Wireless carriers cautioned the FCC against imposing a mandate that they be able to broadcast emergency alerts to subscribers, warning that the delivery of millions of alerts would choke networks, possibly during times of national emergency when subscribers need to place other calls. Carriers also advised the Commission that the costs for wireless carriers would be significant and shouldn’t be imposed without federal support.
SAN JOSE -- Rep. Radanovich (R-Cal.), a member of the House Commerce Committee’s Telecom Subcommittee, sang the praises of committee Chmn. Barton’s (R-Tex.) measure on BITS, for broadband information transmission service. The bill “is the way to get where everyone wants to go… to get to deregulation and a level playing field… to get all these [digital] services provided at a reasonable cost,” he said Tues. at a telecom policy forum here. He acknowledged, in response to a Cal. League of Cities lobbyist’s challenge of federal video franchising, that “getting from here to there is fraught with hundreds of issues,” including 911 and universal service.
With a Jan. 31 end looming for the first phase of a consultation on whether to revise Europe’s e- communications regulatory scheme, lobbying groups are scurrying to weigh in. The review has huge import for telecom, and Brussels’ growing trade in lobbying has some observers fearful of a system growing “Americanized” as high-profile issues have stacks of Euros thrown at them. Some want tighter lobbying rules. Telecom lobbyists said they're just getting more savvy, and they welcome efforts to curb abuses.
Congress should enact legislation to affirm the FCC’s authority to adopt broadcast flag regulations, Disney Exec. Vp Preston Padden is expected to say at today’s (Tues.) Senate Commerce Committee broadcast flag hearing. Piracy of TV content is a “very real” threat to TV broadcasters, Padden said in testimony prepared for the committee: “Every day, millions of people use so-called peer-to-peer ‘file-sharing’ networks illegally to download copyrighted works without permission from or payment to the copyright owners.” It’s imperative that broadcasting be included in the new digital technology framework to prevent unauthorized Internet redistribution of content, he said. “The important thing is that we put the broadcast flag back on track and let the FCC consider those issues, rather than creating a legacy of devices that fail to protect broadcast content while Congress debates more detailed and controversial legislation,” Padden said. Public Knowledge Pres. Gigi Sohn said in a written statement released Mon., also in advance of today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing, that Congress shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken by imposing broadcast flag and radio content protection. “The content industry has not shown that any infringement has resulted from these technologies,” Sohn said. “And they certainly have not shown that government technology mandates will work to stop actual copyright pirates rather than prevent ordinary consumers from engaging in lawful activities.” Other alternatives -- public education, enforcement of copyright laws, new business models for content distribution and use of technological tools developed in the marketplace -- can digital content without hurting consumers, she said: “Ask yourselves, in light of recent marketplace developments, is it good policy to turn the Federal Communications Commission into the Federal Computer Commission or the Federal Copyright Commission?”
Globalstar became the FCC’s 2nd Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ACT) licensee Fri., gaining an International Bureau green light to operate terrestrial base stations and handsets in tandem with its Big LEO satellite system. The FCC’s blanket approval is for an unlimited number of ATC base stations and dual-mode terrestrial ATC/satellite phones. Globalstar officials responded with relief that the highly anticipated ATC license the firm had sought since March finally came through -- and with delight that Globalstar will now be more attractive to industry financiers.
Chmn. Martin indicated the FCC Enforcement Bureau is investigating “availability and sale” of telephone records (CD Jan 18 p11) with an eye on how Internet-based firms that sell obtain it from phone companies. Rather than bring carriers under more rules, Martin appears inclined to push enforcement of rules already approved by the Commission, sources said Wed.
Ian Dillner, Wireline Bureau counsel, named acting legal adviser to FCC Comr. Tate… Appointed to FCC independent panel reviewing Hurricane Katrina’s effects on telecom networks (first meeting Jan. 30 at FCC hq): Lisa Fowlkes, designated federal officer; Nancy Victory, Wiley Rein & Fielding; Patrick Yoes and Joseph Booth, La. State Police; Edwin Smith, Baton Rouge Fire Dept.; Stephen Dean, Mobile, Ala. Fire Chief; Edmund Sexton, National Sheriffs’ Assn.; Michael Sauter, New Orleans Police Dept.; Kevin Beary, Orange County, Fla. sheriff; Robert Bailey, Harrison County, Miss. Emergency Communications Commission; Jonathan Linkous, American Telemedicine Assn.; William Smith, BellSouth; Marion Scott, CenturyTel; Dave Flessas, Sprint; Jim Jacot, Cingular; Steve Davis, Clear Channel; Martin Hadfield, Entercom; Greg Bicket, Cox; Kay Sears, PanAmSat; Carson Agnew, Mobile Satellite Ventures; Kelly Kirwan, Motorola; Robert Dawson, SouthernLINC Wireless; Michael Anderson, PART-15.org; Billy Pitts, Notification Technologies; Adora Obi Nweze, NAACP; Eduardo Pena, League of United Latin American Citizens… Board changes at BT: Lou Hughes steps down; new members Matti Alahuhta, Kone Corp., and Phil Hodkinson, HBOS… Craig Marrs, ex-KRON-TV San Francisco, becomes pres.-gen. mgr., WHNT-TV Huntsville, Ala… Charter names Megan Delany, ex-Joseph Group, senior dir. & legislative counsel, federal govt. affairs… Daryl Smith, ex-Cox, moves up to ESPN senior vp-human resources… Dara Altman, ex-Discovery, becomes XM Satellite exec. vp-business & legal affairs… Gannett promotes John Williams to new position of pres., Gannett Digital… Parks Assoc. names Stuart Sikes, ex-AT&T, pres.
Colleagues of former Tenn. regulator Deborah Tate described the FCC’s newest commissioner as a mediator, problem solver and consensus builder who prefers to settle matters through voluntary agreements among conflicting parties.
Universal Service Fund (USF) reform should be a pillar of telecom reform, FCC Comr. nominee Copps told Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) at his Tues. confirmation hearing. The FCC needs to hear from Congress what “universal service” means, Copps said. He also said the contribution methodology needs repair. Responding to Stevens’ query on Copps’s top priority in updating the ‘96 Telecom Act, he said: “USF is so essential to the future of this country… I think we've got to fix that system.”
FCC Comr. nominee Deborah Tate has a reputation in the telecom industry as an advocate of a consumer-centric approach rather than regulatory restraints on market power, observers said. She hasn’t left much of a mark on wireless issues while at the Tenn. Regulatory Authority (TRA), but repeatedly has pushed for state-federal partnership in regulating IP-enabled services, they said. “Tate has demonstrated a knack for balancing between a role for regulation and trust the market that bodes well for her success at the FCC,” a wireless industry source said.