Last week, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration wrote a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, asking it to conduct further economic analysis and public review of the retirement of the nation's copper network infrastructure by incumbent telephone companies as they move...
By Harry Berkowitz, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Feb. 13--Internet phone services got a big boost yesterday as federal regulators declared that one company offering a free version is not subject to traditional phone rules. The burgeoning...
Members of a key House subcommittee Wednesday railed against the Federal Communications Commission for allowing states to play a major role in gauging competition between incumbent telcos - particularly those owned and operated by Regional Bell Operating Companies RBOCs -- and their rivals. All five FCC commissioners appeared before the...
The agency appears deadlocked on broadcasters' digital cable carriage rights. A few weeks ago, they seemed set on a rulemaking that rejected dual analog/digital carriage during the DTV transition but tentatively concluded that stations are entitled to carriage of all free channels. Sources say the split...
Tired of waiting for elusive final agreement between cable and CE industries, FCC plans to start formal rulemaking on DTV set labeling issue at April 13 meeting. FCC Chmn. Kennard said rulemaking would be started if industries, which have scrapped over issue for years, can't conclude deal by then....
CEA and NCTA officials announced agreement on technical standards for hooking up new DTV sets to digital cable systems after more than year of contentious negotiations that finally prompted threats of imminent govt. action from FCC Chmn. Kennard. Leaders of industries said deal would pave way for introduction of...
Perception is increasing among Washington lobbyists that FCC will rule on DTV must-carry mostly in cable's favor, although agency officials are careful to point out that rulemaking still is under review. Broadcasters have sent prominent delegations to Commission and plan to send more, while expected date for rulemaking shifted...
Rulemaking potentially would allow what FCC called "common sense changes" in large range of rules involving records and notices, including types of notices that cable systems must provide to subscribers for rate changes or program shifts. Among rules potentially affected are information on must-carry notices, political cablecasting, system performance...
Rulemaking aimed at simplifying FCC's cable public file and notice requirement rules has been launched by Commission as part of biennial review process required by Telecom Act. Rulemaking notice said agency is looking at ways to simplify records that cable systems must keep, as well as how new technology such...
FCC is committed to completing work on rulemaking for 2-way wireless cable this summer, probably in Aug., FCC Chmn. Kennard told Wireless Communications Assn. WCA meeting in Philadelphia July 10. New round of comments on rulemaking were received at Commission last week. (See story, p6.)Speaking via satellite, he called 2-way...
With slight proposed changes, FCC last week maintained 30% limit on horizontal ownership of cable systems, warning operators to prepare to comply within 60 days of rules' being upheld on judicial review, but mostly denied motion to lift its long-time stay on controversial order engendered by Cable Act. Commission did...
FCC began rulemaking to decide whether cable systems should be prohibited from overriding broadcast stations' emergency-related programming with state and local Emergency Alert System EAS messages that typically are carried on all cable channels. Broadcasters and others have claimed that EAS messages often contain less useful information than broadcasters provide...
CATA said it will "formally ask" FCC whether Commission used artificially low, subsidized rates to conclude that municipal and other cable overbuilds benefit customers by driving down prices. Exec. Vp James Ewalt said group may raise question as part of next relevant rulemaking as opposed to filing separate petition. CATA...
EchoStar has started service that provides local signals in 4 markets to viewers who live outside area where signals are available over air. It would like to expand to include designated market area DMA of local broadcasters, but rules aren't clear on whether that's permissible. Broadcasters and cable have said...
FCC's Cable Bureau hopes to start rulemaking next month on cable's digital TV obligations, Deputy Bureau Chief William Johnson said. Speaking at Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show CES, he said there still are unresolved details on must-carry, for example. Johnson said it's not clear how cable will put HDTV signal...
Through my involvement with our government's lawmakers and rulemakers, I have learned a great deal about how our system of legislation and regulation actually works. The most important lesson I have learned is that signing a bill, and thereby creating a law, is only half the story. The other half...
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has been passed, and the FCC will begin the process of establishing rules to clarify the new law. These proposed rules will be published in the Federal Register, and local officials should be aware of them and make comments if necessary.Now that the Telecommunications Act...
More mid-sized and small towns may sign up to obtain certification to regulate cable, following the second round of the Federal Communication Commission's rate rollbacks. The latest rulemaking also gives municipalities the ability to have themselves decertified if the process generates low consumer...
The FCC today (Feb. 12) plans to issue its schedule for implementing the approximately 80 rulemakings called for in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The schedule may not carry 80 separate proceedings, because the FCC likely will lump some issu The FCC...
WASHINGTON - The cable industry is scrambling to come to grips with what could be the most important rulemaking affecting small cable businesses since President Clinton signed the 1996 Telecommunications Act in February. The Federal Communication WASHINGTON - The cable industry is...
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