Commerce Dept.’s International Trade Administration is arranging “schedule of tailored prearranged one-on-one appointments with qualified business contacts” and meetings with “key Russian government and industry decision-makers” May 12-19 during telecom/information technology trade mission to Russia. Executive level mission costs $2,900 and application deadline is April 6. -- 202-482-0573.

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) signed agreement at meeting in Little Rock Fri. designed to streamline communications tower colocation reviews. Agreement was crafted by FCC, ACHP and National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. Pact eases review procedures for colocating antennas on existing towers under Sec. 106 of National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). State and tribal historic preservation officers had discussed procedural changes with communications industry following flood of new applications as result of recent growth in wireless communications towers. Wireless industry had sought changes as way to help relieve administrative backlogs that were delaying tower construction. Agreement is product of 7 months of industry and federal, state and tribal govt. negotiations. Under pact, most colocations on existing towers will be exempt from ACHP siting review procedures. Sec. 106 requires federal agencies to consider effects of their undertakings on historic properties. Agreement acknowledges that effect on historic properties of antenna colocations on towers is “likely to be minimal and not adverse.” FCC said Fri. that national agreement was designed to relieve “unnecessary administrative burdens” on agency licensees, tower companies, state historic preservation officers and Commission “while protecting the goals of the NHPA.” Agreement allows antenna to be mounted on tower built on or before March 16, 2001, unless it: (1) Will increase substantially in size, based on factors such as raising height by more than 10%. (2) Has been determined by FCC to have impact on one or more historic properties unless there’s “no adverse effect” finding. (3) Is under pending environmental review or FCC proceeding involving Sec. 106 compliance. Additional caveat includes cases where licensee or tower owner has received notification that FCC has received complaint about adverse effect. Colocation on towers constructed after March 16 also is covered with similar caveats. “This agreement provides for flexibility now for carriers and tower companies to move forward,” PCIA Senior Vp-Govt. Relations Robert Hoggarth said. “The fundamental advantage of this agreement is simply that it allows historical preservation officials to focus on the small percentage of towers that do have an impact.” FCC signed off on agreement last week after it had allowed additional time earlier this year for comments on draft from tribal representatives. “Tribal concerns need to be addressed in this process,” Hoggarth said. “The programmatic agreement is the beginning as opposed to the end,” he said, noting PCIA was meeting with representatives of southern and eastern tribes today (Mon.) to begin identifying model siting agreement. Still, FCC Comr. Tristani expressed concerns that agreement fell short of agency’s commitment to facilitate tribal consultation in agency regulatory processes. Commission received nearly 20 comments from tribal govts. on draft, she said. “The overwhelming majority told us our approach is not working,” Tristani said. “This response is prima facie evidence that our understanding of tribal consultation is misguided.”

FCC asked for comment on MPower Communications’ request for clarification of total element long-run incremental cost (TELRIC) methodology as it applied to loop conditioning charges. Comments are due April 16, replies May 7.

FCC voted Fri. to detariff international long distance services and gave carriers 9 months to transition to new arrangement. Action wasn’t surprise because FCC had voted to detariff domestic long distance service last year and carriers urged agency not to wait too long to take similar action for international services. Carriers had argued that it would be confusing to have one set of rules for domestic calls and another for international. FCC said carriers could detariff before end of 9-month transition period if they wished. Domestic detariffing goes into effect July 31 and some carriers have said they would like to do same thing for international at same time to avoid confusing consumers.

Tenn. state court ruled AOL wasn’t liable for $9.6 million in state sales and business franchise taxes state claimed for years 1990-1997. Decision came on AOL lawsuit filed in Tenn. Chancery Court, Davidson County, against Tenn. Revenue Comr. Ruth Johnson. Suit sought to void as unlawful her 1997 attempt to collect back taxes from AOL on Internet access and related services. Judge Ellen Lyle ruled that merely having customers in state wasn’t enough to establish nexus for tax liability. Judge said AOL wasn’t required to collect Tenn. sales tax nor pay business franchise tax because it wasn’t located in state and had no physical presence there. Lyle said move to tax AOL was unconstitutional attempt to interfere with interstate commerce. Revenue commissioner said she may appeal.

After struggling with technical difficulties of handling coin sent-paid calls through telecom relay services (TRS), FCC released proposal Fri. that it said finally would enable persons with hearing or speech disabilities to make TRS calls on payphones. New rules would enable TRS user to pay no more than person making non-TRS calls, Commission said. Americans with Disabilities Act requires common carriers to provide people with disabilities with services that are “functionally equivalent” to those available to those without disabilities. Attempt several years ago to require such equivalency for calls made with coins from payphones resulted in multiple suspensions of requirement. New proposal requires that phone carriers: (1) Not charge TRS users for making relay calls from payphones that otherwise would be local. (2) Enable TRS users to use calling cards, collect or 3rd party billing for toll calls from payphones. Users would be charged whichever was lower -- coin phone rate or rate from those other payment methods. (3) Conduct consumer education programs for TRS users. With TRS, callers type their conversations on text telephones called TTYs. Those messages are sent to TRS centers where they are read and forwarded verbally to persons at receiving end of call.

And now there’s only one -- of Big 4 TV networks that still is planning full-scale affiliates’ convention in fall. ABC announced Fri. that to “increase participation” and “enhance face- to-face dialog” it would revert to 5 one-day regional meetings in June -- N.Y., L.A., Chicago, Atlanta and Houston. Just week ago, network had confirmed it would hold general affiliates’ convention May 22-23 in Anaheim to celebrate opening of parent Disney’s California Experience theme park (CD March 13 p8). CBS said meeting with all affiliates still was scheduled May 30-31 at Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas.

In long-awaited move to free up more spectrum for advanced wireless services, FCC approved notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) Fri. that begins process of tapping Ch. 52-59 in 700 MHz band for auction. Lower channels in that band must be auctioned before Sept. 30, 2002, one year after Sept. 12 auction for Ch. 60- 69. Commission approved item, with Comr. Tristani dissenting in part on voluntary band-clearing proposals to help relocate incumbent broadcasters ahead of 2006 digital TV deadline. FCC didn’t address budget blueprint by President Bush that would delay several wireless auctions, including proposed move of Ch. 52-59 auction until 2006.

Lisa Hook advanced to pres., AOL Mobile, replacing Dennis Patrick, who becomes senior adviser to AOL CEO Barry Schuler… Gordon Maxson, dir.-regulatory affairs for 41 years at GTE and then Verizon, retires March 30… Jon Hymes, ex-Comsat dir.- congressional relations, named vp, Susan Davis International, PR firm… Andrew McBride, ex-Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal, named partner, Wiley, Rein & Fielding… Jay Levine, ex-AOL Time Warner, appointed vp-deputy controller, Warner Music Group… Ileen Reich, ex-New Line Cinema, named senior vp-publicity, Columbia Tristar Worldwide Mktg… Jean Stock, pres., Canal France International, appointed secy. gen., European Bcstg. Union, replacing Jean- Bernard Muench.

Hispasat is working on Mobility R&D project to provide satellite digital video broadcasts in real time on ships, yachts, ferries. Prototype of system is expected to be tested in 2nd quarter next year, firm said. System also would allow data transmission and reception, Internet, satellite multimedia and TV value-added services, it said, and it’s expected to expand to airplanes, trains, buses, autos, trucks.