September 2010

FCC Consider Rules for the Digital Transition of Low Power Television Stations

On Sept 17, the Federal Communications Commission issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to consider issues that need to be resolved to complete the low power television station digital transition.

Those issues include:
1) whether to adopt a hard deadline during 2012 for the termination of analog low power television facilities;
2) whether to require existing analog and digital low power television stations in the 700 MHz band (channels 52-69) to cease operations by a date certain and to submit displacement applications or discontinue operations altogether;
3) whether to delegate to the Media Bureau the authority to establish timeframes and procedures for stations "flash cutting" to digital on their existing analog channels and for those operating digital companion channels to return one of their channels;
4) whether to widen the class of low power television broadcasters subject to the Commission's ancillary and supplementary fee rules;
5) whether to modify the Commission's minor change rule so that it covers a proposed change in a low power television station's transmitter site of up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the reference coordinates of the station's transmitting antenna;
6) whether to revise the vertical antenna patterns used in the prediction methodology for the low power television services; and
7) whether to allow low power television stations to use the emission mask used by full power television stations.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps warned that this will be a complex undertaking. "Its success will depend upon close partnering between the private and public sectors; it will require effective consumer outreach and providing assistance to consumers who need help to transition their televisions to accommodate digital technology. And it also will call for good technical knowledge, adequate signal testing, and taking into consideration the myriad factors that can influence TV reception in diverse geographical settings," he said. "By launching this proceeding we are not only attempting to complete the digital television transition, but we are also beginning the next phase of low power television. In many communities these low power stations provide unique local content, sometimes in diverse languages, and they furnish much-needed independent programming in many corners of the country. Low-power television serves the public interest-and that should be all the motivation we need to ensure a smooth digital transition and, going forward, an environment that contributes to the growing vibrancy of low-power television."

Commissioner Copps urged all interested parties to respond to this Further Notice in order to get the best information and analysis possible to guide our ongoing and future decision-making in this endeavor.

FCC Initiates Rulemaking to Improve iTRS Numbering.

On Sept 17, the Federal Communications Commission launched a proceeding aimed at improving the assignment of telephone numbers associated with Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service (iTRS), specifically, Video Relay Service (VRS) and IP Relay.

VRS allows individuals with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate using sign language through video equipment, and IP Relay allows these individuals to communicate in text using a computer. The FCC seeks to encourage use of geographically appropriate local numbers, and ensure that the deaf and hard-of-hearing community has access to toll free telephone numbers that is equivalent to access enjoyed by the hearing community.

RCN P2P settlement: ISP can throttle away starting November 1

Starting November 1, Internet service provider RCN can resume its discriminatory traffic management policies against peer-to-peer protocols -- so long as it offers advance notice to customers.

Many of those involved in the debate over network neutrality appear to believe that ISPs simply don't engage in widespread traffic discrimination, and that the only possible example net neutrality supporters can dredge up involve Comcast and Madison River. Judging by their filings to the FCC, many DC lobbyists subscribe to this view. In fact, numerous class action lawsuits over traffic management have been filed against American ISPs over the last several years.

T-Mobile Won't Tax Twitter Texts But Will Hike Prices

T-Mobile USA finally divulged a little information on its impending pricing change for text messaging, saying the move affects only the messaging aggregators that serve as a kind of middleman between businesses and carriers.

Public Knowledge Sees Lawsuit Over Unlawful Text Message Blocking as Another Reason for FCC Action

On Sept 17, EZ Texting, a mobile marketing company, filed suit in U.S. District Court in New York City against T-Mobile for unilaterally blocking its customers from exchanging text messages with EZ Texting's customers, which the company said could put it out of business.

According to the suit, T-Mobile began its blocking on Sept. 10 because it "did not approve" of EZ Texting doing business with a web site that provides information on the location of legal medical marijuana dispensaries in California. Even though EZ Texting ended its business relationship with the site, T-Mobile continued to block its short code, which is used by hundreds of businesses and organizations. The company said it will be put out of business unless T-Mobile restores its service.

Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge, said: "This case is yet another example of a totally arbitrary decision by a carrier to block text message calls between consumers and organizations they want to communicate with. The FCC should put a fast end to this blocking by issuing the ruling we asked them for three years ago. EZ Texting and other companies should be able to focus on growing their business rather than filing lawsuits to prevent blocking."

Czechs Curtail Google Street

Authorities in the Czech Republic banned Google from expanding its Street View mapping feature in the country, an official said Sept 14. Google Czech Republic said it wasn't deterred by what it considered to be a temporary decision and added that the dispute was mostly about technical issues in collecting the photographs used in Street View, which provides Internet users with panoramic views and photographs of neighborhoods from streets across the globe. The technology giant said it would continue to cooperate with the Czech Office for Personal Data Protection, "and hope that the issues will be solved in the near future." In the meantime, the company said it wouldn't collect any new data in the country, but that photos taken previously in Prague and other cities were still available.

Mobile Service Targets Cambodia's 'Unbanked'

How do you roll out a banking service in a place where most people don't have bank accounts? Australia & New Zealand Banking Group tackled that question in developing WING, a banking and payment system it launched in Cambodia early last year.

In Phnom Penh, said Peter Dalton, ANZ's general manager for innovation, it's not uncommon for workers to send money to relatives in rural areas via a taxi-bound courier, which is risky as well as expensive. The Melbourne, Australia, bank estimates that only about 500,000 of the country's 14 million population have bank accounts, but "there is a need for saving and sending money," he said. In addition to "unbanked" consumers, there are the "underbanked"—those who have bank accounts but don't have ready access to them because branches and automated teller machines are rare in many parts of the country, Dalton said. A large number of Cambodians do have cellphones, though. WING works on four of the country's major mobile networks—hello, qb, Mfone and Smart Mobile -- via a simple interface. Customers enter their account numbers and personal identification numbers, then see a menu of options that includes checking their balances, paying bills and sending money.

EC to push for more mobile spectrum

On Sept 20, the European Commission (EC) will ask the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to make a ruling that will force member states to allocate the 800MHz spectrum to wireless broadband services, for use with mobile devices. The deployment deadline would be 1 January, 2013.

The plan is for all countries to reassign the 800MHz 'digital dividend' spectrum sub-band -- which comprises the 790-862MHz portion of the radio spectrum -- from television broadcasting to wireless broadband services, as member states make the switch from analog to digital broadcasting services. The pan-EU decision will aim to adopt more coherence in spectrum allocation in Europe, making sure that a fair share of the digital dividend for the switch from analog to digital broadcasting goes to wireless broadband.

Ofcom plans to make switching broadband provider easier

Ofcom is planning to make switching broadband and home phone providers an easier experience for consumers. The telecoms industry regulator has carried out research which found that 45 per cent of people with a broadband or landline connection believe it is too much hassle for them to change to a different communications provider. Consequently, the body is looking at ways to make the switching process easier and quicker, revealing that it will initially be focusing on broadband and home phones. It proposed a system in which a customer's new communications provider takes the lead in switching their services, claiming this method is "most likely to deliver the best outcome for consumers". "This is also more likely to deliver lower prices, more choice and innovation for consumers," Ofcom argued.

Broadband competition reaches 7 million milestone

Competition in the UK's broadband market has reached a significant milestone. The number of unbundled lines -- where rival communications providers such as Sky or TalkTalk offer services over BT's copper telephone network -- has passed the 7 million mark.

The spur for the surge in unbundling was a set of legally-binding Undertakings that Ofcom agreed with BT Group plc in September 2005. These required BT to set up a new division, called Openreach, to provide services to rivals. At the time there were just 123,000 unbundled lines in the UK and the majority of people could only get their broadband and landline telephone service from one provider -- BT. According to Ofcom's latest research, there are now over 19 million broadband lines in the UK. Of these more than 70% are provided by companies other than BT many on the basis of unbundled lines.