Offering a “data-centric” counter to the polarized debate on municipal broadband, telecom consultants Michael Balhoff and Robert Rowe released a lengthy report on municipal broadband’s history, economics and policy issues. Govts. can do a “whole variety of things short of building their own networks” to improve broadband deployment, adoption and value, without breaking the taxpayer bank, Balhoff, formerly Legg Mason telecom chief, said in a conference call Wed. Govt. “should look to models that are likely to balance social, policy and financial goals in any given marketplace,” said Rowe, former Mont. PSC chmn.
Offering a “data-centric” counter to the polarized debate on municipal broadband, telecom consultants Michael Balhoff and Robert Rowe released a lengthy report on municipal broadband’s history, economics and policy issues. Govts. can do a “whole variety of things short of building their own networks” to improve broadband deployment, adoption and value, without breaking the taxpayer bank, Balhoff, formerly Legg Mason telecom chief, said in a conference call Wed. Govt. “should look to models that are likely to balance social, policy and financial goals in any given marketplace,” said Rowe, former Mont. PSC chmn.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice announcing an extension of the comment deadline for a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) concerning possible changes to its tariff publication exemption provided to non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) in NVOCC Service Arrangements (NSAs). The changes at issue in this NOI would allow NSAs to be jointly offered by unaffiliated NVOCCs.
The 4 proposals to modify the rules governing high- cost universal service support by the FCC’s Joint Board on Universal Service didn’t received much support in comments filed with the FCC Fri.
The FCC may fight the Vt. Public Service Board’s standing in a truth-in-billing (TIB) case in the U.S. Appeals Court, Atlanta, sources said. The FCC would claim Vt. can’t contest the FCC TIB order since it didn’t participate in the underlying TIB proceeding, sources said. The FCC declined to comment.
Largely ignoring copyright infringement, BitTorrent (BT) creator Bram Cohen told ISPs how to manage heavy file-swapping traffic and said his P2P application can help push on-demand downloads over live streaming. Cohen, whose creation is said to facilitate at least 35% of Internet traffic, also addressed content industries’ plight at the Next Generation Networks (NGN) conference Tues.
Telcos and ISPs dislike elements in House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton’s (R-Tex.) telecom bill released last week, according to House sources who've met with industry representatives. But staffers said the draft was intended to elicit comment, with changes made if need be. Final comments are due Sept. 28, after which the bill will be set for markup, predicted in mid-Oct.
The FCC is likely to set performance rules for broadband radio service (BRS) and educational broadband service (EBS) licensees in the 2.5 GHz band at its Oct. 12 meeting, several sources said. It’s also expected to act on 20 petitions to reconsider a June 2004 ruling revising rules for ITFS and MDS operators in the 2495-2690 MHz band. The items could still fall off the agenda, given the FCC’s recent hurricane-related focus, some speculated. The FCC also is circulating a rulemaking on BRS relocation for channels 1 and 2. The latter is expected to be addressed in circulation.
Telcos dislike franchising elements in House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton’s (R-Tex.) telecom bill released last week(CD Sept 16 p1), according to House sources who've met with industry representatives. But staffers said the draft was intended to elicit comment, with changes made if need be. Final comments are due Sept. 28, after which the bill will be set for markup, predicted in mid-Oct.
At least 16 small wireless carriers filed last-minute requests with the FCC to extend a Sept. 16 deadline to comply with Commission hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rules, raising concerns among hearing impaired groups. Under FCC rules, Tier III providers must offer at least 2 HAC-compliant handset models per air interface by the deadline, and provide in-store testing in each store they own or operate. The latest round of petitioners offered various reasons for failing to meet the deadline.