The FCC asked the Mktg. Assn. (DMA) Wed. for a copy of the national do-not-call (DNC) list and a list of all members who had downloaded it. The goal is to use the information to enforce compliance with the registry, FCC Chmn. Powell said in an earlier news conference that covered other issues as well (see other stories this issue). Powell told reporters the agency planned to be “extremely aggressive” in enforcing the DNC list and hoped to get from the DMA “the grist of what we need for effective enforcement.”
The House Commerce Committee passed the Enhanced 911 (E911) Implementation Act (HR-2898) Wed., but not before some concerns from the Administration surfaced. The bill passed with no objection after House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) introduced an amendment that would strengthen the grant program so no state -- or entity within a state, including Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs) -- that diverted E911 funds could get federal funding.
The FCC will enforce its national do-not-call (DNC) rules “to the extent legally permissible” against telemarketers that have obtained the DNC registry from the FTC, FCC Chmn. Powell told the Senate Commerce Committee Tues. The U.S. Dist. Court, Denver, ruled late Mon. that the FTC couldn’t share its list with the FCC, raising questions about the latter’ ability to enforce the registry. “To the extent the court’s ruling prevents the FCC from accessing the FTC’s database, our enforcement efforts may be hampered,” Powell said, but “it does not shut of other venues for the FCC to enforce its rules.”
Lawyers aren’t sure whether the U.S. Dist. Court, Denver, order against the FTC’s national do-not-call (DNC) list will stand up in the appeals court, they told us. The FTC said at our deadline it would file an appeal with the 10th U.S. Appeals Court, Denver, and said it expected “ultimately to implement the national registry” (CD Sept 26 p1).
Many state and local govt. agencies reportedly believe they shouldn’t sign any agreement emerging from National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI) on collection and recycling of electronics waste if manufacturers with significant market share don’t endorse it. Last week’s meeting of full NEPSI group in Chicago did little to bridge divide in industry over “hybrid” financing model that has found acceptance among majority of stakeholders but is being opposed by big computer players such as Hewlett-Packard (H-P) and Dell (CED Sept 17 p4).
A group founded by Ralph Nader is asking the FCC to deny the renewal of broadcast licenses for 63 radio stations owned by Clear Channel. Essential Information, a public interest group, urged in a complaint to the FCC that Clear Channel be denied license renewals for stations in D.C., Md., Va. and W.Va. The licenses will be renewed automatically Oct. 1 unless the FCC denies renewal. “The FCC is required by statute to deny applications for license renewal if a licensee exhibits poor character,” said Jim Donahue, project dir.: “In the 3 years since Clear Channel became the largest holder of station licenses in the nation, it has demonstrated that it lacks the requisite character to hold broadcast licenses.” He said the company had compiled a record of “repeated law-breaking.” He said Clear Channel and its subsidiaries had violated the law 36 times over the last 3 years, citing deceptive advertising, broadcasting conversations without obtaining permission of the 2nd party in the conversation, airing obscene and indecent material during times when children were likely to listen, violating rules on the testing of the emergency alert system, animal cruelty for the purpose of promoting an on-air personality and falsely causing a public emergency to be reported to promote an on-air personality, among others. Clear Channel Senior Vp-Govt. Relations Andrew Levin called the complaints “specious claims and an abuse of the regulatory process. One has to question Ralph Nader’s motives -- is he really concerned about our local radio stations or by his own national political aspirations? Sounds like another Washington fund-raising stunt to me. Can a campaign launch be far behind?”
Electronic security firm that developed encryption for defunct Divx DVD system was acquired by Dolby Labs Mon. as part of that company’s expansion to specialized digital imaging technologies. Company is Cinea, Herndon, Va., think-tank that developed 128-bit Triple D.E.S. encryption for Divx conditional- access DVD system once promoted by Circuit City subsidiary Digital Video Express.
Regardless of whether divide in CE industry over “hybrid” financing model for collection and recycling of electronics waste (e-waste)is bridged, state and local govts. are seeking to press forward with hybrid model and get agreement among stakeholders for interim system at what’s considered crucial meeting of full group of National Electronics Product Stewardship Initiative (NEPSI) at Chicago Sept. 23-24.
As Hurricane Isabel bore down on the East Coast, telecom carriers said they were prepared for the worst. BellSouth and Verizon officials said their technicians were checking backup power systems so they could continue providing phone service if commercial power was lost and making sure their fuel tanks were full.
Campaign to raise $10 million “to help promote the public interest in all forms of media and ensure access for all” was launched by the National Council of Churches and the United Church of Christ. The effort has 4 principal goals: (1) To “challenge media and telecommunications corporations whose practices are not in the public interest.” (2) To form a coalition with “like-minded groups to counter the trend toward media consolidation.” (3) To “mobilize a new generation of media advocates to hold private and public sectors accountable to the diverse needs and interests of local communities.” (4) To strengthen media advocacy efforts in the “grass roots… with the tools of emerging technologies.” Jon Sherry is the campaign mgr. -- Sherrythere@aol.com.