The FCC’s new UNE rules are likely to raise consumer telecom prices, Rep. Conyers (D-Mich.) said Thurs. at an event sponsored by the Phoenix Center. Conyers, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said he'd like to see Capitol Hill get more active in telecom issues. In addition, he commented on the Trinko decision, in which the U.S. Supreme Court said antitrust suits can’t be filed in Telecom Act disputes. “Yesterday’s FCC decision and the Trinko decision tell us where we're going. There’s a regulatory mentality cutting through many parts of the economy like a butter knife,” Conyers said. “There’s a corporatization aspect going on. We're actually going back to where we were before the breakup of the Bell System, and I think that’s sad and frightening.” In a swipe at Chmn. Powell, Conyers said “if I could choose which Powell would be leaving the government you might be surprised who I would have chosen.”
Cal. became the first state to set energy efficiency standards for CE products as the Cal. Energy Commission (CEC) adopted new regulations Wed. by a 5-0 vote. Claiming the move will hamstring technological innovation, the industry also worried this would fuel legislation in other states. Advocates called the step a major boost to energy efficiency efforts and said the Cal. regulations would guide lobbying efforts next year.
Cal. became the first state to set energy efficiency standards for CE products as the Cal. Energy Commission (CEC) adopted new regulations Wed. by a 5-0 vote. Claiming the move will hamstring technological innovation, the industry also worried this would fuel legislation in other states. Advocates called the step a major boost to energy efficiency efforts and said the Cal. regulations would guide lobbying efforts next year.
The FCC voted 3-2 to reduce Bell requirements to share unbundled network elements (UNEs). The FCC: (1) Eliminated the UNE platform (UNE-P) as a CLEC entry strategy, although it extended the transition to a year from the 6 months proposed in the Wireline Bureau’s original proposal. (2) Dropped dark fiber loops from the list of elements the Bells must share. (3) Slightly reduced the number of situations when the Bells must share high-capacity loops and transport.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a fourth version of its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and responses regarding the mandatory advance electronic cargo information requirements for truck carriers. This fourth version contains a further revision to FAQ 19. See future issue of ITT for full summary. 4th FAQ (dated 12/14/04) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/communications_to_industry/advance_info/truck_faqs.ctt/truck_faqs.doc.)
LA JOLLA, Cal. The CTIA will spend tens of millions of dollars rallying masses of wireless users and industry employees to lobby the FCC, Congress and particularly the states against regulation and taxation, CTIA Pres. Steve Largent said Tues. The CTIA executive committee Dec. 7 authorized “a very thoughtful, technical and advanced sort of advocacy campaign,” which will make use of “the most powerful weapon we have, which is the 172 million subscribers we have,” Largent told the Yankee Group’s Wireless Leadership Summit here. He also called a combination of Sprint with Nextel or Verizon “positive for the industry.”
The Senate sent telecom legislation to President Bush on Wed. evening in a literal 11th-hour vote. By approving HR-5419, the Senate approved 3 legislative measures and ended weeks of political infighting about everything from Congressional Budget Office scoring to appropriators’ authority and boxing regulation. Sources said the White House would sign the act, which includes the spectrum relocation trust fund, E-911 funding and a temporary fix to accounting problems in the E-rate program. The junk fax bill, HR-4600, was the only legislation that had a reasonable chance to pass and didn’t. “The legislation brings needed changes that will promote homeland security and increase wireless broadband opportunities,” FCC Chmn. Powell said.
At our deadline, Congress had taken no action on pending telecom legislation and appeared unlikely to do so. Conflicting stories and behind-the-scenes finger pointing highlighted the debate this week, but congressional and industry sources attributed the collapse of legislation to one central theme: Political infighting and retaliation.
Rep. Sweeney (R-N.Y.) urged the FCC not to raise phone rates for U.S. military personnel. The FCC had considered applying Universal Service Fund and access charges to AT&T prepaid phone cards, but the 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act prohibited the FCC from taking any actions that could lead to an increase in rates for military personnel. Sweeney reminded FCC Chmn. Powell of the provision and said the Commission shouldn’t take any action that would lead to a rise in rates.
A new grassroots group called the Washington Bureau for Internet Advocacy (WBIA) has sprung up to fight Bell moves to deregulate wholesale Internet pricing. The organization said its members include ISPs, CLECs and individual customers who fear the incumbent carriers will raise their rates and destroy the independent Internet provision industry.