Communications Capital Group renamed itself TowerPoint Capital in an effort to rebrand and differentiate itself “as a leading institutional investor in U.S. cellular site locations,” the company said Monday. The rebranding “reflects the evolution of the firm over the past six years from a cell-site lease aggregator ... to its current position as a leading provider of comprehensive solutions to landlords, wireless service providers and tower companies,” said TowerPoint Managing Director Jesse Wellner in a news release (http://bit.ly/160iRdC).

An Iranian man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to export satellite technology and other goods from the U.S. to Iran. Seyed Ghorashi violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, said the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York in a press release (http://1.usa.gov/1cUpGqN). To conceal the destination of the goods from the U.S. supplier, Ghorashi and his co-conspirators “arranged for the items to be shipped first to the United Arab Emirates and subsequently shipped to Iran,” it said. Ghorashi also was fined $100,000 and ordered to forfeit $54,000, it said.

Sirius XM and Major League Baseball extended their agreement by six years, which will make MLB game broadcasts available on Sirius and XM satellite radios. Subscribers will have access to every game through the 2021 season, Sirius said in a press release (http://bit.ly/16D43I3). Live broadcasts also are available to all subscribers on the Sirius XM Internet Radio App and at SiriusXM.com, it said.

Government intervention to improve broadband isn’t going to succeed, said the Technology Policy Institute’s Robert Crandall Monday during a keynote speech at the institute’s Aspen Forum. Crandall said the FCC’s universal service policy is an example of government intervention that hasn’t been as productive as intended: “There’s very little evidence that any of this has increased subscriptions, reduced prices or had any beneficial effect.” A lack of consumer demand “is one of the large problems” in broadband expansion efforts, he said: Companies aren’t deploying high-speed broadband networks because “they don’t see enough demand for superfast takeup.” In June 2011, 50 percent of homes had access to 50 Mbps download speeds, according to an FCC report, but “only 28 percent of homes purchased broadband with at least 6 Mbps download speed” at the time, he said. “Households don’t seem to want to pay whatever the premium is for extremely high-speed service."

NTIA is seeking comment on a $7.5 million, two-year pilot program to determine the benefits of an automated spectrum measurement and data collection system to better analyze actual spectrum usage, set to get under way next year. In an NOI published in the Federal Register, the agency asks 18 questions. “NTIA requests public comment on all aspects of the proposed pilot program summarized above and its FY14 budget request, including but not limited to the measurement system’s design, features, deployment, operation, utility, and benefits,” the NOI said (http://1.usa.gov/13M9DC9). “NTIA also seeks input on the pilot program’s objectives and approach, as well as methods for evaluating the pilot program itself. NTIA seeks input on other possible approaches to developing and fielding such a system along with their estimated costs, potential impediments, and likely advantages.” NTIA asks “how academic, government and private sector researchers may participate in and support the pilot program through, for example, exchanges of experiences and expert advice, workshops, plug-fests, code-a-thons, or other events” and “how researchers can assist and participate in the continuation and expansion of the system into a wide-spread network of spectrum measurement facilities and cooperative data repositories.”

The FCC published its July 23 NPRM on the future of the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, 2020-2025 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands in the Federal Register (http://1.usa.gov/16Cxr0U). Comments are due Sept. 18, replies Oct. 16. “Consistent with the Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act) and sound spectrum policy, our goal remains to clear and allocate spectrum in these bands for exclusive commercial use to the maximum extent feasible,” the document said. “Where clearing is not possible, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking explores novel approaches to spectrum sharing between commercial and Federal operators."

The only way to accomplish reform of surveillance laws is to “approach the members [of Congress] individually,” said former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, Friday following the Washington premiere of Terms and Conditions May Apply, a documentary about online surveillance. By doing broad surveillance under secret programs and hiding information from the American people and their representatives, the NSA has “ruined the brand,” said the former presidential candidate. “I think it’s time to punch the NSA’s ticket here.” Kucinich was doubtful that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper would be held accountable for his alleged dishonesty while testifying to Congress. “In a just world,” Clapper would be held accountable and “we'd be having ticker-tape parades” for NSA leaker Edward Snowden, “but we won’t,” he said. The surveillance coming to light through unauthorized disclosures violates the Fourth Amendment, Kucinich said. “Just a simple enforcement of constitutional principles would take down this whole structure,” he said. Congress was and is unaware of the powers it granted when it passed the Patriot Act, Kucinich said. After a lengthy period of consideration, “there were massive revisions on what was proposed,” and members voted without taking the time to consider the changed proposals, he said. “Members had no clue, they still have no clue,” and “they're lied to in private briefings.” Kucinich applauded the film for reminding viewers that an “unholy alliance between the corporations and the government now poses a profound risk to our freedoms.”

The leaked audit of National Security Agency surveillance programs disclosed last week (CD Aug 19 p2) is likely “to kick surveillance reform into overdrive,” said Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., in statement to us Friday. Larsen, along with Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., introduced HR-2736 (http://1.usa.gov/12gJtK5), the Government Surveillance Transparency Act, which would allow companies “to publicly report every 90 days certain aggregate information related to the compliance with” orders pertaining to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act orders. “The jaw-dropping number of violations of procedure and of law, whether or not the underlying actions are well-intended, should result in a growing momentum for reform,” Larsen said. “These programs need tighter limitations, more transparency and more accountability."

Data must drive policy amid the Internet Protocol transition and other telecom changes, Windstream CEO Jeff Gardner plans to tell Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mark Pryor, D-Ark., at a Monday field hearing, according to prepared remarks. He emphasizes that Windstream operates as a CLEC and ILEC in certain respects. “So when it comes to issues such as interconnection, competitive access, transport, privacy, and public safety, we are keenly aware of the need for public policy to balance regulatory treatment among competing platforms; to avoid disincenting wireline investment; and, at the same time, to avoid competitive harm, especially during this transition period that we are in, a transition that is technology-driven,” says the testimony. “I suggest that the subcommittee seek out specifics regarding changes in the communications market, and that it take care when considering policy reforms in response.” He plans to talk of the broadband speed needs of schools as well as the importance of wireline networks. Gardner also plans to describe “unresolved aspects of reform” in the FCC November 2011 USF order that “coupled with slashing of intercarrier compensation, have created troublesome uncertainty for ‘price cap’ carriers and the consumers they serve. Windstream is hopeful that “the strain from existing uncertainty will be lessened,” said the testimony. “But we need the FCC to continue in a transparent and deliberate fashion as it moves forward with the next phase of reform, and ask the Committee to keep a watchful eye in its oversight role.” The hearing will take place in Little Rock’s Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas board room Monday at 9 a.m. CDT, and witnesses include FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel along with many others (CD Aug 16 p12).

The FCC Wireline and Wireless bureaus seek comment on Adak Eagle Enterprises and Windy City Cellular’s petition for reconsideration of a denial of a USF waiver, and for full commission review (CD Aug 16 p5). Oppositions in dockets 10-90 and 10-208 are due Aug. 30, replies Sept. 9, said a public notice (http://fcc.us/17SDz0t).