Additional Telecom Merger Coverage/Reaction
* FCC Approves Verizon, SBC Mergers
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Arshad Mohammed]
November 2005
FCC Approves SBC/AT&T and Verizon/MCI Mergers
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
BellSouth Likes to Go it Alone
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Leslie Cauley]
Susquehanna Sells Radio, Cable for Nearly $2 Billion
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Katy Bachman]
Local Public Television Stations Call for Major Reform of the CPB Board
[SOURCE: Association of Public Television Stations]
Cronyism and secrecy run rampant at Corporation for Public Broadcasting
[SOURCE: Free Press press release]
TIA Praises House Commerce Committee Passage of DTV Legislation
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) praises the U.S. House of Representative Committee on Energy and Commerce for passing the Digital Television Transition Act of 2005. "The DTV transition will clear 108 MHz of prime spectrum. The propagation characteristics of this particular spectrum band make it extremely desirable for innovative broadband applications and state-of-the-art first responder communications," states TIA President Matthew J. Flanigan. "Once the transition is complete, the ability of our public safety agencies to communicate with one another will improve dramatically. Moreover, consumers will benefit from new advanced commercial networks and services that stimulate jobs and the U.S. economy."
http://www.tiaonline.org/media/press_releases/index.cfm?parelease=05-79
TV in Your Pocket Is the Next Small Thing
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Meg James]
Lawmakers Grill Officials Over Interoperability Problems
Last week, members of a House Homeland Security subcommittee lashed out at federal officials for their lackluster efforts on encouraging the development of communication systems that can work across jurisdictions. Long before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, "the FCC dropped the ball" on such interoperability by not giving emergency responders the "necessary networking and bands," charged Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)., the panel's ranking member. The agency "left our first responders out to dry, and somebody's got to be held accountable," complained Rep Pascrell, who contended that the FCC has more of an interest in curtailing obscenity and approving communications mergers than public safety. Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) said interoperability problems did not suddenly begin on 9/11, but have been plaguing emergency responders for decades. Reichert said that when he was a law enforcer in the early 1970s, he tried to notify fellow officers of an armed suspect lying in wait. But his radio failed, and he was forced to tackle the young offender to prevent him from shooting unsuspecting colleagues. "That's not five years ago, that's almost 30 years ago," he said.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-HIQI1130790853553.html
Lawmakers Rebuff FCC On Piracy Rules
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: Sarah Lai Stirland]
Despite entertainment industry worries about content piracy via high-definition televisions and radio broadcasts, members of Congress over the past couple of weeks have declined to give the FCC the power to enact rules on those fronts. Going forward, lobbyists face a more difficult challenge in finding an appropriate legislative vehicle for language that would authorize the FCC specifically to mandate anti-piracy technologies in television sets and digital radio equipment.