FCC gave Columbia Communications authority Thurs. to launch and operate geostationary C-band replacement satellite used for communication services at 174.3 W.

Rep. Wolf (R-Va.) introduced bill that would amend IRS code to provide $500 tax credit toward telecommuter purchases of “electronic information and communications technologies.” Under HR-1012, which was referred to Ways & Means Committee, employees working at home for employers at least 75 days per year would be eligible. Reps. Davis (R-Va.), Morella (R-Md.), Ehlers (R-Mich.), Tauscher (D-Cal.) and Udall (D-N.M.) are co-sponsors.

Following recommendation by FBI’s Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) implementation section, FCC said Thurs. it was extending preliminary determination period for wireless carriers seeking extensions of deadline for complying with CALEA Sec. 103 to Sept. 30 from March 31. FCC said complexity of hardware and software that wireless carriers needed to comply with CALEA made it impossible for them to project accurately when they would be compliant. FCC said 7 wireless carriers that had filed extension petitions or supplements since June 30 had met requirements for preliminary determination that they warranted extension until Sept. 30. They are Americell, Concho Cellular, Glenn Ishihara, Guam Telephone, Nextel Partners, Pine Belt Cellular, Tex. RSA. Two others -- Copper Valley Telephone and Nev. Wireless -- didn’t satisfy requirements but can supplement their petitions, FCC said.

AFL-CIO criticized AT&T Thurs. for trying “to deprive shareholders of meaningful oversight of AT&T management’s controversial breakup plan.” Union disapproved of company’s filing preliminary proxy statement with SEC Wed. in which it proposed to amend its charter to reduce approval threshold for mergers and asset disposition to simple majority from current 2/3 majority of outstanding shares. “AT&T is essentially asking shareholders to relinquish an important right before they have enough information to decide if they want to exercise that right,” said Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO secy.-treas. Union’s concern is effect charter change would have on AT&T’s plan to break up into 3 separate companies and 4 publicly listed securities. AFL-CIO has expressed concern about breakup.

FCC conditionally granted authority to PUCs in Ind., Minn., Mo., Okla., Tenn., Vt., and W.Va. to institute thousand-block number pooling trials. It also conditionally granted W.Va. Commission authority to hear and address claims of carriers seeking numbering resources outside of rationing process and authority to maintain rationing procedure for 6 months following implementation of area code relief.

Despite NBC’s pledge of 2 year commitment, XFL football “won’t be on network next year in prime time or any other time period,” according to NBC source. Weekend daytime is out, source said, because NBC will air Winter Olympics from Salt Lake City next Feb. NBC Pres. Robert Wright attended XFL game in Orlando Sat. night and reportedly commented, “it’s too much like the NFL.” XFL CEO Vince McMahon in L.A. Mon. night assured coaches of West Coast XFL teams that there would be XFL football in 2002, with or without NBC’s participation. After encouraging opening weekend, XFL ratings have dipped to 2.4 in last 2 weeks on NBC’s prime-time telecasts, and combined with UPN and TNN Sun. games, rating is 4.3 -- well below minimum guaranteed to advertisers. Ads on recent XFL telecasts on NBC have been only about 50% sold out.

Opinions that emerged from last week’s ITU policy forum on IP telephony in Geneva (CD March 9 p3) largely addressed earlier concerns raised by U.S. and others that outcome not be too prescriptive, said Richard Beaird, acting deputy asst. Secy. of State for international communications and information policy. “We were willing to talk about studies; we weren’t willing to talk about conclusions to studies that haven’t taken place yet,” he told us. ITU forums don’t generate regulatory decisions but produce opinions for member countries to consider. Meeting that ended Fri. generated 4 opinions covering IP telephony, including Opinion D that called for “essential studies” by ITU to facilitate introduction of IP telephony, including interoperability considerations of implementing newer networks alongside circuit- switched infrastructure. Earlier versions of Opinion D, proposed by Syria with backing of countries such as Lebanon and Somalia, called on ITU to ensure there was way to measure traffic across IP telephony networks and backward compatibility between public switched telephone networks (PSTN) and IP-based systems. Version approved at forum Fri. eased off language that stirred concerns by U.S. and allies such as Canada and U.K. “At the end of the day, the opinions have a better tone from our point of view,” Beaird told us. “We have a basis for going forward on a number of studies and workshops. It’s important to bring the developing world along in this area.” Proposal for backward-compatibility in earlier versions of Opinion D had aroused particular concern. “Backward” was eliminated from final version to end confusion about exactly what would have been covered, said Helen Domenici, policy analyst with FCC International Bureau’s Telecom Div. One interpretation of original wording would have been that backward compatibility imposed same obligations on IP networks as typically were obligations of PSTN, she said. “It could have meant requiring a whole raft of regulations on the network,” Domenici said. Other opinions address general implications of IP telephony for telecom policies of ITU members, including regulatory frameworks of developing countries. Another opinion calls for actions to assist ITU members “in adapting to the changes in the telecommunication environment due to the emergence of IP telephony,” including case studies and cooperative actions. While participants in forum wrestled with how to define IP telephony, opinions ultimately steered clear of locking in definition. “This is a work in progress,” FCC International Bureau Chief Donald Abelson said, citing evolving nature of technology. “It’s difficult to lock in a precise definition.” Eric Lee, public policy dir. for Commercial Internet eXchange Assn., said resolutions generally marked compromises among participants “that while satisfying no one, didn’t do any damage.” In particular, day-long information session March 6, held before start of 3-day forum, helped bring international regulators up to speed on technology. “People came out more knowledgeable, even if they didn’t have specific policy questions answered,” he said.

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands filed request with FCC March 7 for expanded universal service option support for low- income consumers there. Marianas seek support similar to measures adopted in FCC Tribal Order for low-income subscribers living on tribal lands. In Tribal Order, agency adopted measures designed to promote increased subscribership levels in tribal communities, including enhanced Lifeline support, expanded Link Up support and additional criteria for eligibility for Lifeline and Link Up support. Comments are due at FCC by April 13, replies April 30.

Clarification: Public broadcasting’s request to Office of Management & Budget (OMB) calls for $395 million for CPB in FY 2004 (CPB is forward-funded by 2 years) and same $110 million for PTFP that was requested last year (CD March 14 p6). APTS’s $699 million request for special DTV funding would be considered as part of 5-year authorization of CPB -- measure that would go through Commerce Committees first, not appropriators. Front- loaded package would be broken down as follows: $256 million in first year (FY 2002), $183 million in 2nd, $107 million in 3rd, $87 million in 4th, $66 million in 5th.

High-tech e-businesses are even less inclined to add women to their boards than traditional telecom and media companies, Annenberg Public Policy Center said in study released Wed. Study shows women comprise 12% of board members at media companies, 11% at telecom and cable corporations but only 4% at Internet businesses, fact that surprised panel of top communications industry executives at conference at which study was released. Panelists said they would assume new, more youth-oriented e- businesses would be more aware of benefits of adding women to their ranks.