September 2013

AT&T agrees to modify network to make roaming easier

Under pressure from the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T agreed to take steps that will make it easier for customers of other carriers to access its network.

The agreement is a victory for small regional carriers such as C Spire Wireless and US Cellular who had complained that their customers were unable to roam on AT&T's network because of technological problems. Small carriers build their own networks in certain regions, but rely on the large carriers to provide service to their customers when they travel. In the 700 MHz frequency band, AT&T's cell towers use a different technology than other carriers, meaning its network is not interoperable with many devices. "This is a big win for consumers, especially in rural areas, who will see more competition and more choices," acting FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn said. "Also, by making it easier for small wireless carriers to compete, today’s interoperability solution will spur private investment, job creation, and the development of innovative new services and devices."

LPTV Coalition: OTA Audience Could Be More Like 100 Million

In the hours before a hearing on video regulation and the reauthorization of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), the LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition, formed to advocate for LPTV rights in the upcoming spectrum incentive auction, has told House Communications Subcommittee Greg Walden (R-OR) that the universe of people who can still watch free, over-the-air TV is probably more like 81 million to 100 million, rather than the lower estimates based on over-the-air (OTA) only households. The 81-100 million figure is based on an estimate of the number of pay-TV homes still with over-the-air-receiving TV sets (50%), says the coalition. Adding those pay-TV households is why the figure is nearly double the estimates of the National Association of Broadcasters, which estimates that just under 20% of the 299 million US residents (57 million) are in over-the-air-only households, says the coalition. The coalition wants the committee to think of that 100 million "potential" OTA audience when it considers how to regulate the video marketplace.

EU telecoms chief gets backing for reform package

The European Union Commission has approved a plan to spur investment in communications networks and create a single market for telecoms services despite concerns that some parts may favor big operators.

The commission's telecoms chief Neelie Kroes will present the reforms, which are part of an effort to help Europe catch up with Asia and North America in mobile and fast-speed network infrastructure. As expected, it will include measures aimed at phasing out roaming charges, improving consumer protections in telecom contracts, and making mobile spectrum auctions more consistent in the region, among other elements. But the package will likely evolve - and be subject to intense lobbying - as it winds it way through the legislative process. The region's 28 countries and European Parliament must sign off before it becomes law.

Meredith's Munson: Broadcasting Is Foundation Of Video Distribution

Ed Munson, VP and GM of KPHO-TV in Phoenix, plans to carry the National Association of Broadcasters' message about who it says is to blame for retransmission blackouts to the House Communications Subcommittee, according to prepared testimony for a Sept 11 video regulation hearing.

Munson plans to tell the committee that it is not coincidence that three companies -- Time Warner Cable, Dish and DirecTV -- have been involved in nearly nine out of 10 retransmission disputes over the past two years. "Broadcasting is still the fundamental foundation of video distribution in the United States," said Munson. "Cable operators built their businesses on the backs of broadcasters and for years have raised their subscription prices well beyond the rate of inflation. And at the end of the day, for families that would rather pay for food than CNN, local broadcast stations provide a high-quality news and entertainment alternative at the ultimate bargain price -- free."

Modernizing the FCC: It’s not that complicated

In the telecommunications industry’s current situation, the Federal Communications Commission’s historic mission must be modernized to reflect the fundamental evolution in communications that Internet protocol (IP) technology and the Internet have wrought. If it doesn’t, the agency will become irrelevant.

New technologies (like What’sApp) are rapidly replacing the services provided by the “carriers” the Communications Act was written to cover. And those services are being deployed through applications and technologies by companies that have traditionally been beyond the scope of the FCC’s jurisdiction. Instead of picking winners and losers among companies when it says it is acting to protect competition, for the good of industry investment and job creation, the FCC should yield to the expertise of others when it comes to competition and antitrust. So, what should be the focus of the FCC’s mission instead? One inarguable priority should be consumer protection, and another would be public safety. As the US government’s technical expert for communications, we recognize that the agency also continues to oversee the universal service mandate on the wireline side, and on the wireless side, that the FCC is a critical agent for managing spectrum issues.

Key Lawmakers Fret About Retransmission Blackouts

At a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing, several lawmakers made clear — once again — that they are not happy about consumers losing access to broadcast signals during retransmission consent blackouts. But no clear consensus emerged on what should be done about the blackouts.

