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Telecom/IT Policy Highlights

Volume: 7.03
March 2007

Microsoft Word version / March, 2007 TiPH (175kB)

Adobe PDF version / March, 2007 TiPH (109kB)

Contents:
Overview
Legislative Activities
Policy / Regulatory Activities
Judicial Activities
Studies / Reports
Other Activities and Items of Interest
Upcoming Events
Newsletter Info
  • Overview

    Little telecommunications-related legislation was introduced this month on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers focused much of their efforts on oversight of regulatory agencies. Both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) were the focus of several hearings in the House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Democratic lawmakers asked probing questions of the Republican-led agencies. Despite occasional differences of opinion voiced in these hearings, all parties continue to recognize the importance of broadband Internet deployment, digital television transition, and other salient telecommunications issues.

    The FCC had a very busy month, punctuated by a very ambitious meeting on March 22, 2007. At that meeting, the FCC took action on 13 items, including digital radio rules, noncommercial/educational FM radio licenses, broadband industry practices, and the regulatory classification of wireless broadband Internet services. In this issue of TIPH, we highlight the most important of these Commission actions. Of the many orders and inquiries voted on by the FCC, the classification of wireless Internet as an information service may be the most important action of the Commission this month, as it finally provides regulatory certainty for a widely deployed service.

    At the same time, the FCC and even the courts continue to grapple with the regulatory uncertainty surrounding Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications services. The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order designed to ensure that VoIP service providers are able to purchase wholesale communications services essential to their deployment. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a decision upholding the FCC’s preemption of states’ rights to apply their telecommunications laws to VoIP service providers.

    This FCC’s decision on interconnection and Court of Appeals’ ruling on the preemption of state regulation for VoIP, as well as issues concerning the local video service franchising process, illustrate what may be this month’s overriding theme: continued tension between state and federal regulation of communications services. As lawmakers, regulators, and the courts continue to sort through these issues, TIPH will continue to update its readers on these and other telecommunications stories.


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  • Legislative Activities

    [FCC Appears Before House Commerce Committee]
    03.14.2007 – All five commissioners of the FCC appeared in a hearing held by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. Entitled “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission,” the hearing marked the first time that the FCC appeared before the House subcommittee since Democrats gained a majority in the 2006 elections. Both Commerce Committee chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Subcommittee chairman Ed Markey (D-MA) have expressed a desire to have the FCC appear more frequently before the committee as part of its oversight of the Commission.

    During the hearings, the FCC received criticism from Democratic members of the House subcommittee on a number of issues, including the Commission’s recent video franchise decisions, its approval of the AT&T-BellSouth merger, and FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s management style. Regarding video service, House Commerce Committee chairman Dingell thought the FCC overstepped its authority to preempt Congress’ decision to give local authorities the right to provide video franchise licenses (see below story, “Cable Services Franchising Rules Established by FCC” for more details). Martin responded that the FCC’s decision to loosen franchise rules and ease telecommunication provider entry into cable service was designed to provide competition to the cable industry, whose rates he said had risen disproportionately.

    In addition, Dingell criticized the FCC’s tendency to vote on an action and then not release the final order for months, noting, “Regulating by press release is a curious way to interpret the Administrative Procedures Act.” Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) also criticized the FCC’s decision to permit the AT&T-BellSouth merger as “heavy-handed and nontransparent.” In particular, she expressed concern over Chairman Martin’s decision to allow Commissioner Robert McDowell to vote in the final proceeding (see TIPH 6.10 and TIPH 7.01 for further details).

    Finally, House Subcommittee chairman Markey called for the FCC to improve its broadband deployment. Chairman Martin responded that the Commission is working on improving its efforts and that ubiquitous, affordable broadband remains a key goal. In response to Rep. Markey’s call for better collection of data on media ownership, Chairman Martin pointed to the ten studies commissioned by the FCC on the issue. [Sources: House Commerce Committee, FCC, and Broadcasting & Cable]

    [NTIA Oversight, DTV Transition, and Interoperability Addressed in Hearings]
    03.22.2007 – The House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing on March 22, 2007, entitled “Oversight of the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) and Innovations in Interoperability.”

