Deputy Defense Secy. Paul Wolfowitz told Commerce Dept. (DoC) in letter on ultra-wideband that he was confident FCC now understood Commerce had authority over whether new technology radiating into govt. bands met statutory public interest obligations. In letter to Secy. Donald Evans, Wolfowitz stressed role of Executive Branch agencies in managing spectrum in way that protected federal systems. FCC approved UWB order Feb. 14 after long coordination process with NTIA amid concerns by agencies such as DoD and Transportation Dept. on how GPS and other safety-of-life systems would be protected from interference.
House Appropriations Subcommittee Chmn. Wolf (R-Va.) expressed interest Wed. in helping FTC gain regulatory jurisdiction over common carriers. At Commerce, Justice, State & Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on FTC budget, Wolf expressed concerns about telecom fraud, to which Muris said FTC lacked jurisdiction to attack certain types of fraud. Wolf showed recent NBC Today show report on “fat finger dialing,” practice where misdialing popular phone numbers, such as 1-800-COLLECT, leads to other long-distance services that overcharge. Muris said FTC’s legislative exemption from common carrier oversight prevented it from dealing with such cases. Muris said news report, if true, was “Exhibit A” as to why FTC needed common carrier jurisdiction.
LAS VEGAS -- Compliance with FCC Chmn. Powell’s DTV plan is purely voluntary, he emphasized to reporters Tues. after speaking at NAB convention here: “The question of further government action lurking in the wings is not before us.” However, industry officials continued to speculate that industries that didn’t comply with plan to accelerate DTV transition (CD April 5 p1) could face retaliation either in Commission decisions or as result of congressional action on issues such as setting deadline for cable compatibility or defining what portion of broadcast signal must be carried on cable.
Broadcasters and content producers at NAB convention in Las Vegas have been seeking digital rights management (DRM) solutions, and at least 2 leading IT experts chose to dedicate portion of their addresses to that topic. However, Microsoft vp and Netscape founder, not surprisingly, had differing approaches. Meanwhile, counsel for Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.) defended selection of FCC as agency to design and enforce DRM solution if one isn’t developed by industry, prospect that Commission’s chief of staff didn’t appear to greet with enthusiasm.
LAS VEGAS -- Broadcasters and content producers at NAB convention here have been seeking digital rights management (DRM) solutions, and at least 2 leading IT experts chose to dedicate portion of their addresses to that topic. However, Microsoft vp and Netscape founder, not surprisingly, had differing approaches. Meanwhile, counsel for Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Hollings (D-S.C.) defended selection of FCC as agency to design and enforce DRM solution if one isn’t developed by industry, prospect that Commission’s chief of staff didn’t appear to greet with enthusiasm.
Representatives of 3 technology companies will be included in a Commerce Dept. (DoC) mission to China in late April. Representatives from Borland Software, Lucent Technologies and Motorola will accompany Commerce Secy. Donald Evans to Beijing April 21-23 and Shanghai April 23-25. Commerce said delegation would seek to expand and develop new export opportunities with China in information technology and telecom, along with other industries such as environmental technology, medical products and construction equipment. Representatives include Keith Gottfried, Borland Software senior vp-law and corporate affairs gen. counsel; Robert Barnett, Motorola exec. vp; James Brewington, pres., Motorola Mobility Solutions. A total of 15 companies, including large and small businesses, will accompany Evans, DoC said. Goal of mission is to strengthen economic relations between China and the U.S. by helping U.S. businesses explore new trade and investment opportunities that have resulted from China’s entry into World Trade Organization, Commerce said. Evans also will be co-chmn. of 14th session of U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce & Trade.
Industry and govt. spectrum users agreed on need for more regulatory certainty and flexibility in govt. spectrum policy at NTIA Spectrum Management & Policy Summit Thurs. But at start of 2-day summit, panels struggled with how to define spectrum property rights, incumbent relocation, global harmonization, incentives for efficient spectrum use, accurate forecasts of future demand. FCC Chmn. Powell and NTIA Dir. Nancy Victory stressed renewed commitment of both agencies to engage in regular spectrum planning meetings. While overarching govt. goal is to develop national spectrum policy and improve spectrum management policy, Victory said NTIA was in “listening mode” to assess what was and wasn’t working under current policies. “This is clearly a significant moment in spectrum management,” she said, noting spectrum review outcome could involve changing “slightly or drastically” way bands are managed. Much of day-long discussion focused on thorny transitional issues that face govt. policymakers in areas such as how incumbents are treated when more flexible spectrum policies like sharing and leasing are introduced. “Our challenge is this: How do we fit new world-leading technologies into the U.S.’s own cramped spectrum allocation,” Commerce Secy. Donald Evans said.
State Dept. clarified rules for U.S. universities exporting communications satellite data, responding to concerns by academic community that govt. satellite export control regime restricted disclosure of space research information in classrooms. Interim final rule amends Munitions List regulations for commercial communications satellites and components, saying transfer of satellite export oversight to State Dept. from Commerce Dept. in 1999 doesn’t prevent academic institutions from exchanging, without a license. State Dept. developed rule after consulting with Office of Science & Technology Policy, Dept. of Defense, NASA, NOAA. Amendment addresses exports related to: (1) Accredited institutions of higher learning. (2) Govt. research centers. (3) Established govt.-funded research centers. Those facilities must be located in: (1) NATO member nations. (2) Non-NATO ally nations. (3) Member countries of European Space Agency or European Union. Other guidelines apply, including requirement that resultant research information be “published and shared broadly within the scientific community and is not restricted for proprietary reasons.” Academic exemption from Munitions List controls doesn’t give eligible institutions authority to provide services or data “for the integration of the satellite or the spacecraft to the launch vehicle.” Defense services or technical data under Missile Technology Control Regime are ineligible for exemption -- (202-663-2700).
It’s highly unlikely FTC could gain jurisdiction over common carrier regulation in this session of Congress because there’s too little time left, FTC Chmn. Timothy Muris told Communications Daily in interview. “We're trying to raise the importance of the issue,” he said: “On the other hand, we're a long way from any legislation moving.” Muris said he had held informal conversations with many on Capitol Hill about common carrier jurisdiction. He first raised issue publicly March 15, when he told Consumer Federation of America conference that FTC needed its exemption from common carrier lifted (CD March 18 p1). Legislation prevents FTC from common carrier oversight, and only Congress could give agency that jurisdiction, Muris said.
No decision has been made by White House whether to allow State Dept. to keep jurisdiction over U.S. satellite exports, industry sources said. Representatives of Dept. of Defense (DoD), State Dept. and Commerce Dept. met at White House Tues. to discuss fate of satellite exports, but no details about outcome of meeting were available by our deadline. Satellite licensing was transferred to State from Commerce 3 years ago in 1998 Defense Authorization Act after 2 U.S. companies were accused of transferring secret satellite technology to Chinese. State Dept. had no comment on meeting. Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA) Exec. Dir. Richard Dalbello said: “Congress has gridlocked on this issue and they are waiting for the White House to decide it.”