National Communications System (NCS) approved contract award to VoiceStream Wireless to provide priority access service for Washington and N.Y. metro areas. Approval had been expected since FCC granted VoiceStream temporary waiver earlier this month of its wireless priority access service (PAS) rules for GSM-based system that will provide national security and emergency personnel (NS/EP) access to wireless networks during emergencies. VoiceStream said it expected PAS system to be operational within 60 days. DynCorp, systems integration contractor for NCS’s wireline Govt. Emergency Telecom Service (GETS), awarded contract to VoiceStream. Carrier said agreement allowed its handsets to be provided by govt. to NS/EP users at federal, state and local level. Percentage of NS/EP users on wireless network compared with network’s customer base is expected to be less than 0.1%, VoiceStream said. It hasn’t attached dollar figure to contract, to which 5,000 users will have access in both cities on subscription basis, spokeswoman said. NCS Deputy Mgr. Brent Greene said agency would continue to work with VoiceStream and other wireless carriers toward national solution to wireless NS/EP communications by end of year. He said system would “enable us to balance national security and emergency preparedness needs while minimizing the impact on consumer access to the same wireless infrastructures.” FCC in 2000 issued rules on how NS/EP users could gain access in emergencies to next available wireless channel to originate call without preempting calls already in progress. Commission didn’t require carriers to provide PAS but created uniform operating protocols.
PlayStation 2 (PS2) continued to dominate top 10 videogame rental chart in week ended April 7, Video Software Dealers Assn. (VSDA) said Thurs. PS2 games again took up 9 slots in chart, with Grand Theft Auto 3 from Take-Two Interactive’s Rockstar Games again holding on to #1, earning additional $300,000 in week for total earnings of $9.15 million since Oct. 1. Take-Two’s State of Emergency dropped to #3, switching places with Sega’s Virtua Fighter 4. State earned additional $240,000 for total of $3.08 million since Feb. 2, while Virtua earned $270,000 for total of $520,000 since March 2. Only non-PS2 game in top 10 was Agent Under Fire for Xbox from Electronic Arts, #7, earning $140,000 for total of $230,000 since March 2. PS2 version of latter game moved up one notch to 8th, earning $130,000 in week for total of $3.92 million since Nov. 1. After slight setbacks in recent weeks, national rental spending on videogames increased 6.1% in week to $12.8 million from $12.02 million comparable week year ago. Year to date, national rental spending on category jumped 9.1% to $213.8 million from $196 million in same period year ago.
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) signed bill (SF-429) that allows periodic review and amendment of price cap regulation plans for state’s 3 largest incumbent telcos. Old 1995 law prescribed cap framework that incumbents could elect, but didn’t provide any mechanism for changing system in future years. New law allows telco, regulators or 3rd parties to petition for major changes to cap system, including rate increases, once every 3 years. Cal. Senate passed bill (SB- 1253) that would repeal 14-year-old state ban on possession or use of mobile phones or pagers by public school students. Bill sent to Assembly on 38-1 Senate vote would allow local school boards to set policies on students’ use of wireless phones. Old 1988 law, passed when cellphones still were something of novelty, was aimed at preventing use of mobile phones and pagers for drug dealing at schools. But now, said supporters, cellphones are commonplace communications tool and may make crucial difference in emergencies. Bill contains unusual disclaimer that it’s “not the intent of the Legislature to encourage pupils to use electronic signaling devices at school.” Minn. House passed no-call telemarketing bill (HF-2710) that would give state commerce commissioner authority to establish and enforce state no-call telemarketing list. Bill would set $2,000 fine per offending call and require local exchange carriers to inform customer how to get on state list. Bill also would require that names on state list be forwarded to federal authorities in charge of any national no-call list. Bill is similar to measure recently passed by Senate (SF-3246). Both measures now go to conference committee to reconcile relatively minor differences.
Broadcasters remain worried about “chicken-and-egg” problem with digital audio broadcasting (DAB), as well as return on investment, they said at NAB convention in Las Vegas. Reluctance emerged as equipment makers announced significant progress on both DAB transmitters and receivers using new in-band, on-channel (IBOC) technology. Officials of IBOC technology developer iBiquity said IBOC transmission equipment actually was on sale for first time at convention and receivers would be on market by CES show in Jan.
Local number portability (LNP) administrator Neustar in letter to FCC disputed some of concerns raised by CTIA over Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC). CTIA had raised concerns in earlier letter about ability of NPAC to handle increased volume of number ports that would result from wireless LNP implementation, now set for Nov. 24. CTIA said it had “serious concerns” about ability of NPAC to handle stepped-up port volumes after wireless LNP rolled out, saying LNP Administration Working Group had held emergency meeting on problems related to NPAC. In April 2 letter to FCC Wireless Bureau Chief Thomas Sugrue and Wireline Competition Bureau Chief Dorothy Attwood, Neustar said working group meeting wasn’t held to talk about “NPAC- generated problems. Rather the meeting was held to address issues relating to the ability of some carriers to handle and process large quantities of data in a recovery situation.” That type of recovery scenario could include one carrier’s taking its network offline during normal operations or carrier outage of operations support system. In some cases, Neustar said carriers have run into problems downloading large backlog of data during recovery situation. It said data backlog occurred when carrier’s system went down for period and data from NPAC, which still was being processed, built up. Issues raised at meeting of working group last month “are not generated by volumes of transactions related to pooling or porting,” Neustar said. “The concerns discussed relate to the ability of the carrier’s existing OSS technology to process backlogged data and are addressable through coordination among all of the industry parties in the ordinary course of business.” Neustar also urged FCC to adopt schedule for contracting and initiating testing with NPAC in anticipation of Nov. 24 deadline for wireless LNP. “We believe that such testing is vital to the successful implementation of the FCC’s objectives,” it said. “Phased national rollout schedule” was key component of implementation of wireline LNP 5 years ago, Neustar said. Verizon Wireless has asked FCC to forbear on Nov. 24 wireless LNP implementation deadline and other major carriers are asking for at least delay.