    The first panel of the hearing consisted of Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the NTIA, U.S. Department of Commerce, John M. R. Kneuer, as its sole witness. In his statement to the House Subcommittee regarding oversight of the NTIA, Assistant Secretary Kneuer addressed the functions of the NTIA and highlighted its recent activities. Historically, the primary goal of NTIA has been the advancement of e-commerce and enhanced telecommunications and information services. However, with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, signed into law in 2006, the NTIA’s immediate focus changed significantly with the creation of a number of new programs to be funded under the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund (DTV Fund) from future spectrum auction proceeds. Kneuer focused on the efforts of the NTIA to administer new programs stemming from the DTV Fund, such as the Digital Television Converter Box Coupon Program and the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program.

    Prior to this hearing on NTIA oversight, Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) had criticized the NTIA’s DTV converter box subsidy rules as confusing, and he suggested that the NTIA has “unwittingly restored a fuzzy picture to the digital TV transition.” In particular, Rep. Markey criticized a plan to make available only two-thirds of the money for households with analog-only sets and the other third exclusively for households that have analog sets, but no cable or satellite service (see below story, “Digital Television Conversion Subsidy, Details Announced by NTIA,” for more details). Markey argued that such an approach, and a decision to limit arbitrarily consumer eligibility, is likely to result in confusion about who might be eligible for the program. [Sources: House Commerce Committee, NTIA, and Multichannel News]


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  • Policy / Regulatory Activities

    [Cable Services Franchising Rules Established by FCC]
    03.05.2007 – The FCC has released a Report and Order (R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [FCC 06-180], adopted in December 2006, which establishes rules and provides guidance for the implementation of Section 621(a)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934. This section prohibits franchising authorities from refusing to award competitive franchises for the provision of cable services. The FCC, in its Order, determined that the current operation of the franchising process creates an unreasonable barrier to entry for new market participants, thus impeding federal mandates to enhance cable competition and accelerate broadband deployment. In response to these findings, the FCC has issued new rulemaking to rectify the ways in which it has found that local franchising authorities are refusing to award competitive franchises through drawn-out local negotiations with no time limits, unreasonable build-out requirements, unreasonable requests for “in-kind” payments that subvert the five percent cap on franchise fees, and unreasonable demands regarding public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access.

    The FCC has ordered that franchising negotiations that extend beyond a set time period will amount to an unreasonable refusal to award a competitive franchise as set forth in Section 621(a)(1). Requiring an applicant to agree to unreasonable build-out requirements, demanding payments that would ordinarily count in excess of the five percent cap on franchise fees, or denying applications because of the prospective franchisee’s refusal to meet unreasonable PEG demands, would all be considered unreasonable by the FCC. To address such determinations of such unreasonableness, the Commission has preempted local laws, regulations, and requirements to the extent that they might be more restrictive than those set forth in the Order.

    In addition, the FCC is also seeking comment on how the Commission’s rulings should affect current franchisees. Currently, it proposes that it apply to existing franchisees at the time of their next renewal. The FCC is also interested in comment on the Commission’s statutory authority to take action as it has set forth in this Order. Comments will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, and reply comments will be due 45 days after publication. For a copy of the R&O and NPRM, please see [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-180A1.txt] (MS Word and PDF formats also available). [Source: FCC]

    [Digital Audio Broadcasting Rules Adopted by FCC]
    03.22.2007 – The FCC held its open meeting on March 22, 2007, undertaking a very ambitious set of 13 items. In this issue, we highlight the most important of those actions, beginning with a Commission rulemaking for digital radio services. The FCC has adopted, but not yet released, a Second Report and Order, First Order on Reconsideration, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [FCC 07-33] regarding digital radio services for American consumers. The FCC has been involved in the development of digital radio since 2002, when it selected “in-band on-channel” (IBOC) technology as the means for AM and FM radio broadcast stations to begin digital operations. IBOC is a method for transmitting near-CD quality sound and data information, such as station, song, and artist identification; stock and news information; and traffic and weather bulletins. At the same time, IBOC enables radio stations to split their digital signal to broadcast multiple streams of digital audio programming.

    Since the FCC first authorized Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) on an interim basis, over 1200 stations have notified the Commission of their intent to commence hybrid digital broadcasting, using IBOC technology. The FCC’s current Order on digital radio clarifies some aspects of this service, by 1) allowing FM radio stations to operate in extended hybrid digital mode; 2) requiring that each local radio station broadcasting in digital mode to simulcast a digital signal of at least comparable audio quality to its analog signal; 3) adopting a flexible bandwidth policy permitting a radio station to transmit high quality audio, multiple program streams, and data-casting services at its discretion; 4) allowing radio stations to time broker unused digital bandwidth to third parties, subject to certain regulatory requirements; 5) applying existing programming and operational statutory and regulatory requirements to all free DAB programming streams; and 6) permitting AM nighttime operations. However, the FCC continues to refrain from imposing a mandatory conversion schedule for radio stations to commence digital broadcast operations.

