On August 9, 2004, President Bush signed into law the conference version of H.R. 2443, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 (Public Law (P.L.) 108-293).
FCC promoted Eric Bash to asst. chief, Enforcement Bureau Investigation & Hearings Div… Robert Martin, ex- National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, becomes exec. dir., National Emergency Number Assn., effective Sept. 1… Patrick Gallagher, FLAG Telecom, becomes founding chmn. of CEO Council of European Competitive Telecom Assn… Loral promoted Patrick Brant to pres. of Loral Skynet… Christopher Kubasik promoted to Lockheed Martin exec. vp- CFO… Charter promotions: Tom Cullen to exec. vp-advanced services & business development; Wayne Davis to exec. vp- engineering & chief technical officer: Tom Hearity to senior vp and assoc. gen. counsel; Lynne Ramsey to senior vp-human resources… Verizon promoted Scott Grosz to exec. dir.- network, southern Cal. region… Broadcast attorney Erwin Krasnow affiliates with BMC Assoc., which specializes in conflict prevention and resolution.. Scott Chandler, Franklin Court Partners, joins Paradyne Networks board.
In the July 30, 2004 Federal Register, an Executive Order (EO), an interim rule, and a final rule were published in order to, among other things, set forth changes to the U.S. government's export, reexport, and licensing policies with respect to Iraq.
One of the few surprises at Wed.’s FCC mostly well scripted meeting was a strong statement from Comr. Copps warning that the FCC is still falling short on homeland security. Shortly after the session’s start, Copps -- responding to an FCC report on post-Sept. 11 communications changes that led off a meeting largely focused on homeland security -- addressed at length Commission shortcomings. Sources involved with emergency communications said Thurs. that issues remain, echoing in part Copps’ statements. Copps, sources said, delivered what he viewed as a moderate speech.
Mich. PSC Comr. Laura Chappelle said she doesn’t expect a turf war to break out between state and federal regulators over broadband over power lines (BPL). While there were certain areas such as interference issues that the FCC “is surely going to have clear and better jurisdiction, I can’t see the FCC even wanting to get into pole attachments or affiliate transaction issues,” Chappelle, who heads NARUC’s BPL task force, told us. She said she saw the FCC as a partner: “It’s really only a turf war if you are trying to make the argument only we need to regulate.”
According to a World Trade Organization (WTO) press release, on August 3, 2004, the WTO Director General held informal consultations with a range of WTO members on the request from Mauritius for an emergency meeting of the WTO Council for Trade in Goods to examine the adjustment costs related to the quota abolition due to come into effect on January 1, 2005 under the WTO's Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. (WTO press release, dated 08/04/04, available at
As expected, the FCC took action Wed. to “hasten” the DTV transition by commencing an open channel election process in Nov. and setting firm deadlines. “We take today’s actions, most notably to set channel election and replication and maximization deadlines not only to bring consumers more over-the-air digital services, but to help usher in the beginning of the end of the DTV transition,” said FCC Chmn. Powell. Much of the process is in tune with previous recommendations from MSTV (CD Aug 4 p2), said Rick Chessen of the FCC DTV Task Force. The FCC also agreed to eliminate, for now, the simulcasting requirement to permit the transmission of additional programming on DTV channels. The FCC deadline includes a Dec. date where stations with 2 in- core channels elect the DTV channel they prefer. In July 2005, stations with a current in-core channel assignment select a channel from those available after the first round of selections. In Jan. 2006, stations that haven’t been assigned a channel or assigned Ch. 2-6, may elect a channel. By Aug. 2006, the Commission expects to issue a proposed rulemaking on the new DTV table of allotments. The Commission clarified its digital closed captioning rules to ensure that those services are consistently and effectively delivered. The FCC also mandated that after an 18-month transition period, all DTV receivers contain V-chip functionality that will permit the current TV ratings system to be modified. Separately, the Commission officially issued a notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the effectiveness of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and how it can be improved. The Commission had previously said it would address EAS concerns (CD June 24 p7). The Commission has already begun to coordinate with the Dept. of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Dept. of Commerce and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service. The FCC also seeks participation from state and local emergency planning organizations. Enforcement Bureau Chief David Solomon said the notice asks several questions about imposing EAS requirements on wireless phone carriers, but draws no conclusions. Carriers support a voluntary program but would oppose mandates. “We've asked broadly what is the capability, what is the technology, what is the impact of imposing ESA obligations on those technologies,” he said.
As expected, the FCC took action Wed. to “hasten” the DTV transition by commencing an open channel election process in Nov. and setting firm deadlines. “We take today’s actions, most notably to set channel election and replication and maximization deadlines not only to bring consumers more over-the-air digital services, but to help usher in the beginning of the end of the DTV transition,” said FCC Chmn. Powell. Much of the process is in tune with previous recommendations from MSTV, said Rick Chessen of the FCC’s DTV Task Force. The FCC also agreed to eliminate, for now, the simulcasting requirement to permit the transmission of additional programming on DTV channels. The FCC deadline includes a Dec. date where stations with 2 in-core channels elect the DTV channel they prefer. In July 2005, stations with a current in-core channel assignment select a channel from those available after the first round of selections. In Jan. 2006, stations that haven’t been assigned a channel or assigned Ch. 2-6, may elect a channel. By Aug. 2006, the Commission expects to issues a proposed rulemaking on the new DTV table of allotments. The Commission clarified its digital closed captioning rules to ensure that those services are consistently and effectively delivered. The FCC also mandated that after an 18-month transition period, all DTV receivers contain V-chip functionality that will permit the current TV ratings system to be modified. Separately, the Commission officially issued a notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the effectiveness of EAS and how it can be improved. The Commission had previously said it would address EAS concerns. The Commission has already begun to coordinate with the Dept. of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Dept. of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service. The FCC also seeks participation from state and local emergency planning organizations.
In the July 30, 2004 Federal Register, an Executive Order (EO), an interim rule, and a final rule were published in order to, among other things, set forth changes to the U.S. government's export, reexport, and licensing policies with respect to Iraq.
Wireless carriers told the FCC “ample” evidence exists for the Commission to launch a rulemaking on Auction 58 to decide whether to change the rules giving designated entities (DEs) a set-aside for some licenses. But DEs disagreed, saying the numbers demonstrate they would win few licenses at auction without the set-aside.