The European Commission (EC) launched infringement cases Thurs. against 10 member states for improperly implementing e-communications rules. The proceeding charges Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Finland with tolerating defects in national laws or with inadequately implementing the new regulatory framework (NRF). Latvia, Malta and Poland are delaying development of a competitive market by not putting number portability into practice, the EC said. Poland has failed to ensure user access to emergency services via the single European 112 number. The proceedings arose out of the EC’s 10th report on NRF implementation. The European Court of Justice already has ruled against some EC members for not adopting the NRF into national law. “One of our prime concerns is to ensure that national regulatory authorities are given the full range of powers provided for under the European Union rules, in order to ensure that competition is effective and that consumers are protected,” said Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding. The 10 countries now have the chance to address the EC’s concerns and avoid further enforcement action.
The FCC Wireline Bureau has been meeting with Bell company representatives this week to discuss how VoIP customers get E-911 service. FCC officials wouldn’t comment on the meetings, initiated by the agency amid a flurry of ex parte filings from industry parties. Bell representatives called the talks strictly informational, but heightened FCC interest stirred speculation the FCC might be poised to act on E-911 issues before completing the broader IP Enabled Services proceeding.
BARCELONA -- Europe’s e-communications regulatory goals are valid but implementation and results of the new regulatory framework (NRF) are “unsatisfactory,” Finland’s regulator said here Tues. Saying the framework has major problems, FICORA Deputy Dir. Martin Andersson urged the European Commission (EC) to fix them. The Commission is reviewing its framework, with a report due mid-2006 on its effectiveness, an official said at the European Electronic Communications Regulatory Forum here Wed.
While the FCC has many items on its agenda that could affect broadband delivery and service, it’s likely that nothing substantive will be resolved until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in the Brand X case. States could also play a factor in broadband delivery, though it seems their actions could have less potential impact, according to sources.
Advances in technology undoubtedly have given terrestrial radio a run for its money, but industry experts argued Tues. that the very challenges embedded in the next generation of the medium also provide opportunities for broadcasters in the digital age. Panelists offering often-divergent views from traditional radio, high-tech and labor arenas managed to agree on one thing at the Future of Music Coalition’s annual D.C. Policy Day: It’s a completely different world than when the FCC began regulating the airwaves decades ago.
Advances in technology undoubtedly have given terrestrial radio a run for its money, but industry experts argued Tues. that the very challenges embedded in the next generation of the medium also provide opportunities for broadcasters in the digital age. Panelists offering often-divergent views from traditional radio, high-tech and labor arenas managed to agree on one thing at the Future of Music Coalition’s annual D.C. Policy Day: It’s a completely different world than when the FCC began regulating the airwaves decades ago.
The High Tech Broadband Coalition, which includes CEA, said it would oppose any statutory bars to municipal broadband networks. Pa. has passed a law barring any city or town -- except Philadelphia -- from developing a broadband or Wi-Fi network; other states, like Tex., Colo., Ia. and Fla. are eyeing similar bills. While HTBC acknowledged concern about municipal networks, it said local govts. should be able to “find solutions that are open, transparent, and reasonably competitively neutral.” Many municipalities are considering such networks, HTBC said. “Often, these municipal efforts are intended to complement wireline and cable networks by extending reach to areas that these incumbent networks do not, or cannot, reach,” HTBC said. Its policy position paper said “no statewide statutory barriers to municipal participation, whether explicit or de facto, should be erected.” HTBC said municipalities should have flexibility to set up their own networks, or partner with the private sector. “As a general guideline, however, municipalities should first assess unmet needs, underserved areas, and future requirements, as well as develop a technology-neutral requirements document,” the HTBC said. HTBC also said municipal efforts shouldn’t get preferred access to rights-of-way or other favored treatment. Last Wed., House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) said municipal networks probably would emerge as a topic in the telecom reform debate. He said he believed an amendment to upcoming legislation on IP networks would limit municipalities’ right to establish their own networks. House Rural Caucus Chmn. Peterson (R-Pa.) recently said he was frustrated by the slow roll-out of advanced services to rural areas and would support municipalities’ right to build their own networks. Besides CEA, HTBC includes the TIA, Business Software Alliance, Information Technology Industry Council, National Assn. of Manufacturers and Semiconductor Industry Assn.
The FCC shouldn’t lift its ban on airborne use of cellphones, representatives from CWA, the Assn. of Flight Attendants (AFA) and the National Consumers League said at a press conference last week. They released a study saying 63% of the participants support cellphone restrictions on planes while only 21% think the ban should be lifted.
The High Tech Broadband Coalition announced Thurs. it would oppose any statutory bars to municipal broadband networks. Pa. has passed a law barring any city or town - - except Philadelphia -- from developing a broadband or Wi-Fi network; other states, like Tex., Colo., Ia. and Fla. are eyeing similar bills. While HTBC acknowledged concern about municipal networks, it said local govts. should be able to “find solutions that are open, transparent, and reasonably competitively neutral.” Many municipalities are considering such networks, HTBC said. “Often, these municipal efforts are intended to complement wireline and cable networks by extending reach to areas that these incumbent networks do not, or cannot, reach,” HTBC said. Its policy position paper said “no statewide statutory barriers to municipal participation, whether explicit or de facto, should be erected.” HTBC said municipalities should have flexibility to set up their own networks, or partner with the private sector. “As a general guideline, however, municipalities should first assess unmet needs, underserved areas, and future requirements, as well as develop a technology-neutral requirements document,” the HTBC said. HTBC also said municipal efforts shouldn’t get preferred access to rights-of-way or other favored treatment. On Wed., House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) said municipal networks probably would emerge as a topic in the telecom reform debate. He said he believed an amendment to upcoming legislation on IP networks would limit municipalities’ right to establish their own networks. House Rural Caucus Chmn. Peterson (R-Pa.) recently said he was frustrated by the slow roll-out of advanced services to rural areas and would support municipalities’ right to build their own networks. HTBC includes the TIA, Business Software Alliance, Consumer Electronics Assn., Information Technology Industry Council, National Assn. of Manufacturers and Semiconductor Industry Assn.
AOL joined the National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA) to work on standards for emergency calling over VoIP. AOL said Thurs. it will be a member of NENA’s Operational/Educational Roundtable on emergency service standards and policies. AOL also will work on a NENA public education campaign about access to E-911 services. AOL officially unveiled VoIP service Thurs. in 40 markets.