Public interest groups led by Public Knowledge fired back at CTIA and wireless carriers opposing their petition asking the FCC to declare that short codes and text messages come under anti-discrimination provisions of the Communications Act’s Title II. The groups fear resistance could stall action on their petition and thought the time right to re-engage on the issue, said a supporter of the petition.
Congress passed a broadband mapping bill that asks the FCC to examine deployment data in greater detail, with the aim of encouraging carriers to enlarge service areas. The measure, passed late Tuesday, is the only major telecom bill to pass in the 110th Congress. Though never controversial, it had to undergo months of hearings and several drafts for lawmakers to agree on a final version. In the final stages Internet safety provisions were added. President Bush is expected to sign the measure soon.
The Swiss Federal Communications Commission lowered Swisscom’s mandatory price for unbundled subscriber lines from SFr. 23.50 ($21.73) to SFr. 18.18 ($16.81) per month, ComCom said. Interconnection prices will fall by 25 to 30 percent from Swisscom’s published 2007 and 2008 rates, ComCom said. Swisscom overestimated operating costs in some interconnection procedures, and “the weighted average costs of capital were much too high,” ComCom said.
Reps. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., and Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said they remain concerned about possible interference with wireless microphones if the FCC approves rules opening the TV white spaces to use by unlicensed, mobile devices. “This is an issue that can only be resolved through science and, frankly, the tests performed by the FCC in its own labs and in the field have not proved that these white space devices can reliably detect the presence of a wireless microphone or a TV signal,” they said. “The Federal Communications Commission must ensure that wireless microphones are protected from harmful interference from devices like the ones being touted by a number of technology companies.”
The FCC correctly concluded that advanced communications services are “being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion,” Verizon said. In a filing late Wednesday, the carrier opposed a reconsideration petition filed by Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America and Free Press (CD Sept 5 p7). “Broadband investment and deployment are soaring,” and “consumers have access to an ever increasing number of broadband providers and services, typified by competitive prices and increasing speeds,” Verizon said. And adoption is rising steadily, it said. The consumer groups said the FCC’s assessment failed to take into account inferior upload speeds in the U.S., among other things. The commission has rejected that argument, Verizon said. “The Petition fails to raise any new material issue of law or fact that warrants reconsideration.”
The West Virginia Public Service Commission certified 18 landline and wireless local exchange providers as eligible for federal universal service subsidies in 2009. The carriers include Alltel, American Cellular, Armstrong Telephone’s two operating divisions, Citizens Telecom, Easterbrooke Cellular, FiberNet, Stratus Wave Communications, Hardy Telecom’s two operating divisions, Highland Cellular, Sprint Nextel, Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks Telephone, USCOC of Cumberland, Verizon, War Telecom, West Side Telecom and NTelos. The PSC (Case 08-0618-T-GI) certified that residential rates of Verizon and the other eligible providers don’t exceed nationwide averages.
Congress needs to pass legislation creating a system for mapping availability of broadband service throughout the country, senators and panelists said Tuesday at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Rural health interests, libraries and the AARP said increased use of broadband could help the economy and make health care more efficient. A national broadband policy is needed to direct deployment efforts, said Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. “If there is no government policy then it becomes a political issue,” he said. Congress also is at a disadvantage because there isn’t enough specific information about how much it would cost to increase deployment. “We are hungry for facts on what you think it will cost.”
Consumer groups for people with speaking disabilities supported stricter rules for speech-to-speech telecom relay services, in comments last week on an FCC notice of proposed rulemaking. Relay providers resisted some of the changes being considered. The sides agreed that Internet-based STS service should get Interstate TRS Fund support.
SAN FRANCISCO -- FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein praised a CTIA request that the agency put a deadline on local rulings about building or adding to cell towers (CD Aug 28 p5). “The CTIA position is the start of a federal policy but much less heavy-handed” than having the FCC “lay out every detail” of what’s required of localities, he said Wednesday at a CTIA conference: “I think it’s an intriguing framework.”
A bill aimed at curbing call center outsourcing got mixed reviews in a Thursday House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection hearing. The call center bill (HR-1776), sponsored by Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., would require call centers to give their physical locations at the start of a call.