Mich. PSC gave Ameritech and Verizon until Jan. 24 to explain why they couldn’t implement any relief plan for Pontiac 248 area code before mid-2002, year after code is projected to run out of numbers. Companies in Dec. told PSC they couldn’t address relief for 248 until they completed relief plans adopted for Lansing 517 and suburban Detroit 810 codes. PSC wants to know why companies can’t work concurrently on 3 code relief plans, hire outside contractors to handle one or more plans or implement interim code conservation measures such as rate center consolidation or number pooling. PSC said delay contemplated by 2 incumbents would lead to number shortage that would greatly inconvenience Pontiac customers and have “chilling effect” on development of local competition in city. In another matter, PSC approved amendment to Ameritech’s statement of generally available terms (SGAT) for local interconnection to offer CLECs several additional types of network element bundles. Ameritech agreed to incorporate amendment in its existing interconnection agreements with CLECs. It said it proposed change to meet Telecom Act requirement for nondiscriminatory access to network elements. However, PSC declined Ameritech request for finding that change would put company in full compliance with unbundled network element (UNE checklist requirement of Sec. 271. PSC said request was premature. Agency said it wanted to see effect of new UNE combinations on development of competition before making any UNE- related checklist finding.
In news cheered by Wall St., BellSouth reported it had topped its own projections for reaching 200,000 DSL subscribers in 2000, exceeding goal by 15,000 in 46 markets. It also restated 2001 target of tripling DSL numbers to 600,000 in 63 markets by year- end. Company, which plans to announce 4th quarter and 2000 financial results Jan. 22, said it would expand central office and remote solutions for DSL deployment in coming year. It said goal was to increase coverage to more than 70% of households in its markets by year-end. BellSouth DSL is available now to more than 10 million phone lines and is expected to grow to more than 15 million by the end of the year.
U.S. Supreme Court has turned down petition for review of FCC guidelines for health and safety standards of radio frequency radiation and procedures for FCC licensees to meet National Environmental Policy Act. Cellular Phone Task Force had lost appeal of FCC order last year in 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals, N.Y., which upheld Commission’s decision. Supreme Court turned down, without comment, group’s petition on Mon., effectively leaving FCC decision intact. FCC guidelines concern human exposure to RF radiation from transmitters and facilities. In part, Cell Phone Task Force had argued that Commission “arbitrarily” ignored expert recommendations that would tighten exposure standards.
PASADENA “The audience has spoken and they've demonstrated that they have a huge appetite for this type of nonscripted programming” and Fox TV Network plans to capitalize on reality shows “within the boundaries of appropriateness.” That was message delivered here by Fox Entertainment Chmn. Sandy Grushow and Pres. Gail Berman to TV critics -- who were highly critical of Fox program Temptation Island, which airs tonight. One critic questioned network about “the ethics and perhaps the morality of bringing in people and trying to pry couples apart.”
RCN Corp. insiders bought 1.538 million shares on open market Dec. 22-28. Purchases were made independent of any company- sponsored plan, company said. Board member Walter Scott bought one million shares, Chmn.-CEO David McCourt 500,000, other board members and officers 38,000.
Financially-troubled CLEC ICG disclosed Tues. it’s trimming workforce by 500 by Jan. 31 as part of reorganization. “This process is a key component of implementing our refined business plan and equal to the progress we have made in reducing overall expenses and improving network performance,” said ICG CEO Randall Curran. ICG went through series of CEOs last fall, amid reports of missed revenue forecasts, downturn in stock prices and shareholder lawsuits. ICG received approval from U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Wilmington, Del., of its agreement with Chase Manhattan Bank to receive $200 million of new debtor-in-possession financing. Company said that as of Dec. 31, it had more than $200 million in cash.
Federation of Internet Solution Providers of the Americas (FISPA) urged FCC to extend today’s (Wed.) deadline for submitting reply comments on Commission’s cable open access inquiry. FISPA, which mostly represents smaller ISPs in Fla. and other states, asked agency to push deadline back 30 days to Feb. 9 to allow its members and other parties more time “to analyze the initial comments, evaluate the important legal, policy and operational issues regarding high-speed Internet access and prepare reply comments which will aid the Commission in its consideration of the questions raised in the notice of inquiry.” In 3-page filing with FCC last Fri., FISPA also argued that “the significance of these questions, their complexity and the large number of thoughtful and insightful comments filed in the initial round” weigh in favor of “a modest extension of time.”
LAS VEGAS -- Broadcasters offering data services are “very comfortable” that they can have good data business without running afoul of congressional pressure for HDTV, Matt Jacobson, exec. vp of iBlast, told CES convention here. Geocast Vp John Abel went further, saying hearing by House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) to pressure broadcasters on HDTV was “baloney.” Abel, former NAB exec. vp responsible for HDTV, also said still- undisclosed DTV test results “tilt in favor of staying the course” for using VSB-based standard.
U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., handed important victory to Assn. of Communications Enterprises (ASCENT) late Tues., vacating FCC order on one of conditions imposed on SBC-Ameritech merger in 1999. Court vacated order that covered tradeoff FCC made with SBC in which company was permitted to provide advanced services free of interconnection requirements if it created separate affiliate to provide those services. Decision focused on arguments by challenger ASCENT that FCC essentially was forbearing from regulating when it decided to bypass interconnection requirements of Telecom Act’s Sec. 251 because SBC would be providing advanced, not basic, service through separate subsidiary.
NAB said 6 more TV stations have begun broadcasting digital signals, raising industry DTV total to 172 stations in 60 markets. List of new DTV stations includes: (1) WALA-DT, Mobile, Ala., Fox affiliate owned by Emmis Communications. (2) KTXA-DT, Dallas, UPN affiliate owned by Viacom. (3) WVIA-DT, Scranton, Pa., PBS station licensed to Northeastern Pa. Educational TV Assn. (4) KXAN-DT, Austin, NBC affiliate owned by Lin TV. (5) WNBC-DT, N.Y.C., NBC owned station. (6) KDNL-DT, St. Louis, ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Bcst. Group.