Two industry groups assured FCC Wed. that they were moving forward with formation of industry council to oversee streamlined Part 68 certification process for terminal equipment. Telecom Industry Assn. (TIA) and Alliance for Telecom Industry Solutions (ATIS) were selected by FCC to form Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA). FCC announced schedule Wed. that calls for selecting ACTA members in 90 days. TIA and ATIS said they already had held planning session and would meet deadline. Process is part of FCC’s decision to transfer to private sector Part 68 requirements aimed at making sure customer-premises equipment (CPE) doesn’t harm telephone networks or equipment. ATIS said 2 groups would keep industry up to date on progress through news releases, e-mail, Web. To get on e-mail list, contact Megan Hayes, mhayes@atis.org.
Heeding requests of some wireless carriers, FCC’s Wireless Bureau Wed. pushed back start date of 700 MHz auction to Sept. 12 from March 6. “Under the current circumstances, the bureau believes that a brief delay is warranted to provide additional time for bidder preparation and planning and for reasons of auction administration,” it said. Agency had been working against Feb. 2 filing deadline for bidders to file short-form applications to participate in 700 MHz auction.
FCC suspended its broadcast and cable EEO rules in response to court decision that rules were unconstitutional (CD Jan 17 p1). Suspension is pending Commission’s assessment of final court decision, FCC said. Comr. Tristani concurred with decision, but said agency should have suspended only filing requirements, at least until Commission petitions for rehearing.
Satellite digital audio radio service (DARS) operators could install more than 1,000 high-power terrestrial repeaters under rules proposed to FCC by DARS operators, Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) said. In ex parte filing at FCC, WCA said “such proposed rule is unacceptable” but said it would be willing to consider more limited approach. DARS officials said they don’t plan to use nearly 1,000 high-power repeaters, but rules were crafted to allow some flexibility. “We currently plan to install only about one hundred repeaters nationwide,” Sirius Senior Vp- Gen. Counsel Patrick Donnelly told us. XM Satellite Radio has indicated it plans to use mostly low-power repeaters. DARS terrestrial repeaters, which are used to fill gaps in satellite- delivered service caused by terrain or buildings, use same frequency as microwave transmitters used by wireless communications service (WCS), former wireless cable. WCA didn’t object to low-power repeaters (below 2 kw), but said too many high-power repeaters (up to 40 kw) would cause undue interference. Rules proposed by Sirius Satellite Radio would allow unlimited number of low-power repeaters, plus hundreds of high-power repeaters based on several criteria, including specific numbers per geographic area and unlimited numbers where they have been coordinated “on a co-equal basis” with WCS. WCA said it urged DARS operators to provide information on exact deployment plans as soon as possible so it could fully analyze impact of proposed rules.
As expected, FCC issued decisions Wed. modifying licenses of 10 companies to launch and operate geostationary (GEO) satellites to provide fixed satellite services (FSS) with intersatellite links (ISLs) in Ka-band (CD Jan 31 p1). Companies also received downlink operating frequencies for satellite-to-user transmissions. Holders of 10-year licenses also are required to coordinate service with U.S. govt., NTIA, ITU and each other. Motorola, EchoStar, CyberStar, GE Americom, Hughes, Loral Space, PanAmSat, Teledesic, VisionStar and WB Holdings were recipients of modified licenses. In wide-reaching orders from International Bureau, Commission set stage for companies to offer broad range of advanced broadband services, including telephony, video, high- speed Internet, data. Each of licensees received additional 250- 500 MHz of spectrum.
FCC could issue 11 Ka-band rulemaking and orders as early as today (Wed.), Commission spokesman said. Decisions would grant intersatellite link (ISL) authorizations and impose construction milestones on several Ka-band licensees. New milestones would require companies holding licenses to sign construction contracts for Ka-band satellites within one year and begin launch operations shortly thereafter or face losing licenses unless there were “extenuating circumstances” that forced delays, spokesman said: “The idea is milestones that are established should be kept.” Actions could set tone for 2nd-generation broadband market, industry sources said, and companies are working privately on compromise to stave off FCC-mandated order.
Northpoint Broadwave USA, widely seen as company with strong backing from outgoing Democrats, believes it has enough political muscle with Republican leaders at FCC, Administration and on Hill to obtain license for its terrestrial service, which would provide video and data services by sharing satellite spectrum. Industry rivals, including Satellite Bcstg. & Communications (SBCA, EchoStar and DirecTV, have accused Northpoint of using its close ties with former FCC Chmn. William Kennard, a Democrat, and Clinton-Gore Administration to gain acceptance for its service, which would compete with satellites. “A rose is a rose by any other name and there is no question on how they got their foot in the door,” said SBCA VP Andy Paul.
PCIA no longer plans to take “active role” in spectrum cap issue, PCIA Pres.-CEO Jay Kitchen said this week. FCC released notice of proposed rulemaking this month seeking comments on continued relevance of keeping 45 MHz spectrum cap in place for most markets except rural areas, where cap is 55 MHz. In past, PCIA had championed smaller carriers that had urged Commission to keep ceiling intact. “PCIA recognizes that there have been many changes in market dynamics since then, and spectrum availability is key to the delivery of the third-generation products that ultimately benefit the consumer,” Kitchen said. Issue now is “moot” as FCC is making new spectrum available without cap restrictions, he said. For upcoming March 6 700 MHz auction, for example, spectrum cap doesn’t apply.
LOS ANGELES -- In generally positive speech about satellite industry in particular and growth of DBS in particular, Tom Tycz, chief of FCC Satellite & Radiocommunications Div., told Carmel Group DBS 2001 conference here Tues. that expected growth in satellite as delivery mechanism of broadband data delivery system could quickly tax current satellite capacity.
Detroit City Council is seeking to resolve carriage dispute between Comcast and 2 Detroit low-power religious broadcasters. MSO dropped 2 stations owned by African-Americans for failure to pay leased access fee, sparking ire of many council members. As result, 3 members asked council’s Research & Analysis Dept. to consider whether carriage of local low-power stations could be required in Comcast’s franchise agreement, which is under renewal talks. Comcast, which is negotiating with 2 stations, since has reinstated one of them, WLPC-TV (Ch. 26).