At issue before the subcommittee is whether Congress should reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act, which give satellite TV operators copyright clearance to retransmit distant broadcast signals. The current authorization expires at the end of 2014. But satellite and cable operators also see the measure as a potential vehicle for watering down the retransmission consent rights of broadcasters. During the hearing, the operators, as expected, urged lawmakers to revise the retrans law to import distant network signals during retransmission consent stalemates. In addition, lawmakers were urged to consider a “standstill” arrangement that would let cable operators continue to carry a broadcaster’s programming — under the terms of the elapsed agreement — during retrans consent negotiations. Under this reform plan, the terms of the new deal would be applied retroactively, with the negotiations ultimately subject to binding arbitration when necessary.

Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC) was careful not to endorse any of the reform proposals.

Board of Directors

Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Monday, September 16, 2013 from 11:00 am – 4:20 pm
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 from 9:00 – 11:40 am
http://www.cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=1043

On the draft agenda:

Day One (September 16):

Approval of Minutes
Chair's and Directors' Remarks
President's Report to the Board
Committee Chair Reports
Approval of Executive Session Minutes (executive session)
Personnel and Compensation Matters (executive session)
CPB's FY 2017 Appropriations Request to OMB (portions in executive session)
Election of Chair and Vice Chair

Day Two (September 17):

Spectrum Update
Review and Approval of Proposed FY 2014 Operating Budget and Business Plan (portions in executive session)
Review of Conflicts of Interests Disclosure Form and Code of Ethics
Discussion of Calendar Year 2014 Meeting Dates and Locations
Report from the Inspector General re: the OIG Annual Plan
Future Agenda Items

Read more about CPB Board of Directors

Agency denies helping NSA beat encryption

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a Commerce Department agency that sets technical standards, is denying that it helped the National Security Agency "deliberately weaken" encryption.

"We want to assure the [information technology] cybersecurity community that the transparent, public process used to rigorously vet our standards is still in place NIST said in a statement. The Guardian and The New York Times reported that the NSA successfully got NIST to adopt its version of a security standard in 2006. The standard included vulnerabilities that NSA hackers could later exploit to spy on private communications, the papers reported. NIST is not a regulatory agency — it only helps private groups agree on voluntary standards and guidelines. If outside groups stop trusting the NIST, it could undermine the agency's usefulness.

FCC Chairwoman Clyburn at “Connected in the Digital Age: Improving American Education through Technology”

We recognize that we are not where we need to be on digital learning, both relative to other nations, and to the rate of technology adoption, in other sectors of society. One of the biggest obstacles to seizing these opportunities is inadequate bandwidth at our schools and libraries. Simply put, our schools need faster high-capacity connections, and they need them now. We need to roll up our sleeves and do what it takes to ensure that our nation’s schools and libraries have the broadband connections needed, to meet their current and future requirements. The E-rate rulemaking we launched in July is a critical first step.

We need good data if we’re going to get this right. We need data when it comes to the bandwidth schools need for today’s and tomorrow’s digital learning tools. We need data to understand how to cut costs, increase efficiency, streamline the program, and deliver that broadband capacity to and within schools in the most cost-effective manner. We need to ensure that we’re connecting as many children as possible, that we leverage consortium and other bulk buying opportunities, that we phase out funding for unnecessary services, and that we streamline and improve the administration of this program. We need the help of innovators from Silicon Valley, researchers, businesses, community leaders, and other stakeholders, who may not receive E-Rate funding, but who have valuable information that will help the Commission ensure that all of America’s children will be prepared with the skills to enter and contribute to the digital economy.

But For These Rules...

[Commentary] At the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, Verizon explained, in the simplest terms possible, why network neutrality rules are so important: the rules are the only thing preventing Internet service providers from turning the Internet into cable TV.

During the oral argument, the judges and Verizon’s attorney discussed Verizon’s desire to enter into special commercial agreements with “edge providers.” Edge providers are just another name for websites and services – everyone from Google, Netflix, and Facebook to the Public Knowledge policy blog. These types of agreements – where ISPs charge edge providers extra just to be able to reach the ISP’s subscribers – are exactly the types of agreements that raise network neutrality concerns. If Verizon – or any ISP – can go to a website and demand extra money just to reach Verizon subscribers, the fundamental fairness of competing on the Internet would be disrupted. It would immediately make Verizon the gatekeeper to what would and would not succeed online. ISPs, not users, not the market, would decide which websites and services succeed. Fortunately, we have rules that prevent this type of behavior. The FCC’s Open Internet rules are the only thing stopping ISPs from injecting themselves between every website and their subscribers.

[Michael Weinberg is Vice President of Public Knowledge.]

Benton

Search