Group of companies that provide competitive transport services to CLECs asked FCC to rule that Sec. 224 of Telecom Act permits them to extend fiber to CLECs colocated in ILEC central offices. Coalition of Competitive Fiber Providers (CCFP) asked agency in petition Thurs. to rule that Sec. 224, which requires ILECs to provide access to duct, conduit or rights-of-way, applies to central office facilities. Patrick Donovan, attorney representing coalition, said petition was significant because it raised issue on Sec. 224 that hadn’t been addressed before and could make it easier for competitive fiber providers to serve CLECs. It also could solve CLEC-ILEC cross-connect issue pending as part of U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., remand of FCC’s colocation order. FCC is considering whether CLECs can cross-connect in ILEC central offices under Sec. 251 of Act. Petition provides additional basis -- Sec. 224 -- for FCC to make affirmative decision, Donovan said. Coalition is composed of American Fiber Systems, Fiber Technologies, Global Metro Networks, Telergy, Telseon Carrier Services. Petition said FCC’s definition of conduit and duct was broad enough to encompass all wiring distribution systems used in ILEC central offices.
Radio and TV stations should begin developing content for broadband Internet market as they work on station Web sites, Radio-TV News Dirs. Foundation (RTNDF) said in new study. It suggested that broadcasters had good opportunity to develop expertise and audience loyalty as broadband Internet connections proliferated. Broadband will require more use of streaming media, said report by Michael Murrie of Pepperdine U., but stations should “think in terms of chunks of audio and video, rather than entire news programs.” He said Web sites should carry brief individual stories and should “take advantage of recognizable reporters and anchors.” Study said most broadcast stations already had Web sites, but traffic to many of them was light because they mainly were promotional vehicles with little attractive content. But it said broadcasters had great opportunity on Web because Web users “still prefer traditional brand names in news sources,” and because stations could promote their sites easily. Murrie warned that it was difficult for stations to make money from sites by selling only local banner ads, and profits weren’t likely for at least 2 years. He said sites might have to turn to sponsorships, national ads and e- commerce to generate additional revenue.
Spot Image and EarthScan Network announced strategic partnership Thurs. to provide satellite imagery to agriculture. Plans call for EarthScan to purchase Spot satellite imagery for Regional Analysis Service. In return, EarthScan will provide Spot with technology services to support e-commerce.
FCC sought comment on PCIA request for rule change on modifications in paging stations. Assn. asked that Commission treat as minor modifications expansions of paging composite interface contours (CICs) that occur solely beyond land border of U.S. or over large bodies of water. Comments are due April 16, replies May 1.
FCC said it was prepared to grant TRW’s application for 100 licenses to operate in 39 GHz band. Grants will be made upon payment of remaining balance of TRW’s winning bid by March 28.
U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., struggled Thurs. with how to balance bankruptcy law against FCC’s regulatory role to cancel PCS licenses of NextWave for missed payment. Before crammed courtroom, NextWave attorney Theodore Olson repeatedly cited section of bankruptcy code that bars any agencies from revoking licenses solely because licensee is bankrupt or hasn’t paid debt that is dischargeable. In one hour and 15 min. of oral argument, which ran beyond allotted time of 30 min., judges wrestled with how to reconcile Commission’s regulatory obligations to license spectrum against its role as creditor in bankruptcy proceedings. Judges David Tatel and David Sentelle pressed FCC attorney Daniel Armstrong on whether agency was asking court to read regulatory exception into Bankruptcy Code provision that bars license cancellation under some bankruptcy scenarios. “How would we do that? Congress didn’t write one,” Tatel said.
Verizon asked Pa. Supreme Court to grant “expedited consideration” of its appeal of Commonwealth Court’s decision upholding Pa. PUC’s authority to impose full structural separation of Verizon wholesale and retail operations. Verizon told Supreme Court Thurs. that fast action was imperative because PUC had put separation on decision agenda for March 22 meeting and Verizon expected breakup plan and timetable would be adopted. Verizon said if court took long time to decide but ultimately found separation unlawful, carrier would have incurred needless major expense. PUC in Sept. 1999 determined full separation was only way to facilitate development of effective local competition, but Verizon has been fighting that decision ever since. In related matter, competitor-supported Pennsylvanians for Local Competition at news conference Thurs. called on PUC to “ignore Verizon scare tactics and open its monopoly to competition before allowing it to offer long distance.” Group dismissed as nonsense Verizon’s claims that structural separation of telecom in Pa. could have dire consequences similar to those arising in Cal. electric markets from structural separation of utilities. Verizon in response said separation wasn’t needed because local competition already was effective in Pa. Verizon said it was losing 50,000 lines monthly to some 85 operating CLECs in state. It said it processed average 3,500 CLEC service orders daily, with its order- handling performance continually monitored by PUC and CLECs.
Sony Bcst. Pres. Edward Grebow will keynote MSTV meeting April 23 during NAB convention in Las Vegas. Session also will feature panel on broadcast spectrum, with Cox TV Pres. Andrew Fisher, Cingular Vp Brian Fontes, Senate Commerce Committee staffer Paula Ford, PCIA Pres. Jay Kitchen, FCC Chief of Staff Marsha McBride, Paxson Chmn. Lowell Paxson, House Telecom Subcommittee staffer Jessica Wallace.
TV industry -- network and local stations -- was target of broad criticism in Washington Thurs. on its performance during political campaigns last fall. Retired CBS correspondent Walter Cronkite said “our country is for sale today” through campaign contributions and media haven’t made public “sufficiently alarmed.” He said industry “not only profited but profiteered” from 2000 campaigns. ABC correspondent Sam Donaldson generally defended TV’s performance, saying “I don’t believe we fell down” and all-in-all TV networks “did a pretty good job… I don’t think we in the press corps drive campaigns.”
WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- Seeking to provide “a reality check” for reporters, AT&T Broadband CEO Daniel Somers angrily defended company’s performance last year and predicted it would fare even better this year. Speaking at CableLabs press briefing here Wed., Somers also confirmed that MSO would slow down its aggressive rebuild program this year to target its capital spending better and boost its cash flow, margins and customer service operation. Most dramatically, Somers tried to downplay recent reports that AT&T Chmn. Michael Armstrong wanted to take his place once broadband unit was spun off as independent company. “I've got one hell of a job,” Somers said. “I'm still here in Denver. I'll be here as long as they and I want me here. Everything else is bullshit. I'm glad he wants my job but so do 400 other people.”