Sirius Satellite acknowledged some of its satellites had minor problems with circuits in their solar arrays but said technical flaws wouldn’t hurt operations aboard spacecraft. Sirius spokeswoman said any issues with circuits wouldn’t limit power of broadcast signal or reduce expected useful life of satellites. Company won’t disclose how many of its satellites had problem. Satellite solar arrays convert energy of sun into electrical power for spacecraft. Circuits or strings are groups of solar cells attached to each other. Each collects more power than needed to operate satellites, so loss of few circuits isn’t cause for alarm, company said. Loral built satellites for Sirius, and spokesman for company said other Loral birds that had same problem were functioning normally. Spokesman said Loral was monitoring satellites closely.

FCC denied petition of GTE Hawaiian Tel International (GTE Hawaiian) to waive Commission’s International Settlements Policy (ISP) to change accounting rate for switched voice service to Vietnam. Agency earlier had suspended modification request because foreign carrier in Vietnam, Vietnam Telecom International (VTI), offered higher accounting rate at later effective date to GTE Hawaiian than one negotiated with other U.S. carriers. Because result would be significant disparity in accounting rates among U.S. carriers, VTI’s refusal to negotiate comparable terms and conditions for service on U.S.-Vietnam route violates ISP, FCC said. Commission directed GTE Hawaiian to renegotiate nondiscriminatory agreement with VTI and to settle on interim basis at lowest rate VTI had negotiated with other U.S. carriers. VTI previously entered into agreements with AT&T, MCI WorldCom, Sprint.

OpenTV released new version of its Spyglass Prism technology, which converts Web content into formats that can be used on mobile phones, personal digital assistants, other wireless devices. OpenTV said new release, driven by rising demand for wireless content in Asia, offered several enhancements, including transcoding from HDML to WML and among all versions of WML. OpenTV also announced deal with mPortal Inc. to package and resell former’s Spyglass Prism technology.

Rep. Weiner (D-N.Y.) said he soon would introduce legislation that would require the FCC to collect service quality data on and draft minimum quality standards for wireless communications industry. Standards would govern connection, reception and billing practices. Bill also would establish toll-free “#FCC” complaint hotline number and complaint mailing address that wireless carriers would be required to include in each subscriber’s bill and would require FCC every 6 months to submit report to Congress on complaints received.

Ohio consumer interests asked PUC to hold at least 11 public hearings around state before adopting proposed generic price cap regulation framework. Proposal would price-cap basic single-line service and deregulate rates for most optional, discretionary and advanced services. In joint petition to PUC, Ohio Office of Consumer Counsel and 4 consumer groups said proposed price cap regulation framework wouldn’t provide adequate protection to buyers of services such as caller ID, additional residential lines or high-speed Internet access. Consumer Counsel Robert Tongren said PUC’s proposal would deregulate rates for those types of services at time when they were becoming indispensable to consumers. Tongren said deregulation shouldn’t be adopted until consumers had fair chance to air their views. He suggested PUC hold hearings in state’s 8 largest cities plus others in rural parts of state.

Hispanic TV Network (HTVN) signed 10-year distribution deal with Time Warner Cable that could place Spanish-language broadcaster in as many as 12.6 million cable homes. Agreement, HTVN’s first major deal with top-5 MSO, will make network available on either expanded basic or digital tier of cable systems. HTVN, which is targeting Mexican Hispanic market, said Time Warner would pay undisclosed subscriber fee to carry network.

Nearly 2 million TV households subscribe to both cable and DBS in U.S., Centris research firm said in new consumer study. It said 20% of DBS subscribers had been cable customers previously and 40% lived in areas where cable wasn’t available. Study said digital cable subscribers hooked up more TVs to their service (2.43 per home) than either analog cable (2.17) or DBS customers (1.54). Centris said: (1) Both digital cable and DBS subscribers had higher-than-average income and were more likely to have children. (2) Digital cable and DBS customers ordered far more pay-per-view movies and events than analog cable subscribers. (3) DBS and digital cable subscribers were more involved in VHS, DVD and videogames. (4) DBS and digital cable customers were more likely to own PCs and use Internet. In particular, digital cable subscribers are much more likely to have broadband service (11.3% vs. national average of 4.5%) and make purchases over Web.

Competitive Broadband Coalition late Tues. responded to March 14 letter from SBC Chmn. Edward Whitacre to Congressional leaders that described why company was “forced” to halt DSL deployment in Ameritech region following Ill. Commerce Commission unbundling order (CD March 20 p4). Coalition, composed of long distance, wireless, CLEC and Internet technology interests, said Whitacre’s urging of Congress to ease Telecom Act obligations of incumbent carriers was absent “the warm talk of competition that his company has been using for years.” Coalition said Whitacre letter sent message to Ill. consumers that if they wanted DSL, they must go through SBC or not get it all. “Ever the classic monopolist, Mr. Whitacre’s response to the Illinois ruling is to renege on a planned rollout of DSL service in that state,” it said. “Members of Congress should reject this high-tech hostage taking. Force the monopolies to open their networks and compete just as the Telecom Act requires.” Sprint spokesman said SBC executives “seem to be saying different things to different audiences” on DSL situation in Ameritech region. While Whitacre blamed Ill. regulators for delay, Sprint spokesman said SBC gave “other reasons for not moving ahead” in talking to investors several months ago. In Dec. newsletter to investors, SBC said it had taken more measured approach to DSL deployment in Ameritech region because it wanted to make service improvements first, spokesman said.

NAB’s answer to charges that broadcasters “gouged” candidates in 2000 campaigns by legally overcharging under provisions of lowest unit charge (LUC) of Communications Act (CD March 15 p3) “does not rebut a single claim” of such gouging made by Alliance for Better Campaigns. At least, that is position of Alliance in letter -- along with proposed bill that would require TV stations to give free time to candidates -- sent to all members of Congress and media.

IRS gave its blessing to News Corp.’s planned purchase of broadcaster Chris-Craft Industries and 2 related companies, issuing favorable tax ruling on deal Wed. Ruling allows purchase to proceed as tax-free transaction for stockholders of Chris- Craft, BHC Communications, United Television (UTV). But deal, which calls for News Corp. to buy 3 companies and 10 major-market TV stations that they control, still needs approvals from stockholders, FCC, others. Chris-Craft, BHC and UTV have scheduled separate stockholder votes for April 24.