June 2014

‘911’ Location Accuracy: Getting Dispatchable Addresses

TruePosition recently commissioned and produced a test report purporting to show that its proprietary technology can meet the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed benchmarks for locating wireless 911 callers horizontally and vertically indoors.

The tests were run on a test bed in Wilmington, Delaware outside the context of the established CSRIC process specifically designed to assess new “911” location technologies.

And although TruePosition claims the test relied on commercial off-the-shelf technologies, it did not and the technologies used by TruePosition are not fully supported in any wireless network today. Moreover, the technology used would not provide complete location information in that it does not have the capability to provide a vertical estimate of location.

Beyond these significant limitations, the testing highlights even bigger concerns. The fact is that the approach proposed by TruePosition is, at the core, antithetical to the design of modern 3G and 4G networks.

TruePosition’s proposed solution depends on hardware installed at each base station seeing the handsets being served by other base stations. They also ignore the potential for the untenable interference that such an approach would likely create.

[Marsh serves as the AT&T Vice President of Federal Regulatory]

FCC Extends Media Ownership Comment Deadline

The Federal Communications Commission has granted extensions for comments and reply comments on its media ownership item. The new dates are Aug 6, and Sept 8, respectively.

The FCC released its notice of proposed rulemaking on its quadrennial regulatory review April 15, with deadlines of July 7 and Aug. 4, but has just released new data on ownership diversity that could figure into comments on its rules.

In addition, The Coalition for Smaller Market Television Stations sought the extension saying it needed more time to respond to the questions teed up in the NPRM, which include on multiple ownership rules and shared service agreements -- the FCC wants to know whether it should make those attributable as it has joint sales agreements. It also points out that there are other comment deadlines in June and July.

Cable Companies Urge FCC to Toughen Retransmission Regulations

At the same time the Federal Communications Commission axes its syndicated exclusivity and network non-duplication rules, it also should bar broadcasters from inking other kinds of contracts that could prevent cable operators from importing distant-market signals, say Cablevision Systems and Charter Communications in a joint filing at the FCC.

In addition, the two cable operators want the FCC to require broadcasters to offer “reasonable ” and “nondiscriminatory” retransmission consent rates to pay TV operators, “not tied to carriage of any other programming service or other non-cash compensation,” according to their June 26 FCC filing.

“These steps, which fall squarely within the commission’s authority, would reintroduce some equality of bargaining that has long been absent and avoid much of the consumer harm currently caused by retransmission-consent negotiations,” the cable operators added.

Aereo Defeat Sets Up Bigger, Broader Fight for TV

TV networks' apparently total victory over Aereo at the Supreme Court isn't necessarily a long-term win for the broadcasters, observers and analysts said as the implications of the ruling settled in.

By solidifying broadcasters' ability to demand retransmission fees from any new technology that seeks to carry their signals, the Court may have also reminded Congress about an increasing complaint from constituents: out-of-control cable fees.

Leaders of the House Commerce Committee have already responded to the Supreme Court's decision, saying it underscores the need to rewrite communications laws.

"While the court ruled that Aereo had overstepped, invention and innovation are at the heart of America's global leadership in communications and technology development," said House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). "This case underscores the mounting need to modernize the 80-year-old Communications Act, which serves as an important, yet outdated, framework for the communications industry."

Aereo Ruling Opens Big Opportunity For TV

[Commentary] The way I see it, in closing the door on Aereo, the Supreme Court opened wide the door for the video distribution of broadcast signals by settling the question of whether online video distributors are cable systems.

Clearly, they are, the court says. So, in effect, an online video distributor that wants to carry a broadcast signal no longer has to worry about clearing copyrights of individual rights holders, including the rapacious sports leagues. It only has to get permission from the broadcasters.

Germany Favors Deutsche Telekom to Replace Ousted Verizon

Germany favors Deutsche Telekom to replace Verizon Communications as a network provider after deciding to end the American company’s contract in the wake of reports about spy surveillance by the US.

“The federal government wants to win back more technological sovereignty and therefore prefers to work with German companies,” Tobias Plate, an interior ministry spokesman, said.

Germany is using an option in the current Verizon contract to end the arrangement in 2015, Plate said, declining to confirm whether the government had any evidence that the provider handed information from the network to the US National Security Agency.

Slim to Buy Out AT&T’s $6 Billion Stake in America Movil

Billionaire Carlos Slim will buy out AT&T’s $6 billion stake in America Movil SAB, propping up his Latin American mobile-phone company’s stock price as his longtime partner from the US exits the business. Slim’s holding company, Inmobiliaria Carso, told America Movil’s board it will acquire AT&T’s 8.3 percent stake, which includes 24 percent of the company’s voting shares, according to a filing. America Movil didn’t say how much Carso would pay, and Roberta Thomson, an AT&T spokeswoman, wasn’t immediately available for comment. The stake’s value of $6 billion is based on the closing price for the shares. AT&T is selling its holdings of Slim’s company after a 24-year relationship to avoid a conflict of interest because the Dallas-based company is buying DirecTV, which competes with America Movil for pay-TV customers across Latin America.

LightSquared reaches bankruptcy deal, without Ergen

LightSquared has reached a mediated deal to bring the wireless communications company out of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to a report from the mediator who lashed out at Charles Ergen, a large creditor and satellite TV mogul.

Amazon and Indian investment firm to help small businesses get online

Amazon.com’s Asia unit will provide back-end support in a venture with an Indian private investment firm formed by Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy that aims to help get Indian companies online.

Catamaran Ventures' partnership with Amazon Asia will target small- and medium-sized firms, Arjun Ramegowda Narayanswamy, who heads the private investment company, said.

Access to mobile devices and better-quality broadband has boosted India's online shopping scene, where Amazon is jostling with home-grown companies like Flipkart and Snapdeal for market share.

An official from Amazon's India unit, who did not want to be identified as details of the deal are not public, told Reuters Amazon will support the venture with logistics and technology know-how. The venture, which is already operational, is expected to help offline sellers and small and medium businesses in India to supply to a fast-growing set of online customers in the country, he said.

Spotlight on NTIA: Isha Carry, Program Analyst, Office of Policy Coordination and Management

Isha Carry has spent her entire career at the Commerce Department, but one could hardly accuse her of being complacent. Carry began working at Commerce at age 16 in the US Travel and Tourism Administration.

In her 22 years with the department, she has held several positions with many different responsibilities. Her experience ranges from serving as program assistant at the International Trade Administration (ITA) to IT specialist in the Office of the Secretary.

Carry currently works in National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Office of Policy Coordination and Management (OPCM). She uses her varied skills and experience to fill several roles for OPCM, and is often considered the “go-to” person to get things done.

Her day could range from dealing with property management and FirstNet’s move to new workspace to production of NTIA’s Congressional budget submission. Carry is looking forward to expanding her role in the development and implementation of NTIA’s budget in the fiscal year 2015.

Benton

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