FCC Asked To Keep Hands Off IP Video

John Eggerton (3.20.07)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6426258.html?display=Breaking+News

Network 2 has petitioned the FCC to stand down on IP Video regulation.

Whether or not IPTV is left unregulated will effect the direction of television broadcasts in the future.

Internet TV company Network2 has asked the FCC to declare the commission has no authority to regulate video over the Internet.

The company has asked for an FCC ruling that its IP Video service is free of Title III regulations--broadcast regulations rooted in the scarcity argument--and Title VI regulations--multichannel video regulations rooted in the "gatekeeper" argument. Neither apply to Internet video, the company argues.

Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, says such a ruling would be premature. "Multiplaform access rules will be needed for political speech on mobile and IPTV platforms," he says. "Rules protecting news and public affairs and advertising safeguards will be needed, including protecting children," he said.

FCC rules speed telco video

Carol Wilson (3.5.07)
http://telephonyonline.com/home/news/FCC_video_rules_030507/

FCC finalized rules to speed up the local franchising process to a 90-day cap with mixed reactions.

The Federal Communications Commission today issued new rules designed to speed up the local video franchising process. The rules set a 90-day limit on the local government’s decision and prohibit extraordinary requests for deployment of hardware or for tying in of unrelated requests.

Major telecoms are excited about the news stating it will provide choices and create competition. FFC chairman Martin claims this increased competition will fight rising cable costs. Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps said the rules failed to promote genuine broadband competition and said he favored a provision which would have retained local franchise authority rights to impose specific build-out requirements and public programming.

Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell said, however, that the new policy seeks to address both sides of the issue. “This order strikes a careful balance between establishing a de-regulatory national framework to clear unnecessary regulatory underbrush, while also preserving local control over local issues,” he said.

The new rules may also face a legal challenge, either from the cable industry or groups representing local governments.

The FCC has agreed to announce within six months whether the 90-day rule will apply to incumbent cable operators that are seeking to renew their local franchises.

Further reading:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6421729.html?display=Breaking+News

VoIP strives to co-exist with alarm systems

Joan Engebretson (3.5.07)

Leading alarm installing companies - ADT and Brinks Security Systems - have started making arrangements with VoIP providers to solve incompatibility issues.

Current alarm systems do not work with VoIP services, forcing customers to choose one or the other. This is more evidence that companies and legislation are working to meet the demand for diverse broadband services.

About 25 million alarm systems have been installed nationwide, according to Gordon Hope, general manager of Alarmnet, a unit of security manufacturer Honeywell. Comcast, which uses VoIP for the Digital Voice service that the company offers over its cable network infrastructure, estimates that 25% of Digital Voice customers have alarm systems. Potential incompatibilities between VoIP and alarm systems are fourfold.

Issues that need addressing are: the results of a power outage, home wiring often needs updating, customer service conflicts, and network stability.

To date, ADT’s and Brinks’s acceptance of VoIP seems to be the exception, rather than the rule within the alarm industry. The NBFAA it still seeking a legislative solution, and John Chwat, NBFAA director of government relations, expects to get several provisions written into any telecom bill proposed this year. Some of these provisions—including a requirement that VoIP providers contact customers’ alarm companies if VOIP is installed--simply codify what many providers already are already doing. But another requirement—to provide 24-hour battery backup—could add substantially to the cost of VoIP service. Today, even VoIP providers that offer battery backup typically only provide it for a few hours.

House Dems Eye Telecom Review

David Hatch (2.27.07)
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-MJSN1172609975538.html

House Democrats are planning a thorough re-examination of telecommunications and media policies that will feature multiple oversight hearings and fresh legislation.

These re-evaluations could change current broadband regulations for local franchising,

Fostering high-speed Internet deployment, ensuring an open and accessible Internet, and overhauling the federal universal service program that subsidizes telecom connections in rural and impoverished areas are among the key issues to be addressed. The competitiveness of the video, telephone and radio marketplaces also will be explored, along with protecting the privacy of phone records and promoting efficient use of spectrum.

A Feb. 15 FCC oversight hearing before the House telecom subcommittee was postponed. It has not yet been rescheduled. House Democrats plan to scrutinize several FCC policies, include the agency's review of media-ownership limits and its authority to investigate allegations that the National Security Agency conducted surveillance of phone records without warrants.

Also to be examined is a recent FCC decision relaxing local video-franchising guidelines. State regulators have complained that the new rules usurp their authority. Replacing local franchises with less cumbersome national agreements was the centerpiece of Republican deregulatory legislation last year, but it stalled after its Senate counterpart became mired in controversy.

Don’t Panic. Yet.

Broadcasters, Cable Operators Think They Can Prevent 'Tsunami of Public Outrage’ If Millions of Televisions Don’t Work Two Years From Now

By Ted Hern (2.19.07)
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6417227.html

On February 17, 2009, analog signals to TVs will be no more leaving many millions of TVs dark and millions more customers angry.

With this impending deadline, the way people receive TV might go through some radical overhauls depending on government subsidies, and innovations in IPTV, for example.

By forcing TV stations from their analog channels by a specific deadline, the DTV (digital TV) law cleared the way for the FCC to auction off what would become surplus analog spectrum for at least $10 billion, paid by companies, perhaps even cable companies, that want to grab the channels for wireless broadband services. The other channels are to go for free to fire, police and emergency organizations hungry for new frequencies.