    The FCC seeks comments on this Order, particularly on appropriate limits to the amount of subscription services that may be offered by radio stations, as well as whether the Commission should adopt any new public interest requirements for digital audio broadcasters. Details on submitting comments will be made available when the FCC releases the adopted Order. [Source: FCC]

    [Digital Television Conversion Subsidy, Details Announced by NTIA]
    03.12.2007 – The National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) held a press conference to announce the details about a subsidy program in response to the transition to all-digital broadcasts by February 17, 2009. The Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program is designed to help ease the transition to DTV for those to receive over the air broadcasts in their home.
    Beginning January 2008, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to 2 coupons valued at $40, for the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes. Initial funds allocated to this program are expected to cover the distribution of 22.5 million coupons, and if this amount runs out, NTIA has the ability to request another $540 million from Congress. The coupons from this additional money will be reserved for households that rely only on analog broadcasting with no cable or satellite service. NTIA plans to track how many coupons are issued and redeemed; coupons will be set to expire within 90 days of the household receiving them. For more on the rules please visit [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2007/DTVFinalRule_031207.htm]. [Source: NTIA and Reuters]

    Inquiry Initiated by Commission into Broadband Market Practices 03.22.2007 – The FCC has issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) [FCC 07-31] to better understand the behavior of the participants in the market for broadband services. In 2005, the Commission issued its Internet Policy Statement, which contained four principles to encourage broadband deployment and to preserve and promote the “open and interconnected nature of the public Internet.” Informed by those principles, the FCC’s current inquiry seeks information on how broadband market participants behave, including: 1) how broadband providers are currently managing the Internet traffic on their networks; 2) whether providers charge different prices for different speeds or capacities of service; 3) whether the FCC’s policies should distinguish between content providers that charge end users for access to content and those that do not; and 4) how consumers are affected by such practices.

    The FCC has not yet established a comments process or dates for its current Notice of Inquiry. However, the Commission notes that it seeks further comment on whether the 2005 Internet Policy Statement should incorporate a new principle of “nondiscrimination,” and if so, how “nondiscrimination” would be defined, and how such a principle would be read. [Source: FCC]

    [Interconnection for Wholesale Telecommunications, VoIP Upheld by FCC]
    03.01.2007 – The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) has issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) [WC No. 06-55] declaring that wholesale telecommunications providers are required to interconnect and provide traffic with incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) when providing services to other service providers, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers. The WCB’s ruling on the matter comes in response to a petition filed by Time Warner Cable, which has provided facilities-based competitive telephone service using VoIP technology since 2003. To offer these services, Time Warner purchased wholesale telecommunications services from other providers, including Sprint and MCI WorldCom.

    Time Warner alleged that MCI was unable to provide it with wholesale communications services in certain areas of the state of South Carolina and Sprint was unable to provide it with wholesale communications in parts of Nebraska. Unlike other state public service commissions, the South Carolina Public Service Commission and Nebraska Public Service Commission determined that rural incumbent LECs are not obligated to enter into interconnection agreements with competitive service providers (like MCI and Sprint) since such competitors operate as wholesale service providers. Section 251 of the Communications Act of 1934 mandates that telecommunications carriers be able to interconnect to the incumbent LECs. Time Warner argued that the South Carolina and Nebraska Commissions misinterpreted the statute when they determined that competitive LECs providing wholesale telecommunications services to other service providers, in this case VoIP-based providers, were not “telecommunications carriers” for the purposes of Section 251, and, therefore, not entitled to interconnect with incumbent LECs.

