Satellite-based Internet access provider Starband is expected to emerge from bankruptcy protection late this month with a revamped sales staff that will focus on potential broadband markets untouched by DSL or cable modems.
ATLANTA -- NARUC’s Telecom Committee adopted policy resolutions addressing the cost basis for UNEs, convergence of information services and telecom, and use of the 811 dialing code as the national number for underground facility locator services. But another resolution at the NARUC annual meeting here Mon. on directory assistance competition failed to pass.
Divided over the approach to be taken at the national level for financing the collection and recycling of electronics waste (e-waste), the CE industry is bracing for a “continued proliferation” of recycling bills in the states next year. Meanwhile, state agencies and environmental activists are promising stepped-up legislative activity in the states, inspired in part by the passage of the nation’s first electronics recycling legislation in Cal. More than 30 bills were introduced in the states this year ranging from those seeking to impose producer responsibility or recycling fees, to those setting up study committees and others that would have CRT disposal bans.
The National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA) praised the Senate for adopting a provision in the agriculture appropriations bill that would improve low interest loans for rural 911 services. The Senate adopted the agriculture bill Nov. 9 and the bill awaits a conference with the House (CD Nov 10 p11).
The FCC Thurs. expanded the scope of some Enhanced 911 requirements, including a mandate that certain mobile satellite service (MSS) providers create call centers for routing emergency calls. In an order and further notice adopted unanimously at its agenda meeting, the Commission also concluded that, for now, state and local govts. were better positioned to set rules for E911 deployment by multiline telephone systems (MLTS). It expanded E911 mandates to certain telematics services and resellers of mobile wireless services, including prepaid calling cards.
Supporters of Enhanced 911 (E911) legislation hailed a General Accounting Office (GAO) report released Wed. that said E911 implementation was hindered by a lack of funding and coordination. The report said wireless carriers, states and localities would need to devote as much as $8 billion over the next 5 years to deploy E911. It said the FCC and Transportation Dept. (DoT) were involved in promoting E911, “but their authority in overseeing its deployment is limited because public service answering points (PSAPs) traditionally fall under state and local jurisdiction.” The report found weaknesses in a DoT database that tracked E911 implementation, saying the database didn’t differentiate between PSAPs that needed upgrades and those that didn’t, which limited its usefulness in accessing progress toward full implementation. The database shows that 65% of PSAPs had deployed Phase 1 E911, but only 18% had Phase 2 E911, the report said. A GAO survey showed 24 states said they would have Phase 2 implemented by 2005, while others said it would be beyond 2005 or they were unable to estimate when Phase 2 would be completed. Senate Communications Subcommittee Chmn. Burns (R-Mont.), who requested the report, praised its finding that more coordination was needed between DoT, PSAPs and the National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA). Burns introduced E911 legislation (S-1250) that would devote $500 million per year toward E911 Phase 2 implementation. NENA also praised the report, Pres. Richard Taylor saying it “should put to rest any doubts about the need for this legislation.” The House passed the E911 bill (HR-2898) on Nov. 4 (CD Nov 5 p1) that allocated $100 million per year for 5 years to E911 deployment.
Zenith parent LG Electronics will deliver the first of its Blu-ray hardware by late 2004, beating Sony and others to the international market. But compared with Sony, LG is forecasting a much slower pace for Blu-ray sales owing to an expected $2,000- $3,000 price for recorders and a lack of prerecorded software, Video Americas Group Gen. Mgr. H.S. Paik told reporters in a briefing at the company’s Seoul hq.
National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) Chmn. Charles Morgan, Susquehanna Bcstg., and Milford Smith, Greater Media, chmn. of the NRSC’s DAB Subgroup, met last week with Kenneth Ferree, chief of the FCC Media Bureau, and his staff to seek Commission input for the NRSC’s work on developing a formal industry standard on iBiquity Digital’s in-band, on-channel (IBOC) system, according to an ex parte filing at the FCC. The NRSC began work on an IBOC standard in Sept. 2002, but the effort was suspended temporarily this year when concerns emerged over the AM sound quality in the iBiquity system. The standards-setting resumed when iBiquity changed to a new system codec.
National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) Chmn. Charles Morgan, Susquehanna Bcstg., and Greater Media’s Milford Smith, NRSC’s DAB Subgroup chairman, met last week with FCC Media Bureau Chief Kenneth Ferree and his staff for input on NRSC’s development of a formal industry standard on iBiquity Digital’s in-band, on-channel (IBOC) system, according to an ex parte filing at the FCC. The NRSC began the work in Sept. 2002, but suspended it this year when concerns emerged over AM sound quality. The standards-setting resumed when iBiquity changed to a new system codec.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- FCC Chmn. Powell Fri. pushed for greater participation in the Commission’s universal service rural health care program to ensure that “the quality of health care available to Americans is not dependent upon their geographic location.” In a visit to the U. of Va. Office of Telemedicine (UVT), he said the Commission was expected to vote on at its agenda meeting Nov. 13 on an order designed to attract more applicants for the available funds by “unlock[ing] the potential” of the program: “The item… will encourage the development of public [and] private partnerships and other creative solutions to meet the needs of rural communities and increase participation in the rural health care program.”