NCTA called for entries for its 3rd annual “Community Spirit Awards” for local programming. Assn. said it also would host symposium for local and regional programming professionals in conjunction with awards March 27-28. Workshop will include sessions on current issues in local programming and advanced applications with technology. Deadline for entries is Jan. 19.

BEI Technologies said it had acquired digital quartz inertial measurement and miniature integrated GPS/INS tactical systems (MIGITS) units from Boeing Co., terms not disclosed. BEI said acquisition of subsystems lines would give it access to developed Microelectromechanical Systems and Global Positioning Systems for aerospace, defense and commercial applications.

European Commission (EC) updated its Internet telephony policy with few changes, concluding this technology “in general continues to fall outside the definition of voice telephony.” EC supplement to 1998 communication cited cases in which Internet telephony could be treated as voice telephony. Conditions that must be met include cases when service is offered commercially, provided to public, provided to and from public switched network termination points and involved direct speech transport and switching in real time and at same level of reliability and quality as public switched telecom network. Unless those caveats are met, EC said European Union members “should normally continue to allow Internet access/service providers to offer voice on Internet under data transmission general authorizations, and no mandatory requirement for an individual license is justified.” But if Internet telephony offerings meet 4 conditions, they should be regulated as substitutes for voice telephony under principle of technology neutrality, EC said. It sought comment last summer on status of voice communications on Internet. Several carriers urged Commission to make distinction between voice over Internet, which can be provided over public Internet facilities, and voice over IP, which is offered over dedicated IP networks and can guarantee quality of service (CD Sept 19 p1). EC policy update stipulated that voice over Internet covered “all kinds of conveyance of voice” using IP for routing and transmission. But voice over Internet is subset of voice over IP and “covers only such voice services that are provided over the public Internet, defined as a network of networks,” document said. While technology has improved since EC’s 1998 voice over IP directive, policy update makes clear that “public Internet” still is vulnerable to congestion that could affect voice signal quality. When service operators market bundled data and voice offering, EC would view this combination “as comprising 2 commercial offers,” policy said. In cases such as video telephony, when voice element can’t be separated from other components, “provision of voice services cannot be considered as the subject of a commercial offer,” EC said. It said supplement provided “general guidelines” and didn’t bar national authorities from making “specific assessments when justified by specific circumstances.”

Hungarian Telephone & Cable finalized purchases of shares of its Hungarian subsidiaries from minority stockholders, terms not disclosed. Company said transactions were all-cash except for purchase of International Finance Corp.’s (IFC) 20% stake in Papatel. For Papatel transaction, Hungarian Telephone issued 72,000 shares of common stock to IFC, which is part of World Bank Group. Hungarian Telephone Pres. Ole Bertram said it planned to consolidate its 4 subsidiaries into single company.

FCC issued Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Fri. that examines potential spectrum that could be tapped for 3rd- generation wireless and other advanced services. Agency seeks comments on providing mobile and fixed services in 1755-1850 MHz band now used by military, various approaches for 2500-2690 MHz now occupied by Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) and Instructional TV Fixed Service (ITFS) licensees, proposed allocation of 1710-1755 MHz for fixed and mobile services, and other options (CD Jan 5 p1). Interim report on 3G spectrum issued by FCC last fall said segmenting MMDS and ITFS bands to allow operation of advanced mobile services would pose technical challenges. NPRM seeks comments on scenarios that would allow operation of advanced wireless services in that frequency. One possibility, FCC said, is allocating spectrum for fixed and mobile services on co-primary basis, which would allow spectrum to be used for advanced offerings such as 3G. Comment is invited on “public interest costs and benefits” of adding mobile allocation to bands without mandatory relocation. NPRM asks whether there are steps that could bolster secondary market in those bands so they could “evolve to their highest value use,” whether fixed or mobile. “Could current ITFS/MDS licensees reorganize their systems to continue providing current services and also offer new mobile services on a competitive basis with other wireless system providers, such as cellular or PCS,” FCC asked. It wondered whether part of spectrum could be made available for new entities. It asked ITFS licensees whether adding mobile service allocation to 2500-2690 MHz would help educators and, “if so, how such operations could be utilized in an educational context.” MMDS licensees are asked whether adding mobile service would benefit their band plans. If part of band were cleared for advanced wireless services and incumbents had to be moved, notice asks how licensees could be accommodated elsewhere. In that area, agency is looking for cost estimates for relocation and whether equipment would need to be retuned or facilities would have to be replaced altogether. Second phase of FCC’s 3G spectrum report, due in March, is to cover potential relocation options and related costs. NPRM also seeks comment on several band pairing schemes and pairing options. In general terms, FCC solicits feedback on range of advanced wireless services that could be introduced in future and their cost impact on manufacturers, system operators, consumers. Comment is sought on how much additional capacity is needed for advanced services, including high-speed data and multimedia applications such as full-motion video. Specifically, NPRM asks what size of spectrum blocks would be appropriate and when extra spectrum will be needed.

Minn. Gov. Jesse Ventura (Ind.) outlined his telecom reform agenda for 2nd half of his term. In State of State address Jan. 4, he called for: (1) Abolishing outdated telecom regulations that he said stood in way of developing telecom competition. (2) Bringing advanced digital telecom services to every household and business in state by promoting competition and investment in high- tech telecom. (3) Eliminating implicit subsidies in telecom service rates. Ventura didn’t go into details on how he would accomplish his goals, but said overhaul of state’s telecom laws was needed to ensure Minn. cities would have access to modern high-speed telecom infrastructure that’s prerequisite for attracting new business investment.

TechNet formally announced appointment of former Rep. Rick White (R-Wash.) as its new CEO. White founded Congressional Internet Caucus and was involved in numerous Internet-related laws, including Internet Tax Freedom Act. He has been partner in Perkins, Coie since losing reelection bid in 1998. “I'm really excited about it,” White told us in interview. He said TechNet would set its agenda for year in executive committee meeting Jan. 11, but he expected hot issues to be trade and education. “I don’t see a whole lot of threats from the government,” White said. “Both parties still want to do business with us. We still have a window of opportunity” for key issues, and “frankly I can’t think of a lot of people opposed to technology.” He said that during his time in Congress, “there was an aversion in the technology community to spend time with government, and government quite frankly didn’t get it… There’s been a gradual evolution in the right direction.”

News Corp said it wasn’t going to “risk negative credit rating” following negative forecast from Standard & Poor’s (CD Dec 27 p2) and would “proceed cautiously” in its negotiations for Saban Entertainment’s 49.5% stake in Fox Family Worldwide. S&P report on News Corp. came after Fox Family Chmn. Haim Saban exercised his option to sell his stake back to News Corp. Analysts valued stock at $1.2-$1.7 billion, while Saban estimated worth at $2 billion. Buying at that price, News Corp. could pick up bad credit rating, analysts said, which would undermine its effort to purchase DirecTV from Hughes Electronics.

Globecomm said it signed $4.2 million contract with unnamed telecom company in southern Europe for development, integration and delivery of Ku-band satellite network.

Rural Task Force (RTF) asked FCC to act within 45 days on task force proposal for rural universal service revisions. In Jan. 3 ex parte letter, RTF said Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service already had developed “extensive record” of comments on recommendation, so swift action was plausible: “Because the recommendation now in front of the FCC is unchanged from that put out for comment by the Joint Board, it is highly unlikely that an additional round of comments from the FCC is required.” If FCC decides to seek more comments, it ought to complete comment process in 30 days, RTF said. RTF Chmn. William Gillis said group realizes Commission had many demands but “each additional day of delay in implementing universal service reform for rural carriers puts at risk much-needed investment in rural America.”