    In its MO&O, the WCB ruled in favor of Time Warner Cable, finding that the states misinterpreted the statue. Because the Communications Act does not differentiate between retail and wholesale services when defining “telecommunications carrier” or “telecommunications service,” The MO&O clarifies that telecommunications carriers are entitled to interconnect with incumbent LECs to provide wholesale telecommunications services. The WCB’s decision is important, as it protects the development of wholesale telecommunications and facilities-based VoIP competition, as well as broadband deployment policies developed and implemented by the Commission over the last decade. For a copy of the MO&O, please see [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-709A1.txt] (MS Word and PDF versions also available). [Source: FCC]

    [Wireless Broadband Internet Classified as an Information Service by FCC]
    03.22.2007 – In probably its most important action of its open meeting, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling [FCC 07-30] affirming wireless broadband Internet service as information service under the Communications Act. This declaration by the FCC places wireless broadband Internet service in the same regulatory category as other broadband services, such as cable modem service, wireline (DSL) Internet access service, and Broadband over Power Line (BPL)-enabled Internet access service. The FCC’s decision to place wireless broadband service on the same regulatory footing as other broadband services should insure that wireless services are free from the regulatory burdens placed upon telecommunications services, which are higher than those imposed for information services.

    More specifically, the FCC defined wireless broadband Internet access service as a service that uses spectrum, wireless facilities, and wireless technologies to provide subscribers with high-speed Internet access. The transmission component underlying wireless service is designated by the FCC as “telecommunications,” and this Declaratory Ruling finds that the provision of this telecommunications transmission component service, as part of a functionally integrated wireless Internet access service, is an information service. This ruling is consistent with the FCC’s regulatory framework established for other broadband Internet services, such as cable, DSL, and BPL Internet access. The FCC’s ruling on wireless Internet service access provides regulatory certainty, in the hopes of further deployment of the service.
    For a copy of the FCC’s Declaratory Ruling, please see [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-30A1.txt] (MS Word and PDF versions also available). [Source: FCC]


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  • Judicial Activities

    [Federal Rules on VoIP Upheld by Court of Appeals]
    03.21.2007 – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit delivered its ruling in Minnesota Public Utilities Commission v. FCC [App. Ct. No: 05-1069], a case involving the rights of states to apply their telecommunications laws to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications services. The Appeals Court found in favor of the FCC, ruling that the Commission acted reasonably in its decision to preempt state laws regarding regulation of VoIP services.

    At issue were FCC rules adopted in 2004 under former Chairman Michael Powell, who wanted to protect emerging VoIP providers from what he viewed as complex and inconsistent regulation by state agencies. Such regulations, Powell reasoned, might place unnecessary and potentially harmful regulatory burdens on a nascent telecommunications technology in the early stages of deployment. It was the State of Minnesota’s initial efforts to regulate Vonage that triggered Powell and the FCC’s actions on the matter.

    In 2004, the FCC issued an Order [FCC 04-267], finding that VoIP technology made it impractical or impossible to separate intrastate components from interstate components, thus preempting state regulation of the technology. In addition, the FCC ruling protected VoIP providers such as Vonage whose services are largely nomadic, meaning that consumers can use the same telephone number while relying on broadband connections anywhere in the world. Chairman Powell offered to extend the same protections to non-nomadic cable VoIP service providers, if necessary. In this case, New York state regulators, also one of the plaintiffs, asked the Court to set aside the FCC’s language regarding cable and other fixed VoIP service providers. But the Court refused, noting that such a request was premature because the FCC had not actually adopted rules preempting state regulation of cable VoIP services.

    In this case, the Court of Appeals found that the FCC acted reasonably in preempting state regulation. Moreover, the Court ruled that the FCC could assert its jurisdiction without having first to determine whether VoIP is defined as a telecommunications service or information service, as those terms are defined in federal law. The FCC properly considered the economic burden of identifying geographic endpoints for regulation, the Court found. Finally, the Court ruled that any inconsistencies with 911 Order did not render FCC order arbitrary, nor did the FCC arbitrarily determine state regulation of information service conflicted with federal policy of nonregulation or preempt 911 requirements. A copy of the Court of Appeals’ opinion may be found at [http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/opndir/07/03/051069P.pdf] (PDF only). [Sources: 8th Court of Appeals and FCC]

    [States Must Approve Interconnection Agreements, Court of Appeals Rules]
    03.05.2007 – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has issued its opinion in Qwest v. PUC Colorado and PSC Utah [App. Ct. Nos. 06-1132 and 06-4021], finding in favor of the state regulatory agencies. The case involved a situation in which Qwest Communications, a Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) and the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) for the states of Colorado and Utah, entered into an interconnection agreement with MCImetro Access Transmission, a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) that does business in those two states. The U.S. Code states that ILECs must interconnect with CLECs, as stated in 47 U.S.C. § 251. Furthermore, 47 U.S.C. § 252 requires that ILECs who receive requests for interconnection must negotiate an agreement with the requesting party or submit the request to the state regulatory agency for arbitration, and all interconnection agreements must receive the final approval of the relevant state regulatory agencies.

