Leaders of the world’s biggest fixed satellite services (FSS) firms scratched their heads Tues., wondering aloud how the FSS industry is going to compete amid telecom convergence and mobility. Speaking at Satellite 2006, CEOs from Intelsat, PanAmSat, SES Global, New Skies, Eutelsat and Loral -- citing video to mobile phones, broadband in automobiles and other uses -- agreed FSS must compete in new mobile data and video markets. But none said they know exactly how they'll do it.
Public TV executives next week head to their Capitol Hill Day in record numbers, hoping 2006 won’t replay 2005, a year that saw their federal allocation faced a cut of nearly 50% and the Corp. for Public Bcstg. rocked by controversy over then Chmn. Kenneth Tomlinson’s efforts to infuse conservative “balance” into PBS shows. “It was by far the most tumultuous [year] in recent memory,” said Assn of Public TV Stations (APTS) Pres. John Lawson. The projected record attendance of more than 200 reflects the “high level” of station interest this year in public TV’s federal agenda, he added.
BERKELEY, Cal. -- Entertainment firms now “embrace” putting premium programming online, but Intel endured a 4- year struggle after getting “thrown out of Hollywood” for promoting that, CEO Paul Otellini said. Speaking Wed. at the U. of Cal.-Berkeley business school, Otellini focused on digital entertainment and emerging nations more than on Intel’s tough competition with AMD in its core microprocessor business.
BERKELEY, Cal. -- Entertainment firms now “embrace” putting premium programming online, but Intel endured a 4- year struggle after getting “thrown out of Hollywood” for promoting that, CEO Paul Otellini said. Speaking Wed. at the U. of Cal.-Berkeley business school, Otellini focused on digital entertainment and emerging nations more than on Intel’s tough competition with AMD in its core microprocessor business.
An FCC-sponsored panel Mon. kicked off a 5-month probe of what failed and what to change in emergency communications and other networks based on lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Comr. Copps urged the panel be fearless and press hard: “If you ruffle feathers, so be it.” Chmn. Martin expects a list of recommendations of changes the FCC can make on its own and changes it must undertake with other agencies, he said.
Overhaul the Emergency Alert System (EAS), the Society of Bcst. Engineers (SBE) told the FCC. “Simple modifications or band-aid approaches are no longer applicable,” the SBE said in Wed. comments on the EAS FNPRM. The FCC should “eliminate the broadcast daisy chain” by creating multipoint distribution links from “govt. warning originators” to National Weather Radio, broadcasters, cable, common carriers and others, SBE said (CD Jan26 p3). Broadcasters should “be eliminated” as an EAS origination source, the SBE said. The FCC should create EAS performance standards, with federal funding and training provided for a national system with a common alerting protocol, they said.
In a setback for BPL technology, a soon-to-be- released National Rural Telecom Co-op (NRTC) study concluded BPL isn’t appropriate for “sparsely-populated rural” broadband and utility applications. One of BPL’s advantages touted by the industry is its ability to provide broadband to rural and underserved communities that aren’t covered by DSL or cable modem, because power lines reach virtually every household. BPL’s ability to reach rural areas is also the subject of investigation by NARUC’s BPL Task Force.
State information security superintendents crave closer dealings with the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS), in place of the more detached, business-based approach that exists, leaders of the National Assn. of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) said Wed. Fellowships for state and local chief information security officers (CISO) at DHS’s National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) would be ideal for broadening the agency’s outreach to and coordination with such officials, they said during a teleconference with reporters. The group released a report on U.S. cybersecurity strategies that laid out 5 strategic recommendations and 18 tactical recommendations.
In a setback for BPL technology, a soon-to-be- released National Rural Telecom Co-op (NRTC) study concluded BPL isn’t appropriate for “sparsely-populated rural” broadband and utility applications. One of BPL’s advantages touted by the industry is its ability to provide broadband to rural and underserved communities that aren’t covered by DSL or cable modem, because power lines reach virtually every household. BPL’s ability to reach rural areas is also the subject of investigation by NARUC’s BPL Task Force.
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.