Several “burning regulatory issues” remain unresolved in Europe’s increasingly competitive telecom sector, the EC said Thurs. in its 12th and final report on the state of European e-communications rules and markets before it issues proposals for reform of the regulatory framework. The main problems, Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding said at a briefing, are “inconsistencies, inconsistencies, inconsistencies.” Incumbents and new entrants said they welcome more competition but questioned some EC findings.
The FCC can’t regulate deals between cable operators and owners of multiple-dwelling units (MDUs) because Congress didn’t authorize the agency to intervene in private contracts of that sort, said some communications lawyers and apartment trade groups. The Commission would violate the rights of cable operators and property owners alike if it decides it has authority under the Telecom Act to remedy anticompetitive video contracts. Last Thurs., commissioners voted to take a first step, seeking public comment in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) tentatively concluding the FCC has such authority. The NPRM addresses allegations by SureWest and Verizon that exclusive video deals make it harder for them to sell packages of video, phone and broadband (CD March 23 p7).
An article in American Shipper reports that forwarders, brokers, and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) are getting caught in a costly squeeze as they are experiencing, both inbound and outbound, government agencies putting a hold on cargo. The article notes that the results of this situation can be demurrage and detention charges, as well as missed sailings. (American Shipper, February 2007, www.americanshipper.com.)
DALLAS -- Amid a market littered with store closings by national retailers, independent Brand Source dealers are scrambling to carve a niche and win new business, industry officials said at the buying group’s meeting here. And while the smaller dealers that fill Brand Source’s ranks weren’t unscathed by the flat-panel TV price wars that raged during recent holiday season, many emerged with a renewed emphasis on custom install and service, industry officials said.
The Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) is reviewing privacy and data security implications of Web-based patient- controlled electronic health records and other emerging health IT trends, HHS Secy. Michael Leavitt said Fri. in remarks for delivery to the Personalized Medicine Coalition in Washington. An HHS advisory board is writing guidelines for development of health IT standards, he said. The 2008 budget includes $15 million in “start-up funding” for a national electronic health data network, he said.
The EC sued 5 countries for failure to make emergency caller location information available, it said Thurs. Member nations must ensure pan-EU emergency number 112 is fully functional and available, but several still put people at risk, said Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding. Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovakia will have to defend themselves in infringement proceedings in the European Court of Justice. The EC also sued Estonia for not carrying out most market analyses required by the e- communications regulatory framework, and launched a new case against Cyprus over rights-of-way for mobile networks.
The FBI was “incredibly sloppy” in issuing 739 letters to phone companies seeking sensitive information on suspected terrorists without subpoenas, DoJ Inspector Gen. Glenn Fine told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wed. Verizon, AT&T and the former MCI had contracts with the FBI, according to Tues. House testimony (CD March 21 p3) but there’s no indication the companies will be called to Congress to answer for complying with the FBI. Senate Judiciary Committee Chmn. Leahy (D-Vt.) said the committee needs to exercise its oversight to see “what went wrong.”
The FBI was “incredibly sloppy” in issuing 739 letters to phone companies seeking sensitive information on suspected terrorists without subpoenas, DoJ Inspector Gen. Glenn Fine told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wed. Verizon, AT&T and the former MCI had contracts with the FBI, according to Tues. House testimony (WID March 21 p2) but there’s no indication the companies will be called to Congress to answer for complying with the FBI. Senate Judiciary Committee Chmn. Leahy (D-Vt.) said the committee needs to exercise its oversight to see “what went wrong.”
PRAGUE -- A system to prioritize IP traffic is needed, U.S. Dept. of Defense and National Communications System (NCS-DHS) officials told the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting here. “Some voice calls are more important, some chat sessions are more important, and even some single content in a chat session might be more important than others,” said Antonio Desimone of DoD. Traditional switched networks have tools to prioritize, but it’s still a problem in IP networks.
PRAGUE -- A system to prioritize IP traffic is needed, U.S. Dept. of Defense and National Communications System (NCS-DHS) officials told the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting here. “Some voice calls are more important, some chat sessions are more important, and even some single content in a chat session might be more important than others,” said Antonio Desimone of DoD. Traditional switched networks have tools to prioritize, but it’s still a problem in IP networks.