    Qwest and MCImetro had originally negotiated an interconnection agreement under § 252 that had received the approval of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and Utah Public Services Commission. However, a dispute arose over a subsequent agreement that covered switching and shared transport of wireline communications. The FCC had once required ILECs to provide these network elements, but the Commission later dropped the requirement. As a result, Qwest argued that the subsequent agreement was not an interconnection agreement and did not need the approval of the states. The states disagreed and argued that their approval was still needed under § 252.

    U.S. District Courts in both Utah and Colorado found in favor of the regulatory agencies in the respective states. Qwest appealed the decisions, which were consolidated into a single case. In its decision, the Court of Appeals upheld the earlier rulings of the District Courts and found in favor of the states. A copy of the Court of Appeals’ opinion may be found at [http://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/06/06-1132.pdf] (PDF only). [Source: 10th Circuit Court of Appeals]


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  • Studies / Reports

    [FCC Annual Report on State of Competition in Satellite Industry]
    03.26.2007 – The FCC has adopted its first report to Congress on the state of competition in the communications satellite services industry. The report covered six wholesale and two retail satellite services markets for the years between 2000 and 2006. Using a range of standard economic indicators to assess market concentration, conduct, and performance, the Commission finds effective competition in all the satellite markets it addressed. However, while not disagreeing with the report’s findings, Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein chose only to concur. They suggest that there is a need for a better definition of “effective competition,” as well as improved data collection efforts.

    As the initial review of the satellite services sector, this first report provides a brief outline of the history and structure of the industry; identifies certain capacity and pricing aspects specific to the sector; and discusses intermodal competition from terrestrial technologies. At the request of Congress, the report also discusses the FCC’s policies regarding foreign participants’ entry into the U.S. market, as well as U.S. companies’ ability to access certain foreign markets. The FCC report concludes that the commercial satellite services sector continues to benefit consumers, government, and industry through the provision of telecommunications and information services connectivity and contributions to technological innovation. [Source: FCC]

    [Wi-Fi and Mobile Convergence Valued by Consumers, Study Finds]
    04.02.2007 – A study conducted by ABI Research and released by the Wi-Fi Alliance finds that one in four U.S. wireless subscribers would change cellular access carriers to obtain the benefits of Wi-Fi / mobile convergence. Even more telling were findings that one in three Americans would discontinue their traditional home phone service if they could obtain strong in-home signal coverage and reduced pricing for calls made from home, two suggested benefits of this convergence in mobile and Wi-Fi services.

    The ABI Research study, conducted in March 2007, surveyed 1,223 U.S. wireless subscribers, using a geographically and demographically representative sample of adult consumers. Respondents were asked to indicate whether a variety of listed benefits, typical of converged Wi-Fi / mobile convergence phone offerings, would compel them to switch carriers now or in the future. Among the most attractive benefits were: 1) reduced prices for mobile data services at home (25 percent would switch); 2) better signal coverage in the subscriber’s home (25 percent would switch); 3) reduced prices on voice calls made from the subscriber’s home (24 percent would switch); 4) reduced prices for data services at Wi-Fi hotspots (21 percent would switch); and 5) reduced prices for voice calls made from public Wi-Fi hotspots (21 percent would switch). [Source: Government Technology]


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  • Other Activities and Items of Interest

    [Educational Campaign Launched on Digital Television Transition ]
    03.06.2007 – A coalition of broadcasters, cable companies, equipment manufacturers, and civil rights groups have agreed to launch a education campaign to provide Americans with information about the impending transition to digital television. On February 17, 2009, all US television broadcasters are expected to switch from analog to digital television (DTV) broadcasts. It has been estimated that about 20 million households rely on only over-the-air broadcast and will lose service unless they purchase the appropriate converter equipment.

