comments filed on the plan.
State lawmakers from across the U.S. will tackle telecom and technology issues this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual conference in Seattle. Proposed state and national telecom law rewrites and wrangles over municipal Wi-Fi are among the hot topics at the 5-day conference, which begins today (Tues.). About 7,000 state legislators, policy experts, advocates, govt. leaders and media are expected to attend.
State lawmakers from across the U.S. will tackle telecom and technology issues this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual conference in Seattle. Proposed state and national telecom law rewrites and wrangles over municipal Wi-Fi are among the hot topics at the 5-day conference, which begins today (Tues.). About 7,000 state legislators, policy experts, advocates, govt. leaders and media are expected to attend.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a press release stating that it has lowered the national threat level for the mass transit portion of the transportation sector from Code Orange, or "high," to Code Yellow or "elevated." According to the release, this change took effect at 8:00 pm local time on August 12, 2005, at the discretion of state and local authorities. Concurrently, the release states that the Coast Guard lowered the Maritime Security level for large passenger ferries from level two to level one, which corresponds to Code Yellow. (See ITT's Online Archives or 07/08/05 news, 05070899 1 for BP summary on July 7, 2005 raising of threat levels.) Press release, dated 08/12/05, available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4726 )
Sen. Burns (R-Mont.) is drafting a bill to revamp the universal service fund (USF), expanding the contribution base and redistributing funding, Senate sources said. Sens. Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) and Snowe (R-Me.) are working with Burns on the bill, expected to be introduced early in Sept., Senate sources said. It’s likely to differ from the Smith-Dorgan bill (CD Aug 2 p1), which would apply USF contributions to all 2-way voice services and establish a separate fund for broadband deployment in rural areas.
LAS VEGAS -- The rent-to-own (RTO) industry is pursuing a 2-pronged federal legislative attack as it tries to gain long-sought Congressional approval of a bill reclassifying rental contracts from credit agreements to leases, executives told us at the Assn. of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) show here.
The FCC hopes to act this fall on 20 petitions to reconsider a June 2004 order revising rules for ITFS and MDS operators in the 2495-2690 MHz band, sources said. The new rules aim to promote wireless broadband in the band and optimize spectrum traditionally used to provide video services for data use. The FCC also is expected to launch a rulemaking on EBS/BRS relocation rules.