Tex. PUC warned state’s 4 largest telcos that they had better take action to reverse recent deterioration of service quality in their rural exchanges or face substantial penalties. Warnings went to Southwestern Bell Telephone, Sprint, Valor Telecom and Verizon after PUC staff said it discovered unsettling pattern in its analysis of companies’ 4th quarter service quality reports. While companies’ systemwide service quality scores met PUC standards, analysis by exchange showed rural areas might be getting short shrift because of significantly late installations and repairs. PUC told Verizon it must file plan within 60 days for improving its rural service quality, but didn’t impose same edict on other 3 telcos because their service before last fall wasn’t problem, while Verizon data indicated its rural problems began last summer. PUC said that if other companies didn’t address rural service promptly, they also might have to file remediation plans. Agency said it would be monitoring companies’ rural service closely for rest of year. It imposed no fines or other penalties but could fine telcos up to $5,000 for each day each service quality violation continued.
Emmis Communications formed Emmis Learning “to re-invest in our top resource -- our people,” Chmn. Jeffrey Smulyan said. Following in-house “learning audit” to establish priorities, focus of new department at start will be on sales training and leadership development, said Kathryn Maguire, new head of Emmis Learning.
Md. House passed bill (HB-67) that would repeal 1989 law banning possession or use of wireless mobile phones and pagers by public school students on school grounds. House voted 110-26 for repeal following debate. Its supporters argued that 11-year-old law was obsolete. They said law was intended to stop wireless phone use in school drug dealing, but cellphone use today was public safety and convenience issue. Supporters also said repeal would return to local schools boards power to regulate cellphone use on school property. Opponents said that drugs/cellphone connection wasn’t dead issue and that proliferation of student cellphone users would disturb classes and school functions. Bill now goes to Md. Senate.
Vt. Public Service Board (PSB) issued revised pole attachment rules that essentially reflected FCC formula for all certified cable and telecom providers. Revised rules require pole-owning utility (POU) to establish single pole rental rate for all attaching entities, including cable and CLECs. That’s in contrast to many other states where surcharge is levied on telecom providers, said attorney Paul Glist, who represented New England Cable Assn. before PSB. In deciding not to adopt 2nd less favorable rate formula for telecom providers, board followed example of Cal., only other state to do so, he said. New rules also make major improvements in area of “make-ready” (work necessary to make pole available for attachment of additional facilities). They bar POUs from denying access based on insufficient capacity where make-ready can be used to increase or create additional capacity. Other changes include: (1) Rules permit attaching parties to use outside contractors to increase capacity on POU plant when utility can’t. (2) Fixed time limits are set for completion of make-ready. (3) Utility is obliged to seek least-cost alternatives such as pole top extenders while executing its own make-ready. (4) No additional application or payment is required for attaching entity such as cable operator to overlash (add fiber, for example) its plant to existing attachments and only one day’s notice to utility is required. State legislature, which is doing economic impact study, must approve new rules, Glist said.
India’s Wipro.net and Loral CyberStar signed multiyear contract Tues. for CyberStar’s WorldCast satellite-based Internet service for Wipro.net customers, terms not announced.
FCC Chmn. Powell will use his first open meeting Feb. 22 for presentations by various bureaus and there won’t be any votes. FCC spokesman said new format was planned only for this meeting, although Powell has left door open for doing it again in future. Agency said meeting would consist of 2 panel discussions in which bureau chiefs would make presentations on current regulatory issues and internal management procedures. Each panel will be followed by questions and dialogue with commissioners, spokesman said. Powell said event will enable commissioners to “take stock of how well we are organized to be as responsive as possible.” News conference will be held at end of meeting, he said. FCC Comr. Furchtgott-Roth said special meeting format was good “demarcation point” between old and new Commissions. Agency still will issue “sunshine notice” because public notice is needed any time 4 commissioners meet, spokesman said.
Dominion Video Satellite received temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction from U.S. Dist. Court, Denver, that requires EchoStar to work with Christian DBS provider on contract dispute. Dominion’s Sky Angel network uses EchoStar satellite service at 61.5 degrees W, where it shares spectrum. Dominion said its customers started complaining in Feb. that EchoStar wasn’t activating new customers or reactivating older receivers. Complaints began about time EchoStar sent letter asking Dominion to buy additional programming, pay higher price for receivers than EchoStar charges its customers, pay additional fees for services, Dominion said. EchoStar asked Dominion for $7 million to offset costs. Both sides have agreed on arbitration to work out differences. Until then, they must abide by old contract, court said. Dominion has 100,000 subscribers that receive 35 channels of religious and educational programming. Separately, EchoStar said patent infringement lawsuit involving identification functionality in satellite TV receivers had been filed against it by Peter James and Saskatchewan govt. EchoStar offers caller ID functions for selected DISH network satellite receivers.
Hispanic TV Network said it received strategic investment from C-Networks to help support expansion in U.S. and Latin America, terms not disclosed. Network also said lender group provided one-year bridge loan.
U.S. Dist. Court, N.Y., said PrimeTime must pay National Football League $2.6 million in damages for transmitting NFL games to Canada without authorization. Ruling ends 3 years of litigation. Court ruled in 1999 that PrimeTime 24 actions had violated copyright law and 2nd U.S. Appeals Court, N.Y., upheld ruling last April. Damages were determined following trial in Oct. PrimeTime24 also has been held responsible for copyright infringements in cases in Miami and N.C.
Utah House Transportation Committee adopted bill (HB-182) that would make use of hand-held car phones by drivers of moving vehicles secondary motor vehicle infraction, with fine but no violations points on driver’s license. Use of hands-free models would be allowed. Using hand-held cellphone while driving would be charged only if primary moving violation such as disregarding traffic signal were observed. Cellphone use would be cited on additional ticket. Although mild, bill is expected to encounter significant opposition on House floor from lawmakers who say it’s intrusion on personal rights or who want bill to address other types of driver-distracting electronic devices.