Universal Service Fund contribution reform is on the way, but likely at a slower pace than expected last year, after the commission wrapped up distribution reform. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski told the House Communications Subcommittee Thursday he expects work to start within six months.
Online social networks can’t be forced to monitor users to prevent piracy, the European Court of Justice said in a major ruling Thursday. Requiring hosting providers to install a general filtering system would violate the rule that there be a fair balance between protecting copyright and the freedom to conduct business, safeguard personal data and receive information, the high court said. The decision should make EU bodies and national governments think twice about attempting to make private companies responsible for copyright breaches in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and upcoming revisions to the intellectual property rights enforcement directive, digital rights activists said.
The Senate Cybersecurity Act, S-2105, gained momentum Wednesday following endorsements from the White House, Joint Chiefs of Staff and some technology groups. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said there’s “no reason for further delay” on cybersecurity legislation. His remarks came in a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday evening.
The FCC proposed to change how the cellular service is licensed -- from a site-based to a geographically based regime. The spectrum covered, in the 800 MHz band, was the first used for cellphones. The FCC also proposed eliminating data filing requirements in seven areas. The proposed rules approved by commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting would put cellular licensees on the same footing as other bands, including PCS, AWS and the 700 MHz band. CTIA sought the rule changes in an October 2008 petition. The notice and an accompanying order were not controversial and didn’t spark much discussion on the eighth floor prior the vote, agency officials said.
Several cable operators awaiting FCC approval of basic-tier encryption likely will get an order approving it industrywide, officials said. Cable, consumer electronics and nonprofit officials said the Media Bureau continues work toward an order (CD Feb 14 p7) that would OK encryption by any operator that takes certain steps to make subscribers with older TVs whole after scrambling, such as by giving them a CableCARD for free for a period of time. The coming order would let all-digital systems scramble signals of TV stations and pay networks to cut down on theft and perhaps help the environment by eliminating service calls.
Among the most significant after-effects of the FCC’s rejection of LightSquared’s proposal for terrestrial use of satellite frequencies is likely to be a renewed focus on receiver standards, officials said. The likely next step is release of a public notice by the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology aimed at trying to find some consensus, an FCC official said Wednesday. A workshop on the issue is also likely. A document requesting guidance on how to tackle the many issues presented has been in the works for some time and is likely to be released shortly, the official said. The FCC took on receiver standards one time before, formally ending an inquiry five years ago.
The FCC unanimously approved an order Wednesday extending outage reporting rules to interconnected VoIP service providers. As expected (CD Feb 15 p3), the order imposes rules similar to those that already apply to legacy systems, is limited to the complete outage of a company’s own interconnected VoIP services, and doesn’t contemplate broadband reporting. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the new rules would close a “glaring gap” that has prevented the commission from obtaining the information it needs to analyze major VoIP outages.
Comcast said in an earnings call it’s set to introduce a slew of new products in 2012, while also working to bring down its capital spending. Upgrades to its network it has already made, such as installing digital converter adapters in customer homes, DOCSIS 3.0 equipment in its headends and state-of-the art servers at its content delivery network facilities will leave it poised to bring new products to customers quicker and more cost-effectively, it said. Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts said he expects the introduction of a new cloud-enabled set-top box called the X1, formerly Xcalibur, could be just as important a technology rollout as some of the company’s other recent initiatives.
Rural telecom companies protested the FCC’s Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation revamp efforts, in testimony at a hearing Wednesday of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare. Witnesses also complained about high administrative costs to apply for federal grants and loans. Subcommittee leaders urged accelerated broadband buildout, particularly in rural areas. Chairman Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., urged passage of her bill (HR-2128) to stop the federal government from imposing penalties on health care providers who can’t make electronic prescriptions.
The FCC approved changes to its telemarketing rules, hindering the placing of unwanted automated telemarketing calls, also known as “robocalls.” The Commission voted 3-0 Wednesday to approve the report and order which changes current rules and eliminates loopholes telemarketers have been using to make the calls.