In series of DTV technical decisions, FCC affirmed 8-VSB modulation, started rulemaking on requiring TV sets to have DTV tuner and took several other actions. FCC Chmn. Kennard said decisions would give broadcasters “the clarity and flexibility… to accelerate the buildout of their DTV operations.” He said he was pleased DTV tests “put… to rest” debate over modulation standard. Comr. Ness said FCC actions removed transition uncertainty and it was “time for all industries involved in the digital broadcast food chain to come together and redouble their efforts to achieve a speedy transition.”
SAN JOSE, Cal. -- Standards for broadband wireless access (BWA) are necessary but shouldn’t delay “time to market” for new developments in BWA technology, said Sheldon Fisher, asst. vp- architecture and technology for Sprint’s Broadband Wireless Group in Wireless Communication Assn. (WCA) keynote here Fri. Industry “can’t wait” for standards process that takes 12-18 months, Fisher said, and such delays will impede innovation. Standards don’t “destroy innovation,” said WCA Task Force on Standards Chmn. Gary Smith of WorldCom, but standards process should be sensitive to industry’s rapidly developing new technologies.
Wash. Utilities & Transportation Commission (WUTC) approved new rates for extending telephone lines to serve new residences within an incumbent telco’s local service area. New schedule caps up-front charge at 20 times customer’s basic exchange service rate. After service begins, customers would pay double their normal basic exchange rate for first 20 months of service. WUTC said new rate schedule would make it simpler for unserved residents to acquire phone service. New rate schedule applies only to residential service; business-service line extensions continue to be provided under old schedules.
As FCC Chmn. Kennard departs today, he leaves legacy as extremely decent man who might have been more effective if he were more of a politician, industry officials told us. “He is a prince of a man, honorable, honest,” said one telecom lobbyist. “But I don’t believe he’s a politician at heart and it’s hard for that kind of person to survive the political cauldron in Washington.” No one we talked with disputed Kennard’s honorable nature. Even his ideological opposite, Comr. Furchtgott-Roth, said Thurs. that he viewed Kennard’s departure to make way for Republican as “somewhat bittersweet” because Kennard was “one of the finest, most decent individuals I've ever met.”
TruePosition filed lawsuit in U.S. Dist. Court, Wilmington, Del., alleging that SigmaOne Communications had infringed on 3 patents related to TruePosition’s network-based wireless location systems. TruePosition is seeking unspecified damages and injunction that it says would bar SigmaOne from further infringing on patents. Suit focuses on 3 TruePosition patents that address location on wireless network control channel, combining processed location signal with collateral information and locating phones with several location techniques.
Bidding in FCC’s C- and F-block PCS auction reached $16.7 billion after 67 rounds Thurs., with Verizon Wireless maintaining wide lead of $8.6 billion in total bids. Alaska Native Wireless, which is designated entity with AT&T Wireless investment, followed with $2.9 billion, Cingular Wireless-backed Salmon PCS with $2.5 billion. After top 3, bidding has remained at much more modest levels, with Cook Inlet/VoiceStream GSM having $505.1 million in net high bids, VoiceStream PCS with $475.1 million, DCC PCS with $418.3 million and Leap Wireless International with $341.2 million. Auction of 422 PCS licenses began Dec. 12 and is expected to end shortly.
Bill introduced in Ark. House (HB-1229) would ban use of handheld mobile phones by drivers of moving vehicles except for calls to 911 or those made by emergency service personnel. Drivers would be allowed to use hands-free phone models while on road. There would be only warning without penalty on first offense, with $50 fine for subsequent offense.
Fox should re-evaluate its advertising for Temptation Island, FCC Comr. Tristani said in letter to News Corp. Chmn. Rupert Murdoch. She said “many parents” had complained about ads for show airing during children viewing hours, saying “children should not be exposed to advertisements for programming that is inappropriate for children.”
Telecom Business Notes: (1) Qwest won contract worth more than $100 million to provide network capacity to Cable & Wireless. (2) Viatel said it realigned its operations to focus on high- growth businesses and would stop providing consumer voice services in countries “that do not meet long-term corporate objectives.” Streamlining will lead to staff reduction of about 30%. (3) Time Warner Telecom plans IPO of 4.4 million shares of its Class A common stock. Proceeds will be used to repay portion of $700 million senior unsecured bridge loan that Time Warner Telecom used to finance purchase of GST Telecom’s assets.
NTIA reported mixed results Thurs. in first round of ultra- wideband (UWB) tests in non-GPS band, pointing to “potential” to operate that wireless technology in 3-6 GHz range without interference. “The test results today show a great deal of promise between 3 and 6 GHz,” NTIA Dir. Gregory Rohde said at news briefing. But tests also found “difficulties” with interference in bands below 3 GHz, occupied by systems such as airport surveillance radar and federal govt. systems. Rohde said results set stage in coming weeks for negotiations between FCC and NTIA over final rule on UWB operation in GPS and non-GPS bands. Difficulties in bands below 3 GHz at certain distances between UWB devices and other systems could be mitigated through measures such as requiring devices in certain cases to operate indoors, Rohde said. “It’s not that a door has been closed here,” he said.