The Treasury Department has issued a press release regarding President Bush's termination of the national emergency with respect to Libya and the removal of all remaining economic sanctions that have been in place against Libya since 1986 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). According to the press release, the President has taken this action in response to Libya's concrete progress in dismantling its weapons of mass destruction and the missiles capable of delivering them.
FCC Homeland Security Dir. James Dailey will testify Wed. before the House Homeland Security Committee about emergency warning systems. The hearing also will feature Reynold Hoover, Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) dir.- national security coordination; Kathleen Henning, International Assn. of Emergency Management; Peter Ward, pres.-Teton Tectonic; Frank Lucia of the Partnership for Public Warning; and Patricia McGinnis, Council for Excellence in Govt. pres. and CEO. The hearing is scheduled 10 a.m. Wed., Rm. 2261 Rayburn Bldg.
Refusing to accept money from individual companies, the Federation for Economically Rational Utility Policy (FERUP) leaders expects to emerge as a strong voice in key telecom debates at the state and federal levels, members told us. An organization of reform-minded state commissioners, also members of NARUC, was officially launched this year and is made up of at least 14 commissioners from 12 states. FERUP held a D.C. Summit last week (CD Sept 15 p2). An IRS filing for 501(c)(3) non-profit status is in process, officials said.
Auctioning off a nationwide block of spectrum is an “interesting opportunity,” a senior FCC official said Thurs. In a Communications Daily audioconference, Bryan Tramont, chief of staff for Chmn. Powell, said the Commission is considering that in a future auction, which would be welcome news for national carriers and their Wall St. backers. Tramont and 2 former FCC officials also engaged in a debate over the future role of designated entities (DEs) in spectrum auctions. Tramont made clear that the FCC is on schedule with its Auction 58 of 234 10- MHz licenses, many of which are coming from NextWave. The conference took place a week after the FCC dismissed concerns of some carriers about moving forward with its H- block auction (CD Sept 10 p1).
LONDON -- The U.S. and U.K. see eye-to-eye on many telecom and Internet issues despite differences in their respective infrastructures, NTIA, FCC and State Dept. officials said Wed. “Technology doesn’t recognize any borders,” said NTIA Dir. Michael Gallagher. Given their common heritage and common approach to difficult issues like spectrum and broadband, he said, it’s not surprising the countries’ positions are in alignment. Investment challenges associated with broadband deployment exist in every country, said FCC Comr. Kathleen Abernathy. Neither the U.S. nor the U.K. directly subsidizes deployment, she said, meaning “we're all looking at the same things to spur investment” through regulatory approaches. Their comments came during an interview with Communications Daily.
House Homeland Security Committee Chmn. Cox (R-Cal.), also a leading member of the House Commerce Committee, urged Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) to investigate CBS News for airing “apparently forged” documents about President Bush’s National Guard service. Cox said in a Sept. 14 letter to Upton that several print outlets found experts who claimed the documents weren’t authentic. “Despite the growing abundance of evidence that CBS News has aided and abetted fraud, the network has declined to reveal the source of the disputed documents,” Cox said. Given the short time between until congressional adjournment and the election, Cox urged the subcommittee to “move with all deliberate speed to uncover the facts.” At press time CBS didn’t have a comment. However, House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.) said the Committee wouldn’t take up Cox’s concerns since it doesn’t have jurisdiction. “More specific to the issue, a news organization’s responsibility is to facts and truth, but the oversight of network news generally is a matter best sorted out by the viewing public and the news media. I do not personally believe these documents are legitimate, and it seems clear that the press and the two presidential campaigns are properly dealing with that issue,” Barton said. Barton invited Cox to conduct an investigation through the Homeland Security Committee. Meanwhile, during a Homeland Security Committee hearing on the role of broadcast news media in fighting terrorism, Cox said news organizations should participate in govt. terrorism drills to better prepare for distributing vital information following a terrorist attack. Cox also said news organizations’ pressure to be first led to some “unseemly incidents.” Citing remarks by former Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham, he said the media could be a powerful weapon for terrorists. He also said the news media shouldn’t pressure govt. to prematurely resolve terrorist incidents, such as hostage takings. Frank Sesno, George Mason U. prof. and former CNN newscaster, said media outlets should train reporters and editors on covering homeland security issues so they can inform the public better about attacks. RTNDA Pres. Barbara Cochran said the media’s main responsibilities in helping combating terrorism are: (1) Helping prepare the community by reporting on risks and disseminating information before emergencies. (2) Being ready to report factually and comprehensively when an event occurs. (3) Securing broadcast facilities as well as possible so they can operate after an emergency.
XM said it launched an Emergency Alert channel to provide updated information on evacuation routes, shelter locations and updated weather emergency information during natural disasters. Data for the service will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, the Dept. of Health & Human Services, the American Red Cross and other local reports, the company said.
The Pa. PUC adopted new market-exit rules for local exchange providers to ensure end-user customers don’t lose service when providers abandon a market. The new rules (Case L-00030165) require local carriers to file an exit plan with the PUC 90 days before their planned termination date, giving their reasons for exiting, customers affected by the move, and plans for shifting retail customers to a new provider. The departing carrier also must notify the appropriate 911 authorities at least 30 days in advance that they can unlock the affected customers’ emergency records for use by the new carrier, and return unassigned phone numbers to the national numbering administrator. The rules also establish pretermination processes for settling wholesale charges and resolving any outstanding disputes.
Trading and liberalization may not be the way to free up radio spectrum for new uses, and in any case they shouldn’t be mandated, several commenters told the European Commission (EC) last week. The comments came in responses to a May report to the EC urging the European Union (EU) to require member states to implement spectrum trading and liberalization (CD May 28 p7). The report recommended that member states be given wide latitude in deciding how their systems work as long as national spectrum management regimes are harmonized across the EU. But some commenters said there are other ways to deal with spectrum allocation and assignment.
XM said it launched an Emergency Alert channel to provide updated information on evacuation routes, shelter locations and updated weather emergency information during natural disasters. Data for the service will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, the Dept. of Health & Human Services, the American Red Cross and other local reports, the company said.