Companies seeing huge profit in broadcast white spaces want FCC rules as loose as possible, to promote a vibrant market and get gear makers to offer many devices, they said in comments filed with the FCC. With the key question being whether the spectrum will be licensed or not, some commenters warned of the risk of interference to wireless microphones and other devices already using the TV bands.
With final rules for NTIA’s DTV coupon program imminent, a key deadline in getting DTV converter boxes to market on time may have been missed. That’s what NTIA says in a summary of the program posted on the website of Office of Management & Budget, which is reviewing the rules.
A special access provision included in the AT&T- BellSouth merger drew fire during the FCC’s visit to Capitol Hill Thurs. for the first hearing in the 110th Congress. Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Inouye (D-Hawaii) asked Martin why he voted for the merger if he had qualms about the legality of the provision, referring to a statement Martin released after the merger. “If you felt so strongly, don’t you think you had an obligation to withhold your vote?”
Independent programmers are building national multicast networks by allying with broadcasters that use retransmission consent talks to get cable carriage for start-ups. Earlier this month, Cal.-based LATV announced a deal with Post- Newsweek stations that will use the group owner’s digital multicast signal to deliver around-the-clock bilingual Latino-targeted programming on the air and on cable in Post- Newsweek’s biggest Hispanic markets (CD Jan 17 p10). Broadcasters said consumers benefit from the carriage arrangements because they get access to more diverse content. But some cable operators fear broadcasters might abuse retransmission consent rules to pack unwanted material onto cable systems. Another concern arises when one TV station uses multicasting to create a de facto duopoly, carrying another network’s programming.
A bill by House Republicans that would educate the public about the DTV transition (CD Jan 23 p11) seems designed to retain the new minority’s influence over the issue. Commerce Committee Ranking Member Barton (R-Tex.), Rep. Upton (R-Mich.) and former Speaker Hastert (R-Ill.), who Tues. announced he has joined Mitt Romney’s exploratory presidential committee, are sponsoring the bill, which would boost consumer outreach through the FCC, broadcasters, cable, satellite and CE retailers about the Feb. 2009 analog cutoff.
SAN JOSE -- Democrats controlling Congress will promote unlicensed spectrum use and hold FCC Chmn. Martin’s feet to the fire -- but won’t alter his positions or pass large-scale communications bills, lobbyists said. On a Wed. panel at the Wireless Communications Assn. conference, Hank Hultquist, AT&T assistant vp-emerging services & technologies, handicapped chances for legislation in the 110th Congress.
A long-languishing court remand of FCC cable system ownership limits should be acted on in the Commission’s ongoing broadcast ownership review or tackled separately -- and soon, Chmn. Martin said. He doesn’t care which approach colleagues take but thinks they should make a choice, Martin told us Wed. at a news briefing. The chairman unsuccessfully tried to merge the 2 rulemakings but lost because colleagues wanted them taken up separately (CD Jan 12 p1).
Broadcasters and cable operators bickered over the FCC’s media ownership review, in reply comments filed late Tues. Retransmission consent spats (CD Jan 17 p3) show why the FCC shouldn’t let a company own more than one top-4 TV station in a market, said Bend Cable, Suddenlink and the American Cable Assn. (ACA). Broadcasters rejected arguments by Suddenlink
The FCC broadcast ownership review is likely to remain separate from a reworking of cable caps, agency officials said. They said Chmn. Martin tried to merge the rulemakings but lost out because colleagues wanted them addressed separately. In 2006 Martin twice floated proposals to meld the efforts, most recently around Sept., an FCC official said. Other Commissioners didn’t find a good reason to combine the broad media limit review -- prompted by a 3rd U.S. Appeals Court, Philadelphia remand -- with a cable limit reworking ordered in 2001 by the U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., FCC officials said.
The FCC approved the AT&T/BellSouth merger, completing action Fri. with concurrence by Comrs. Adelstein and Copps. Staffers for the 2 Democrats negotiated a tough deal with AT&T to allow its merger with BellSouth. Most immediate reaction held that the order offered few surprises. Chmn. Martin and Comr. Tate questioned whether some conditions, especially on net neutrality, went too far. All 4 participating Commission members voiced reservations about the order.