The FCC’s IP rulemaking is so vague that it’s impossible to provide a regulatory analysis of its impact, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The Dept. of Homeland Security, meanwhile, said the FCC may need to become even more active in regulating IP-enabled services, in comments on the FCC rulemaking (CD June 1 p1). Other commenters questioned the FCC’s authority to regulate IP services at all.

An inter-industry group seeking consensus on intercarrier compensation reform is still meeting frequently and plans to make a recommendation to the FCC soon, even though several key members have dropped out (CD May 21 p1). No one involved in the Intercarrier Compensation Forum (ICF) seemed certain about when the recommendation would be made. “A week or 2 maybe,” said one participant. “Weeks not months,” said another.

The FCC denied petitions by EchoStar, NAB and MSTV on the model for predicting broadcast TV field strength received at individual homes. The petitions for reconsideration challenged the process the FCC used to establish values for signal loss quantities in the Longley-Rice model, which is used to establish whether households are eligible to receive certain satellite services. The FCC said the predictive model was reasonably derived. The petitions also raised concern over the independence of people designated to conduct site reception tests and of test procedures. The NAB and MSTV were concerned that field testers would be inclined to act in the interest of the satellite carriers. But the FCC argued that the American Radio Relay League -- which it appointed as the independent and neutral entity to conduct tests -- will “designate qualified testers and we expect that the tester’s professionalism and any track record regarding their impartiality will be taken into consideration.” While the FCC didn’t adopt EchoStar’s suggestion on ways to speed the testing, it did agree that EchoStar raised a valid public interest concern. The Commission gets many subscriber complaints that requests for on-site signal tests are ignored or delayed. The FCC said Congress should address the timing procedures when it passes a new Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA): “In the interim, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and expect that the satellite providers and local network affiliates will coordinate their efforts to implement the SHVIA provisions as Congress intended.”

The FCC denied petitions by EchoStar, NAB and MSTV on the model for predicting broadcast TV field strength received at individual homes. The petitions for reconsideration challenged the process the FCC used to establish values for signal loss quantities in the Longley-Rice model, which is used to establish whether households are eligible to receive certain satellite home viewing services. The FCC said the predictive model was reasonably derived. The petitions also raised concern over the independence of people designated to conduct site reception tests and of test procedures. The NAB and MSTV were concerned that field testers would be inclined to act in the interest of the satellite carriers. But the FCC argued that the American Radio Relay League, which it appointed as the independent and neutral entity to conduct tests, will “designate qualified testers and we expect that the tester’s professionalism and any track record regarding their impartiality will be taken into consideration.” While the FCC didn’t adopt EchoStar’s suggestion on ways to expedite the testing process, it did agree that EchoStar raised a valid public interest concern. The Commission’s call centers receives numerous subscriber complaints that their requests for on-site signal tests are being ignored or delayed. The FCC said Congress should address the timing procedures when it passes a new Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA): “In the interim, we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and expect that the satellite providers and local network affiliates will coordinate their efforts to implement the SHVIA provisions as Congress intended.”

House Commerce Committee leaders asked the FCC for an in-depth feasibility study of a la carte programming and what’s holding cable and satellite operators back from offering more choices to consumers. In a letter to FCC Chmn. Powell, Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.), ranking member Rep. Dingell (D-Mich.), Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R- Mich.), ranking subcommittee member Rep. Markey (D-Mass.), and Rep. Deal (R-Ga.) asked a series of questions and asked the FCC to submit a report to Commerce by Nov. 18. Barton said earlier in the week that they would be submitting the letter (CD May 19 p8).

Sens. Brownback (R-Kan.), Clinton (D-N.Y.)and Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced legislation Wed. authorizing a $90 million federal grant program for research into the effects of electronic media on children’s physical and psychological development. The Children & Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA) would establish a program within the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development to look at the impact of all forms of media, including TV, radio, videogames and the Internet, on children’s behavior at the early stages of brain development.

Sens. Brownback (R-Kan.), Clinton (D-N.Y.)and Lieberman (D- Conn.) introduced legislation Wed. authorizing a $90 million federal grant program for research into the effects of electronic media on children’s physical and psychological development. The Children & Media Research Advancement Act (CAMRA) would establish a program within the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development to look at the impact of all forms of media, including TV, radio, videogames and the Internet, on children’s behavior at the early stages of brain development.

Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) petitioned the FCC for review of a decision that would allow Inmarsat to access “confidential commercial information” MSV submitted with its ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) application. The Commission recently ordered MSV to provide the information in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Inmarsat (CD May 11 p12). However, MSV said the “information Inmarsat seeks is in no way relevant or material to the interference issues Inmarsat has raised regarding” the application. MSV said Inmarsat made no “persuasive showing” that the information is necessary, and while the FCC “concedes” that the information is commercially sensitive, it also fails “to demonstrate that the standard had been met.” MSV asked the Commission to reverse the order and deny the FOIA request.

House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.) said he and House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) plan to send a letter to FCC Chmn. Powell asking the FCC to study the feasibility of a la carte cable programming. Barton and Deal have asked Reps. Dingell (D-Mich.) and Markey (D-Mass.) to sign the letter, to make it bipartisan. Barton was awaiting word from the Democrats before sending the letter. Barton’s remarks came during a luncheon gathering of the American Cable Assn. (ACA) on the Hill.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice announcing that it has determined not to initiate an investigation regarding a Section 301 petition filed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) which addressed workers' rights in China.