One and a half billion dollars will be set aside to subsidize analogue to digital converters, but legislators and broadcasters believe this will not be enough, and many are speaking out against the hard deadline, saying it is too soon.

The other concern is making people aware of the switch date. On Jan. 31, the Association of Public Television stations released a survey showing that 61% of Americans polled “had no idea the transition was taking place.” The cost of this campaign to reach large channel stations to small local radio stations is estimated at 100 million dollars, and manufacturers have been ramping up production of converter-boxes to meet the deadline that is now just under 2 years away.

Rep. Markey Laments State

By Andrew Noyes (2.7.07)
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-ZCQL1170792302989.html

In the next few years, House Energy and Commerce Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey wants his subcommittee to "fashion together a policy blueprint" that includes broadband that is affordable and fast, with an open architecture that supports Internet freedom.

The FCC counts as broadband any speed of more than 200 kilobits per second, or one-fifth of one megabit per second, he said. Japanese homes can receive up to 100 megabits per second. In a number of other benchmarks, the United States also trails the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Australia and Canada.

The agenda of Markey's panel in the 110th Congress "will be the unfinished business" that got stuck in previous legislative sessions, he said. The subcommittee will look at strengthening the e-rate program, which subsidizes Internet access in schools and libraries, and will discuss ways that all Americans can get broadband access.

FCC ruling changed phone industry in 1968; it could happen again today

Kevin Maney (1.30.07)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/maney/2007-01-30-carterfone_x.htm

FCC chairman to enforce a provision in the 1996 Telecommunications Act that will force cable carriers to provide descrambling codes to competitors. This may also have effect on similar cellphone-carrier links in the future.

Cable companies will have to unbundle the cable system by sharing the descrambling code with other device makers. The cable industry has gotten deadline extensions ever since 1996, but the current extension runs out on July 1, and Martin says he doesn't want to allow another one.

One certain outcome: A TiVo or Microsoft will be able to sell a box that connects to the cable line and the Internet. It will pull in cable channels, Web-based video and downloadable movies, mix them all together and present them on screen in a single menu. (Cable companies despise that because they lose control of the viewing experience.)

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin believes this deregulation will inspire innovation in the cable industry. It is also known that he has is looking next to the similar monopolies network providers have over cellphones. Though no action has been taken to allow cellphones to work across all networks, both consumers and manufacturers have expressed this desire.

Localizng the Internet: 5 Ways Public Ownership Solves the U.S. Internet Problem

By Becco Vargo Daggit, Institute for Self Reliance
http://www.newrules.org/info/5ways.pdf

This 32 page document, Localizing the Internet, outlines the benefits of publicly owned fiber lines. It summarizes quickly both pre and post-Telecommunications Act of 1996 regulations, the basics of broadband techology, the risks involved, and case studies of successful implementation of public owned fiber.

Their 5 arguments for public ownership are:

1. High-speed information networks are essential public infrastructure.
2. Public ownership ensures competition.
3. Publicly owned networks can generate significant revenue.
4. Public ownership can ensure universal access.
5. Public ownership can ensure non-discriminatory networks.

AT& T-BellSouth deal called 'breakthrough' for consumers

Leslie Cauley (1.2.07)
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20070102/fcc02.art.htm

FCC's ability to get net neutrality sets precedent

The FCC's approval of the merger between AT&T and BellSouth on Friday allowed the deal to close immediately. To secure the FCC's blessing, AT&T agreed to a list of consumer-friendly concessions. Among them: For the next 30 months, AT&T agreed to sell "naked" DSL — meaning consumers don't have to buy any other service from AT&T to get the DSL service — for just $19.95 a month. That's less than half the $44.95 that AT&T now charges.

AT&T also agreed to a "net neutrality" provision that will require the company to treat all broadband services, its own as well as rivals', equally for the next two years. That means AT&T can't favor its own traffic, in terms of transmission speed and quality.

In addition, AT&T agreed to sell some unused wireless spectrum. That could enable a new rival to enter the market, creating more options for consumers.

Adelstein called the settlement a "breakthrough" for consumers in that it establishes a new standard of behavior for the USA's communications giants. Big companies such as AT&T and Comcast "have told the FCC that they can't live with a net neutrality provision in place," Adelstein said. "They can."

FCC ruling helps AT&T; upsets towns

By Anna Marie Kukec (12.28.06)
http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=264177

The National League of Cities and the Illinois Municipal League are upset with recent FCC rulings and are likely to sue the federal agency for overstepping its boundaries.

The National League of Cities and the Illinois Municipal League said the FCC’s decision blocks local governments from exercising their franchising process, earning revenues, offering services to all residents and protecting public rights of way.

“We believe the FCC has overstepped its authority,” said Ken Alderson, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League.

The FCC last week ruled municipalities cannot unreasonably refuse companies from competing with cable operators. This includes unreasonable requests for “in-kind” payments that attempt to subvert the 5 percent cap on franchise fees, drawn-out local negotiations with no time limits and other situations.

The towns contend AT&T is required, just like Comcast, to follow the same franchising process, pay the same fees for public rights of way, allow for services to all residents regardless of ability to pay and provide local access channels.

AT&T has argued it’s not a cable company and shouldn’t be treated like one.

Peter Collins, information technology manager for Geneva, and Gary White, media manager for Wheaton, said their towns still need to review the FCC order, expected in about a month, before determining what it means to their franchising process and to the AT&T lawsuits.