Harris Corp. requested authority to construct and operate a 3.8-meter C-band earth station in an application to the FCC International Bureau (http://xrl.us/bn8wrn). The earth station would be used “in connection with a critical project for the Federal Aviation Administration,” it said. SES Americom is seeking authority to operate the SES-3 satellite in the C and Ku bands to replace AMC-1 at 103 degrees west, it said in its application (http://xrl.us/bn8wss).
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- World Conference on International Telecommunications Chair Mohamed Al Ghanim presented a draft of future International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs), saying “we have a breakthrough.” But Internet operators and the Internet Society immediately said they had major concerns about the text.
Cablevision executives said they have received unsolicited bids on the cable systems it acquired from Bresnan and now operates as its Optimum West division. Business at those systems “is going gangbusters,” said Chief Financial Officer Gregg Seibert during a teleconference with analysts Tuesday. “We've had these unsolicited indications. We're going to listen to them, but there is no assurance a transaction is going to take place here.” Cablevision took control of the Bresnan systems in the Western U.S. in December 2010 in a deal valued at about $1.4 billion.
The FCC auction task force co-head said critics’ fears won’t likely be realized when the agency in 2014 auctions frequencies of TV stations volunteering to be paid to give up all or some spectrum. Gary Epstein said concerns that the auction will be too complex won’t be borne out, and the agency is sticking to its plan to finish voluntary incentive auction rules next year. Commissioners approved the notice of proposed rulemaking at their Sept. 28 meeting (CD Oct 1 p1), with Robert McDowell saying he’s concerned about the agency’s efforts to possibly impose a spectrum cap.
A new white paper from CTIA argues that industry cooperation is critical to take on a growing mobile cybersecurity threat. “Delivering advanced cybersecurity in mobile communications may sound simple, but the reality is a complex, constantly evolving undertaking,” the paper said (http://bit.ly/VBm9lZ). “The cyberthreat landscape changes literally by the hour and requires constant vigilance and innovation throughout the entire U.S. mobile industry -- an industry that provides 3.8 million direct and indirect jobs across the nation. It is a constant risk to be managed, where opposing forces must constantly adapt their strategies and tactics to keep the advantage.” Cybersecurity “is only as good as the weakest link,” the paper said. “Cybersecurity depends on the awareness and daily security practices of consumers and end users across business and government enterprises. Policymakers also play a vital role in working collaboratively with the industry to encourage and maintain a flexible framework that balances the needs of stakeholders while preserving the industry’s ability to stay ahead of cybercriminals and hackers.” CTIA released the paper at its MobileCON show in San Diego.
Conventional wisdom about the planned FCC voluntary incentive spectrum auction holds that only the weakest broadcasters will participate. The thinking goes that stations with strong local news operations and a major network affiliation will avoid the auction while weaker full-power and Class A stations -- independents, home-shopping and religious stations -- will attempt to cash out (CD Sept 18 p1). But that overlooks two groups of TV stations that may have good reasons to consider selling their spectrum licenses at auction: Stations in actual or virtual duopolies, and the stations owned by the major broadcast networks, often referred to as owned and operated stations, or O&Os. The commission is set to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking Friday to begin setting up the auction.
Mobile Future Chairman Jonathan Spalter recommended in a letter to President Barack Obama (http://xrl.us/bnmixz) a long list of actions the administration can take to address the growing demand for more spectrum for wireless broadband. “The wireless innovation community is increasingly indispensable to the U.S. economy and employment, supporting today nearly 3.8 million American jobs,” Spalter wrote. “Even in today’s challenging economic climate, direct U.S. employment by wireless carriers has grown almost 6 percent annually over the past four years. These jobs extend beyond the technology world, powering small business growth, as well as expansion and innovation in manufacturing, healthcare and most other leading sectors of our economy -- progress that makes U.S. workers and companies more competitive around the world.” Among Spalter’s recommendations are addressing Channel 51 interference concerns, further streamlining tower siting and finishing up FCC work on orders addressing the Wireless Communications Service, 2 GHz Mobile Satellite Service and the 1675-1710 MHz and 1755-1850 MHz bands.
ValueVision Media Q2 sales increased 2.3 percent from a year earlier to $135.2 million, the company said Wednesday. Its net loss shrank 15 percent from a year earlier to $3.8 million.
The Telecom Act needs updating because the now outdated law is hurting all stakeholders, including minorities, the top Washington executives at the two largest telcos said Wednesday. What’s worse, large portions of the 1996 law are based on language in the original 1934 Communications Act, said AT&T’s Jim Cicconi. Verizon’s Tom Tauke said if lawmakers get the policy right, it will lead to the deployment of more infrastructure and services, and “therefore more economic opportunities made available for people who want to part of the industry infrastructure,” as well as for “everybody who uses it.” They spoke at Wednesday’s Minority Media and Telecommunications Council conference.
The U.S. wireless industry is a catalyst for economic growth, supporting 3.8 million jobs and adding $195.5 billion to GDP in 2011, according to a CTIA-sponsored report by Recon Analytics founder Roger Entner. Based on historical data, every 10 MHz of additional licensed spectrum boosts GDP by more than $1.7 billion and adds 7,000 jobs, Entner said during a briefing at the Progressive Policy Institute Tuesday. Wireless services produced $33 billion in productivity improvements for U.S. businesses in nine categories and industry tax, fee, and surcharge payments contributed $88.6 billion to local, state and federal governments in 2011, the report said. Over the next decade, productivity gains attributable to wireless are expected to total more than $1.4 trillion, it said. The need for more spectrum is driven by consumer demand of wireless services, said Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president at AT&T. He urged removing regulatory barriers to allow more wireless deployment. Legislators need to re-examine outdated telecom regulations, which were designed to oversee a wireline monopoly which doesn’t exist today, he said. Policymakers also need to address “the function of the FCC in the Internet age,” he said. Protecting consumers against abuse and fraud instead of picking winners and losers might be a more appropriate role for the agency, he said. Meanwhile, regulators need to examine the use of government spectrum and spectrum management, he said. The spectrum legislation passed in February is a good start, he said. “We need to be able to bridge the gap between now and when that broadcast spectrum becomes available,” he said. Much of the spectrum is in the hands of entities that are sitting on it, he claimed. The FCC needs to act quickly to allocate spectrum to entities that would make the most out of it, he said. The agency needs to recognize the importance of the secondary market, he said. The Progressive Policy Institute is a “centrist” that favors innovation and growth and is supported by various entities that support innovation and growth, said Chief Economic Strategist Michael Mandel when asked if the group has accepted financial contribution from wireless companies.