Democrats on the House Commerce Committee Wed. joined a chorus of critics urging NTIA to drop its rulemaking proposal restricting eligibility for DTV converter box coupons to households relying exclusively on over-the-air signals. The demand, in a letter not seeking legislative changes in the coupon program, strongly urged NTIA to make sure the program periodically informs Congress and the public on how many coupons are being requested and redeemed to prepare for any changes that may be needed later.
Democrats on the House Commerce Committee Wed. joined a chorus of critics urging NTIA to drop its rulemaking proposal restricting eligibility for DTV converter box coupons to households relying exclusively on over-the-air signals. The demand, in a letter not seeking legislative changes in the coupon program, strongly urged NTIA to make sure the program periodically informs Congress and the public on how many coupons are being requested and redeemed to prepare for any changes that may be needed later.
According to a press release issued by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on November 13, 2006, senior U.S. trade officials met with officials from Peru and Colombia to discuss the extension of expiring trade preferences under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) and the pending free trade agreements (FTAs). The press release states that the Deputy USTR expressed U.S. support for extending ATPA preferences to Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia in a timely fashion, so as to minimize any business disruptions. See ITT's Online Archives or 11/13/06 news, 06111305, for BP reminder that ATPA/ATPDEA expires on December 31, 2006, unless extended by legislation.)(USTR press release, dated 11/14/06, available at http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2006/November/USTR_Expresses_Strong_Support_for_Extending_ATPA_Preferences.html.)
Speakers at a NARUC panel on use of reverse auctions as a universal service reform tool said their effectiveness will depend heavily on how the auctions are designed. FCC Chmn. Kevin Martin in March supported the concept as a way to contain universal service fund growth. His idea would make the winning bidder the provider of last resort. For reverse auctions to have a chance to work, speakers said, the auction process must recognize the large cost differences that can exist between locations within the same high-cost area. Brian Stahr, Embarq regulatory economist, said costs can vary by over 400% across a market area, such as between a town or other population concentration and the outlying areas. He said the industry has depended on low-cost downtown lines implicitly subsidizing high-cost outlying areas, but competition is causing that subsidy source to disappear. He said explicit subsidies through the USF aren’t working either, because support is based on a statewide average. Support needs to be more “granular,” he said, such as by census block: “Competitive bids must truly reflect costs of the truly high-cost areas.” Dennis Weller, Verizon chief economist, supported the idea of targeting support to the areas where it’s really needed: “The current system isn’t rational nor sustainable.” He said auctions in areas with multiple ETCs could establish rate models for setting support levels in areas not auctions. He said universal service is “essentially a government procurement process, and bidding is how government procures most everything.” Scott Reiter, NTCA industry affairs dir., disputed the wisdom of reverse auctions, calling them “a big blind leap into the unknown.” He said adoption of auctions won’t address how the universal service fund came to be unbalanced in the first place: “Auctions may be worth a look, but they aren’t the fundamental reform that’s needed.”
“Broadband should be like water in a restaurant, something that comes with your meal,” said Kathleen Wallman, consultant with M2Z Wireless Networks and a former FCC bureau chief. She said modest-speed (300K), ad-supported Internet access should be included with basic telephone service: “Basic broadband connectivity should be free. If you want more than that, it would be available to purchase.” Wallman, a panel speaker at the NARUC annual meeting, said the U.S. lags far behind other nations in broadband penetration and service speed. “We need a different strategy for broadband deployment” for both wireline and wireless service. With wireless, she proposed the FCC grant exclusive 15-year leases of broadband spectrum and get a percentage of the annual revenue. E Copernicus consultant Chris McLean said ubiquitous broadband is “a national security imperative.” He said security demands multiple redundant broadband networks using both landline and wireless technologies. He said achieving universal broadband means policymakers and industry must take some risks: “There’s no single ’silver bullet’ solution for broadband development. It’s a layer cake of policy.” He said successful broadband policy should rely on market forces as much as possible, consider innovative approaches like spectrum leasing, support broadband with subsidies where necessary, create demand, and be flexible. He said that when govt. decides something is a genuine national priority, it generally gets done. He cited rural electrification and the national schools & libraries telecom program as examples. “We should be moving the broadband ball forward, getting it done, because broadband is important.” Consultant Bob Rowe, a former Mont. regulator, said broadband is changing the cost and revenue picture for providers. “Networks and costs don’t go away -- they change,” he said. For instance, he said, the rise of broadband is shifting costs from switching and general network operations to construction of new outside plant and to acquisition of content. He said that as broadband grows, providers will see less revenue from traditional narrowband phone services and more from selling new services made possible by broadband. But that demand for new services will stress the infrastructure and demand further investment. He said providers may need to consider new revenue models such as selling advertising.
BARCELONA -- Details on high costs and hassles involved in making blue laser discs emerged from DVD Forum meetings on HD DVD here after a conference on HDTV for Europe (CED Nov 8 p2). The fireworks came at the end of the last session, as ire at licensing for the Advanced Access Content System copy protection welled up.
PARIS -- Large and small communications providers split Thurs. over regulating Internet-based services. AT&T said it accepts the need for “active oversight” of new services, but not rules. “Assuming the worst” about providers stifles innovation, said AT&T Senior Vp-Regulatory Planning & Policy Dorothy Attwood at the Global Forum here on digital convergence. But Marie Galere, an attorney for small rural providers, said strong regulation is needed to make the U.S. broadband deployment “myth” a reality.
PARIS -- Large and small communications providers split Thurs. over regulating Internet-based services. AT&T said it accepts the need for “active oversight” of new services, but not rules. “Assuming the worst” about providers stifles innovation, said AT&T Senior Vp-Regulatory Planning & Policy Dorothy Attwood at the Global Forum here on digital convergence. But Marie Galere, an attorney for small rural providers, said strong regulation is needed to make the U.S. broadband deployment “myth” a reality.
Countries this week will begin debating changes to ITU resolutions on WSIS follow-up, the Internet and cybersecurity at the ITU Plenipot in Turkey, while budgetary pressures could mean ITU sector members may have to pick up more of the bill.
Countries this week will begin debating changes to ITU resolutions on WSIS follow-up, the Internet and cybersecurity at the ITU Plenipot in Turkey, while budgetary pressures could mean ITU sector members may have to pick up more of the bill.