The U.S. lost 2.2 percent of licensed regular low-power TV stations that aren’t translators between Dec. 31 and March 31, falling to 2,001 according to FCC figures released Thursday (http://xrl.us/bm3izr). The number of Class A low-power TV stations that have interference protection, unlike regular LPTV stations, was little changed at 479, comparing Q1 to Q4 figures (http://xrl.us/bmyvbk). Other figures that were little changed are 1,783 full-power TV stations as of March 31, 15,029 radio stations and FM and TV translators totaling 10,253.
The FCC asked more TV captioning waiver applicants to update requests, after not acting on them for several years (CD April 11 p13), and sought comment on two newer petitions. The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau posted more than 200 letters in docket 06-181 Wednesday and Thursday. Tuscarora Multimedia in one such letter (http://xrl.us/bm3iyw) was asked to by July 5 “affirm in writing that the information provided in your previously submitted petition is still accurate and up-to-date” or “update your pending petition.” Commission public notices Thursday sought comment in 30 days on captioning exemption requests by Cedar Street Baptist Church of God (http://xrl.us/bm3iy4) and Crosswalk Chapel (http://xrl.us/bm3iy6).
The Stop Online Piracy Act is “dead,” said MPAA Chairman Christopher Dodd. “The legislation called SOPA is history, it’s over with, it’s gone in my view,” he told Bloomberg TV in an interview set to air this weekend. But the issue of IP piracy hasn’t gone away, he said. “In fact even those from the technology community, the overwhelming majority believe that we must do something about intellectual property.” The measure stalled in Congress after thousands of websites including Wikipedia, Reddit, Craigslist and others blacked out their pages and urged users to contact their representatives in protest of the legislation.
Hamilton Relay can implement a prohibition on “guest access” of its Internet Protocol relay services “on an immediate basis,” it told an FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau official (http://xrl.us/bm3im8). Hamilton previously filed comments supporting guest access prohibition except for emergency calls, and suggesting access to IP relay services be restricted until a user has been validated and registered.
If the FCC allows further use of Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), it must protect first-responder communications, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council said in an FCC filing. “NPSTC’s position is quite straightforward,” the group said (http://xrl.us/bm3iju). “NPSTC does not oppose TETRA for non-public safety use. Our primary interest is preventing interference from TETRA use in the public safety channels, especially the 800 MHz NPSPAC band and ensuring that any introduction of TETRA meets established rules and policies for public safety interoperability.” TETRA equipment is widely used outside the U.S., but proposed use stateside has sparked concerns (CD Jan 20/10 p6).
The FCC should act on an April 2009 petition for rulemaking by the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) asking the commission to modify its rules to permit licensing of interstitial, full-power 12.5 kHz channels in the 800 MHz band, Motorola Solutions said in a filing. The company “strongly supports the EWA Petition and urges the Commission to issue a NPRM that proposes to add full power interstitial 12.5 kHz channels in the 800 MHz band,” the filing said (http://xrl.us/bm3ik9). “The addition of these interstitial channels in the interleaved portion of the 800 MHz band as proposed by EWA would be of great benefit to this nation’s businesses, critical infrastructure industries and local/state agencies that rely on land mobile radio systems to support their business-critical and mission-critical operations. It would also provide applicants wishing to offer Part 90 services with much needed spectrum, while protecting incumbent licensees in the band from harmful interference."
General Communication Inc.’s request to include all remote Alaska competitive eligible telecom carrier support in setting the remote Alaska cap will have “no predictable budget scoring impact,” GCI told an aide to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, said an ex parte filing (http://xrl.us/bm3ijj). GCI had filed a petition for reconsideration with respect to the remote Alaska provisions of the USF/intercarrier compensation order, which establish an interim high-cost support cap for remote areas of the state. Grant of that portion of GCI’s petition would “increase incentives for investment in unserved and underserved areas in Remote Alaska,” the company said.
Outside counsel employed by Netflix shouldn’t get access to confidential documents filed at the FCC as part of Verizon Wireless’s purchase of advanced wireless service licenses from four cable operators, said the carrier and the operators. “Netflix has made no appearance in this proceeding at all, save for the recent submission of acknowledgements by its counsel, despite having ample time to do so,” they said in a filing (http://xrl.us/bm3ihh). “Netflix is thus plainly not a ‘party to the proceeding’ and its representatives do not qualify as Outside Counsel entitled to access Stamped Confidential and Highly Confidential documents filed in this proceeding.” Netflix asked that lawyers from Holch & Erickson be given access to the documents.
Four House members asked the FCC to find an answer allowing the LightSquared network to move ahead. “Whether through a swap of spectrum or a transition to better technology, a solution should be sought,” said Reps. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif.; Joe Pitts, R-Pa.; Jim Moran, D-Va.; and Gerald Connolly, D-Va., in a letter Tuesday to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “As a matter of public interest, it would be beneficial to examine all potential paths forward before closing the door on what could be an opportunity to increase competition and access in the nation’s wireless providers.” Federal agencies approved the company’s plan “on several occasions” and the network would expand wireless broadband to unserved parts of the country, the members said. LightSquared has already invested $4 billion of $14 billion planned, they noted. “Unfortunately, the concern about potential overload of GPS receivers was not brought up until late in the process.” Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., sent a similar letter March 29. “We understand your decision but urge you to work with the company and other spectrum holders, including federal agencies and the NTIA, to locate and identify alternate spectrum that LightSquared could use for a nationwide 4G LTE wireless broadband network,” the senators wrote.
It remains technically infeasible for AT&T to offer pay-per-call service for Internet Protocol Relay Services, the telco told the commission in its annual status report Tuesday (http://xrl.us/bm3ftb). Because the company and other IP relay service providers have no billing relationship with users and “no reasonable prospect of such a relationship in the near future,” pay-per-call service is not feasible, and the commission should further extend the current waiver for such services, AT&T said. It also asked for a continued waiver on the requirement for handling one-line voice carry over or hearing carry over relay services. AT&T also said it could not offer carrier of choice features, operator assisted or long distance calls to IP relay service users, because of the “significant costs” it would take to establish a billing relationship to allow this. AT&T has also been unable to release a communications assistant from an IP relay service call without the call also terminating, the filing said. “AT&T has no current solution.” The company was recently accused by the Department of Justice of improperly handling and billing $16 million worth of IP relay calls made by Nigerian scammers (CD Mar 23 p6).