September 2005

CPB Accelerates Station Conversions to HD Radio Broadcasting

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and iBiquity Digital Corporation, announced an agreement that will accelerate the conversion of over 800 AM and FM CPB-funded stations to iBiquity's digital HD Radio broadcasting. Under the agreement, CPB will purchase a group license that will allow more than 400 CPB-funded public radio stations to acquire iBiquity's digital HD Radio technology. This group license will also cover costs associated with the technology's advanced services such as multicasting and datacasting.

Politicos Want to Shield Net from Election Laws

A controversial plan by the Federal Election Commission to regulate political blogging may be short-lived after all. Members of Congress said Thursday that the freewheeling world of Internet politicking should continue to be immune from campaign finance laws, and indicated they may rewrite the law to halt the FEC's proposal. The handful of politicians present at a hearing convened by the U.S. House of Representatives Administration Committee hailed the Internet's power in democratizing politics and breeding grassroots action.

The Occasional Media Ritual of Lamenting the Habitual

[Comentary] Dan Rather caused some ripples the other day when he lamented the state of U.S. news media. The former CBS anchor said "there is a climate of fear running through newsrooms stronger than he has ever seen in his more than four-decade career," according to the Hollywood Reporter. Speaking at a law school in New York on Sept. 19, he warned that politicians have been putting effective pressure on the corporate owners of major broadcast outlets.

FCC Urged to Change its Role

The Federal Communications Commission should get out of the business of creating broadband regulations and only step into an enforcement role when customers complain about service, Verizon's Tom Tauke said Wednesday. He called on the FCC and Congress to create an "updated role" for government in telecommunications regulation, particularly for rules related to broadband Internet access and services that run over broadband. The former Republican lawmaker called for an end to what he called "anticipatory regulation" designed to head off problems before they exist.

Hard Lessons of Katrina Being put to Immediate Use

Less than four weeks after Katrina, preparations for Hurricane Rita appear to be based on lessons learned from the last major storm hitting the region. When Katrina wiped out communications along the Gulf Coast, officials and key emergency workers were cut off from each other. That contributed greatly to the chaos on the ground. This time, said R. David Paulison, new chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Pentagon is sending in five two-person teams to set up communications after the storm comes through.

It's Not Just Open Standards, it's Open Spectrum

[Commentary] The problem of interconnecting communications services is not generally an open standards problem. It is an open spectrum problem -- and one we could solve today. Ever since 9/11, the communications world has known about the problems of interconnectivity among public safety services and the general public. Long ago, when radio was becoming a useful tool for public safety and not just for broadcasting, the FCC divided up the spectrum into little slices and gave them out by service.

Katrina Could Unite Wireless, Satellite Industries

Cable and satellite industries might never converge, but they could be partners, industry officials said at an Federal Communications Bar Association lunch Wednesday. After Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast terrestrial wireless network, satellite phones and satellite data services played a critical role in filling communication gaps left by the storm. So how about a â€œsatellite backupâ€ service for terrestrial wireless networks, some asked.

Florida Broadcaster Pushes Power Priority

Patrick Roberts, president of the Florida Association of Broadcasters, told a Senate Commerce Committee panel Tuesday that several changes should be made to emergency communications procedures. He argued that radio and TV stations should be given priority status for fuel during emergencies. He pointed to several Gulf Coast stations that almost went dark for lack of fuel for back-up generators.

Telcos Criticize Barton Billâ€™s Franchising Provisions

You may not know this, but you have until September 28 to send your comments to the House Commerce Committee on proposed, but as yet introduced, legislation aimed at reforming US telecommunications law. Apparently, large telephone companies already got the word and are visiting Hill staff and complaining about the draft bill's franchising provisions. Parts of the draft threaten to â€œdeny consumers of many of the benefits that todayâ€™s technology and marketplace can deliver,â€ Verizon Exec. Vp Tom Tauke said Wednesday at a Progress & Freedom Foundation conference.

Local Officials Push Hill for Say in Telecom Rewrite

As many as 20 elected local government officials Wednesday began lobbying key members of the House and Senate Commerce Committees, urging Congress to â€œrecognize the importance of local franchising authority.â€ More than 50 meetings with members of Congress and staff have been set, said Arvada (CO) Mayor Ken Fellman, who chairs the National League of Citiesâ€™ (NLC) Information & Technology Communications Committee. Cities are willing to consider streamlining the franchising process, Mayor Fellman said. But local governments must be involved in any telecom law rewrite, he said.

Benton

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