LAS VEGAS -- Broadcasters remain worried about “chicken- and-egg” problem with digital audio broadcasting (DAB), as well as return on investment, they said at NAB convention here. Reluctance emerged as equipment makers announced significant progress on both DAB transmitters and receivers using new in-band, on-channel (IBOC) technology. Officials of IBOC technology developer iBiquity said IBOC transmission equipment actually was on sale for first time at convention and receivers would be on market by CES show in Jan.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has made series of recommendations for cable networks that could serve as basis for global communication system using Internet Protocol (IP) technology. Initiative, known as IPCablecom, was created with intention of helping cable operators and vendors provide multimedia services, such as interactive games, electronic commerce and streaming media applications, including voice and videoconferencing. ITU has been working with European Telecom Standards Institute, CableLabs in U.S., as well as Society for Cable Telecom Engineers. In releasing recommendations, Geneva-based ITU said IP had emerged as standard transport mechanism for data networks and would enable “revolution” in multimedia services and applications. “IPCablecom furthers that revolution by enabling a new array of global services at a time when the Internet is increasingly important for economic and social prosperity,” said Richard Green, chmn. of ITU study group that came up with recommendations and also pres. of CableLabs.
Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) plans to solicit donations for Enhanced 911 Phase 2 readiness beyond $25 million contribution from Nextel. APCO created nonprofit foundation in Feb. to help public safety answering points (PSAPs) complete E911 upgrades. Foundation will accept “private, corporate and public donations on behalf of the public safety community” and distribute those funds to provide grants and technical support to PSAPs, APCO said in White Paper released Mon. “While $25 million is not nearly enough money to fund all PSAPs in the United States, it is a significant beginning and APCO is hopeful that other donations will come forward,” group said. In its original waiver request to FCC on Phase 2 E911 implementation, Nextel proposed contributing up to $25 million over 2 years to help public safety community finance upgrades. Outline of APCO plans to seek broader funding sources for new foundation came after National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA) in Feb. questioned whether Nextel donation would hamper independence of public safety groups. Grant of money directly to NENA or APCO would “call into question” independence of each group’s representation before FCC, NENA said at time. APCO said its directors would serve as board for new foundation and Foundation Advisory Committee would be created to oversee its operation. Committee will establish eligibility rules and procedures for grant program and will oversee technical support and education outreach, it said. APCO extended invitations to representatives of NENA, National Assn. of Counties, International Assn. of Chiefs of Police, International Assn. of Fire Chiefs, National League of Cities, National Governors’ Assn. and National Sheriffs’ Assn. to participate on committee. APCO said it planned to announce advisory committee membership by end of month.
Comments on FCC’s unbundled network element (UNE) regime poured into FCC late Fri., offering views from nearly every perspective. Bells asked agency to scale back on UNE sharing, CLECs warned of “irreparable” harm if that happened, Progress & Freedom Foundation said reform would encourage broadband investment, National Telecom Co-op Assn. (NTCA) urged FCC to consider impact on rural areas. Telecom industry considers UNE review one of most important regulatory actions under way at FCC because debate touches on CLEC competition, Bell company participation in broadband, other issues. Commission is considering whether current UNE list can be reduced and whether such reduction could be made on geographic or service-specific basis. UNE regime requires Bell companies to lease portions of their network to their competitors for prices that Bells say are far too low.
PlayStation 2 (PS2) maintained its dominance on videogame rental chart in week ended March 31. As in prior week, PS2 games represented 8 slots in chart and only other platform to make list was Nintendo’s GameCube, Video Software Dealers Assn. (VSDA) said Thurs. After dropping to 2nd place after long reign at top of chart, Grand Theft Auto 3 from Take-Two Interactive’s Rockstar Games again claimed top spot last week, earning $260,000 for total of $10.33 million since Oct. 1. Dropping to 2nd place was Rockstar’s State of Emergency, which earned $260,000 for total of $2.84 million since Feb. 2. Both titles are for PS2. Lone GameCube title in top 10 was Electronic Arts’s Agent Under Fire, again in 6th place, which earned $140,000 for total of $370,000 since March 2. One other GameCube title had reached top 10 week earlier before dropping out -- Sega’s Sonic Adventure 2. Only new game overall in top 10 last week was 3rd-place Virtua Fighter 4 from Sega, which earned $250,000. National rental spending in week declined 17.8% to $11.2 million from $13.61 million comparable week year ago, VSDA said. But year to date, rental spending increased 9.2% to $201 million from $184 million year ago.