    The educational initiative will include televised public service messages and other forms of advertising. The ad campaign is expected to begin in spring 2008 and continue into the early months of the transition. The main goal of the effort is to promote the federal voucher program and details on how to receive one. Some members of the coalition will apply for additional federal money that the Commerce Department plans to make available for DTV education in order to pay for flyers, mailings, newsletters and other grassroots efforts. Participants in the education campaign also include the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), National Association of Broadcasters, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and NTIA. More on the coalition, its efforts and the transition is available at [http://www.dtvtransition.org]. [Source: Consumer Electronics Association and Technology Daily]

    [Satellite Radio Companies Claim No Rule to Block Merger]
    03.21.2007 – Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio have filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announcing their intention to merge. In those documents, the companies claim that there is no FCC rule prohibiting the merger. Opponents of the proposed merger point to an FCC clause stating that "one licensee will not be permitted to acquire control of the other," when it created the satellite radio licenses in 1997. However, Sirius and XM argue that the language was not codified, and the companies claim that it is merely a policy statement that can be changed, rather than "a binding FCC regulation." They conclude that FCC rules do not prohibit the transfer of the licenses. In response, FCC Chairman Martin emphasized that the 1997 order establishing satellite radio states: "Transfers. We note that DARS licensees, like other satellite licensees, will be subject to rule 25.118, which prohibits transfers or assignments of licenses except upon application to the Commission and upon a finding by the Commission that the public interest would be served thereby. Even after DARS licenses are granted, one licensee will not be permitted to acquire control of the other remaining satellite DARS license. This prohibition on transfer of control will help assure sufficient continuing competition in the provision of satellite DARS service."

    In addition, XM and Sirius released further details about how the merged company would operate and what benefits consumers might expect. Sirius and XM claim that the merger would create more transmission capacity, by eliminating duplication. They now carry 12 identical news-oriented channels, such as CNN, and they have another 75 music-oriented channels that "overlap by genre," they noted. The companies’ application to the SEC noted that, “The combined company will also offer consumers the options of receiving either fewer channels at a lower price or more channels, including the 'best of both' networks, at a modest premium to the existing $12.95 per month price." [Sources: Broadcasting & Cable, Washington Post, and Reuters]


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  • Upcoming Events

    [“First Responders Summit” to Be Hosted by FCC Public Safety Bureau]
    04.20.2007 – The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will host the “First Responders Summit: Interoperable and Reliable Public Safety Communications,” on Friday, April 20, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305). The summit will be open to the public, but admittance will be limited to the seating available. For those unable to attend, a live audiocast will be made available at the FCC’s website.
    The “First Responders Summit” will include expert panel discussions led by representatives from the public safety community, communications industry, and the government. Three expert panel discussions will include “Government Agencies and Public Safety Initiatives,” “Transition from Legacy to Future Architectures - Integration of Current Systems into IP-based Networks, Radio Bridging,” and “Beyond Voice - Broadband Applications for First Responders.” The summit will then close with an open roundtable discussion on key issues related to emergency preparedness and response.

    Sign language interpreters and open captioning will be available for this event. Other reasonable accommodations will be available upon request. For more information about the event, please see the Public Notice at [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-271054A1.txt] (MS Word and PDF versions also available). [Source: FCC]

    [Fourth Public Hearing on Media Ownership to Be Held by FCC]
    04.30.2007 – The FCC will hold its fourth public hearing on media ownership, to be held in the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida, area in the afternoon and evening on Monday, April 30, 2007. The hearing will provide citizens with the opportunity to discuss media ownership, including specific issues facing the local market. The FCC has already held similar hearings in Los Angeles, Nashville, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Further details for the Tampa-St. Petersburg hearing will be released at a further date.

    [International Conference on Digital Government Research]
    05.20-23.2007 – The Digital Government Society of North America will hold its 8th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research at Sheraton Society Hill, in Philadelphia, on May 20-23, 2007. The conference provides a forum for the presentation and discussion of interdisciplinary research on digital government and its applications in diverse domains. Topics for this year’s conference include, but are not limited to, social science research and citizen interactions, computer science and information technology research to support government, and IT-enabled government operations and government application domains.
    Interested participants are invited to submit research papers, as well as proposals for panels, system demonstrations, posters, and pre-conference tutorials and workshops. For more information, please consult the conference website at [http://www.dgsociety.org/call_for_papers.php].


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  • Newsletter Info

    Center for Advanced Communications Policy
    Telecom/IT Policy Highlights Volume 6.xx
    March 2007
    Nathan W Moon, Editor

    Telecom/IT Policy Highlights presents legislative, regulatory, legal, and other items of interest pertinent to information, telecommunications, and related technology policy and research. For additional information regarding the information provided in this report, or if there are newsworthy items that should be included in future editions, please contact , Research Specialist , or , Director of Research and Editor in Chief.
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