Luisa Lancetti named vp-regulatory affairs, Sprint PCS, Washington…. Deborah Kilmer, ex-Commerce Dept., named vp-govt. relations, CPB… Changes in NAB board: Alex Snipe, Glory Communications, representing district 6 (N.C., S.C.) and John Barger, Victoria Radio Works, representing district 18 (southern Tex.) join board, replacing David Alpert and John Cullen respectively… James Neissa, ex-Credit Suisse First Boston, appointed co-head, mergers and acquisitions, UBS Warburg… Changes at North American Bcstrs. Assn.: Jose Suarez, TV Azteca, elected pres., replacing Bruce Cowie, CTV; Andrew Setos, News Technology Group and Peter Smith, NBC, appointed vice pres… Madie Gustafson, ex-AT&T Broadband, named partner, Cole, Raywid & Braverman… Douglas Butler, ex-Post Perfect, appointed dir.- engineering, A.F. Assoc.
Congressional telecom leaders heavily criticized spectrum policy changes contemplated by President Bush’s budget blueprint (CD March 1 p1), with some saying they seemed motivated more by attempts to free up money for tax cuts than sound telecom policy. They predicted quick defeat in debacle that probably would teach Administration lesson about talking with them before assuming such far-reaching proposal would gain quick acceptance. “Once Congress kills it, they'll remember to call us next time,” said Ken Johnson, spokesman for House Commerce Committee Chmn. Tauzin (R- La.). “They're just looking for extra money to pay for their excessive tax cuts,” said aide to House Telecom Subcommittee ranking Democrat Markey (Mass.): “The job for Telecom Subcommittee members is to make sure these plans make sense for telecom.” Another staffer said chances of plan’s passing Congress were “infinitesimal” and predicted that it would be greatly scaled back when full budget book is released in April.
Wireless and broadcasting industries and their regulators were caught offguard Wed. when Bush Administration seemed to propose mysterious multibillion-dollar initiative to hasten broadcasters’ departure from analog spectrum. White House buried section in tables in back of “budget blueprint,” which otherwise didn’t mention FCC or telecom issues even once. By end of day Wed., our sources still were trying to figure out exactly what policy shift was being contemplated. White House and OMB didn’t return calls for explanation. Fuller budget book with line items and explanations isn’t expected until April.
FTC appointed ex-FCC official Dale Hatfield as its monitor trustee to oversee AOL-Time Warner merger, as expected. Monitor authority was part of consent decree companies signed in Dec. (CD Dec 15 p1), which requires merged entity to add at least one independent ISP to its cable systems before adding AOL, and 2 more after. Trustee also will deal with other technical issues, such as capacity constraints. Hatfield recently restarted his Boulder, Colo., consulting business after retiring as chief of FCC Office of Plans & Policy. He’s also ex-staffer of Commerce Dept.
FCC should act quickly on point system to select among applicants for noncommercial educational broadcast licenses (MM 95-31), Media Access Project said in ex parte filing. Although participants may disagree on details of selection system, group said they all agreed decision was needed to allow Commission to begin eliminating backlog of mutually exclusive applications, some of which have been waiting nearly 6 years. Separate filing said freeze on new applications had added to problem, since many stations couldn’t apply for Commerce Dept. funding for upgrades.
ORLANDO -- Panel of Washington insiders told CEOs of competitive telecom companies here Mon. that they must become more involved in lobbying against Bell-sponsored data LATA relief because there was better chance than ever that such legislation could pass. Speaking at CompTel’s annual convention, panelists came close to pleading with competitive entrepreneurs, who traditionally are less likely than Bell CEOs to get involved in policy issues. They warned that their businesses could be at stake; that House, at least, was likely to pass data deregulation legislation this session and that Bells were very good lobbyists. “You need to make clear why this legislation could be a danger to this industry,” said Gary Slaiman, Washington attorney and former aide to Senate Judiciary Committee. Earl Comstock, Washington lawyer and former legislative counsel to Sen. Stevens (R-Alaska), told group, “Bell CEOs are engaged, they come to Washington. Your industry CEOs don’t often come to Washington and you have a complicated message.”
Mike Copps took step toward becoming next Democrat on FCC, we're told, when Senate Minority Leader Daschle (D-S.D.) sent letter to White House endorsing former Commerce Dept. staffer for post. Daschle’s office hadn’t returned call by our deadline. Daschle once had been seen endorsing former NTIA Dir. Greg Rohde, but Rohde always had been considered long shot to fill seat now held by Comr. Ness until successor is confirmed. Copps has backing of Senate Commerce Committee ranking Democrat Hollings (D- S.C.) and is widely considered front-runner for next Democratic seat. We're told Andrew Levin, staffer for House Commerce Committee ranking Democrat Dingell (Mich.), probably will have to wait for next Democratic vacancy -- which could be soon, if Comr. Tristani leaves by end of year (CD Feb 16 p4). Although some questioned Copps’s familiarity with telecom issues after years of working on international trade at Commerce, Hollings spokesman assured us that Copp’s portfolio included emphasis on telecom trade issues.
President Bush nominated three 2nd-tier Commerce Dept. officials, although not NTIA dir.: (1) Lawyer Theodore Kassinger, who’s now at Vinson & Elkins and has been staffer on Senate Finance Committee and adviser for State Dept., as gen. counsel. (2) Kenneth Juster, ex-Arnold & Porter and ex-State Dept., as undersecy. for Export Administration. (3) Faryar Shirzad, ex- Senate Finance Committee, as asst. secy. for Import Administration. Meanwhile, it was rumored that Bush soon would appoint Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue lawyer Charles James as head of Justice’s Antitrust Div., position he held for short time in first Bush Administration.
Minority Media & Telecom Council plans seminar on FCC’s FM auction, scheduled to begin May 9. March 7-9 seminar is at Commerce Dept. hq in Washington -- 202-332-0500.
“ALTS is going on the offensive,” Pres. John Windhausen announced at Thurs. news conference, as he and others in CLEC industry began campaign for tougher enforcement of rules on local phone competition. ALTS members said they would ask Congress to consider strict penalties for Bell companies that failed to comply with Telecom Act’s market-opening provisions, or even splitting Bells into separate wholesale and retail units.