FCC changes to Internet Protocol video programming rules take effect Aug. 1, said a commission notice in Tuesday’s Federal Register (http://1.usa.gov/120yJfF). An order had responded to three separate petitions for reconsideration from CEA, TVGuardian and a joint petition from consumer groups. The commission delayed implementing caption rules for DVD and Blu-ray players in last month’s order (CD June 17 p12). Comments on “potential imposition of closed captioning synchronization requirements for covered apparatus, and on how DVD and Blu-ray players can fulfill the closed captioning requirements” of the law, are due in docket 11-154 Sept. 3, replies Sept. 30, said another agency notice in the Federal Register (http://1.usa.gov/11d3hjl).

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The FCC erred in rejecting a petition by the Utilities Telecom Council and startup company Winchester Cator, asking that utilities be allowed to use the 14.0-14.5 GHz band on a secondary basis for fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint services, the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC) said in comments filed at the FCC. On May 9, during former Chairman Julius Genachowski’s last FCC meeting, the commission instead sought comment on a Qualcomm proposal for a terrestrial-based air-ground mobile broadband service in the band, also on a secondary use basis. On June 14, UTC and Winchester Cator asked the commission to reconsider an order by the Wireless and International bureaus and the Office of Engineering and Technology to reject their 2008 petition in the days leading up to the May FCC meeting (http://bit.ly/11V1Jsu). “We are troubled by the Commission’s abrupt resolution and lack of reasoned analysis of the issues it mentions on the way to dismissal: possible auction requirements for the band, the proposed coordination method for protection of fixed satellite uplinks, and supposed availability of alternate spectrum and wired infrastructure for critical infrastructure applications,” FWCC said (http://bit.ly/13hRzFp). At issue are “complex matters having too many facets for summary resolution,” the group said. “An informed decision on each, including the relative merits of the UTC/Winchester Cator proposal vs. air-ground service, will require the more thorough public airing and comment afforded by a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.” The Edison Electric Institute, representing investor-owned utilities, raised similar objections. “The Bureaus’ Order is arbitrary and capricious, unsupported by the record, and rests upon reasoning that is seriously flawed,” EEI said (http://bit.ly/1cJ9zqH). “Moreover, the Bureaus’ Order raises a serious question of disparate treatment."

The University of Wisconsin pulled a network infrastructure and services contract it recently awarded to WiscNet (CD May 24 p18), an award choice that inspired criticism earlier this year. WiscNet noted the change in contracting in a Friday blog post (http://bit.ly/14mgJiZ). “Isn’t it a sad day when political pressures from telephone company lobbyists keep us from working together?” WiscNet said. “It’s frustrating, yet fascinating. Seriously.” The university cited “business and political considerations” and a need to ensure it can fulfill its “educational and research missions without interruption,” said the post. WiscNet defended its network and service.

The FCC is seeking comment on proposals for space-related rulemakings. It wants comment on changes that would provide interference protection for fixed satellite service and mobile satellite service earth stations operated by federal agencies, it said in a Federal Register notice (http://1.usa.gov/11be7Gi). It also seeks comment “broadly on the future spectrum needs of the commercial space sector,” it said. The NPRMs were adopted in May (CD May 10 p1). Comments are due Aug. 30, and replies are due Sept. 30, it said.

Sign Missouri House Bill 331, several stakeholders told Gov. Jay Nixon (D) in a joint Monday Columbia Missourian op-ed (http://bit.ly/13m42GN). The authors were Partnership for Technology Innovation Executive Director Melissa Roberts, former State Rep. Jason Grill (D), Tech Pointer CEO Jon Kot and startup community leader Heidi Fuhrman. The bill would “bring uniformity to Missouri’s current guidelines and result in expanded wireless networks,” they said. “By signing HB 331 into law, Nixon can seize an opportunity to increase access to broadband, attract new businesses to Missouri, spur economic development and job creation, and secure Missouri’s place as a leader in broadband access.” The bill was delivered to Nixon in May. It includes what it calls the Uniform Wireless Communications Infrastructure Deployment Act, which would forbid an authority from “taking specified actions that could result in a non-uniform market for wireless service in Missouri.”

The FCC should find in its next wireless competition report that the U.S. wireless market is effectively competitive, the Free State Foundation said in reply comments to a May 17 Wireless Bureau public notice. Under former Chairman Julius Genachowski, the FCC refused to reach that conclusion for three reports in a row (CD June 19 p12). “The forthcoming Seventeenth Wireless Competition Report offers an opportunity for a course correction,” FSF said (http://bit.ly/11UZe9R). “The Commission should bring itself in line with the statute and with available data which demonstrates the dynamism and competitiveness of today’s wireless marketplace.” In the last three reports, the commission “ducked” a “statutory obligation” for the agency to determine whether or not the industry is effectively competitive, FSF said. The group also said: “The time for the agency to remove its blinders with regard to fully considering and accounting for the impact of intermodal competition is long past."

Illinois won’t face any telecom rewrite this year, despite intense lobbying efforts from industry in the spring (CD April 15 p9). Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed Senate Bill 1664 Friday, delaying the rewrite for at least another two years. The law does change some language surrounding rates and the regulation that telcos face. AARP Illinois supported the bill, which maintains consumer protections and affordable access to landline phone service, Associate State Director Jennifer Creasey told us by email. The state’s old telecom rules would have expired Monday. AT&T and other parties had previously encouraged the state to adopt what it called modern communications rules suited to consumers who demanded broadband, both wired and wireless.

As the FCC awaits Paperwork Reduction Act approval for its special access data collection, the Wireline Bureau seeks comment on “the procedures for designating, handling, submitting and accessing the confidential and highly confidential data and information sought in the collection,” it said in a public notice Friday (http://bit.ly/11b82Ka). Much of the data sought, such as served locations and revenues, are “competitively sensitive and not publicly available,” the bureau said. A protective order will govern access to the information, dividing it into “highly confidential,” “confidential” and “not confidential” information. The bureau proposes about two dozen categories of highly confidential data, including the locations that providers serve with last-mile facilities, the location of companies’ fiber network routes and interconnection nodes, and the location of a company’s collocations. Comments are due July 29 in docket 05-25.

Intelsat joined Eutelsat, Gulfsat and other satellite companies in cutting off service to Iranian broadcasters. Intelsat made the decision to begin suspension of services Monday under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, which named the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting as a Specially Designated National, it said in a statement to us. “This means U.S. regulated companies can no longer do business with them.” Intelsat cannot put at risk “our ability to provide critical connectivity to the rest of our customers around the globe,” it said. “We communicated earlier with our customer so that it could identify alternative sources of transmission capacity and arrange continuity of service for its programming."