REGULATION/MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Event: New Analysis Shows Local Phone Competition Endangered by FCC
Plan
Event: Senate Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on Media Ownership
FCC Says Plan Could Help Keep High-Speed Net Prices Low
PRIVACY
Senate Votes to Block Pentagon Dragnet Funds
REGULATION/MEDIA OWNERSHIP
NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS LOCAL PHONE COMPETITION ENDANGERED BY FCC PLAN
The FCC is considering a proposal to eliminate or drastically restrict
existing network-sharing rules, known to the industry as UNE-P. A new
report, commissioned by the National Association of State Utility Advocates
(NASUCA) to be released at an event on Monday, January 27, will show that
this plan would threaten the survival of local phone competition, and damage
the interests of millions of consumers who are just now seeing the benefits
of real competition in local phone markets. Among those scheduled to speak
at the event: Robert S. Tongren, President of the National Association of
State Utility
Consumer Advocates (NASUCA); Doug Holbrook, Member of AARP's Board of
Directors; and Dr. Mark Cooper, Director of Research at the Consumer
Federation of America. The event is scheduled for Monday at noon in
Washington DC, in the National Press Club's Zenger Room. For more
information, contact Charles Acquard at 301-589-6313 or Mark Cooper at
301-384-2204.
[SOURCE: Consumer Federation of America]
(http://www.consumerfed.org)
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hold a
hearing on media ownership in the radio industry on Thursday, January 30, at
9:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. This hearing is
first in a series of hearings on the topic, with this one focused on
consolidation in the radio industry. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) will
preside. The witness list is to be announced.
[SOURCE: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]
(http://commerce.senate.gov/~commerce/press/03/2003123B33.html)
FCC SAYS PLAN COULD HELP KEEP HIGH-SPEED NET PRICES LOW
In an effort to cap off the price of high-speed Internet access, the FCC
next month will consider a staff recommendation requiring regional Bell
companies to continue leasing their copper phone lines to small broadband
competitors. However, the proposal will likely eliminate current
requirements that the Bells allow competitors access to their fiber-optic
lines at discount prices. Regulators hope that the move will entice the
regional phone companies into expanding their infrastructure to underserved
areas, which they have been unwilling to do while being required to share
their investment with competitors at low rates.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2003-01-23-fcc_x.htm)
PRIVACY
SENATE VOTES TO BLOCK PENTAGON DRAGNET FUNDS
In a closely watched voice vote yesterday, the Senate passed a measure to
block funding for the Pentagon's Total Information Awareness System until
the Department of Defense can prove that the data-mining project will not
violate the privacy of US citizens. The measure, introduced by Sen. Ron
Wyden (D-Ore.), was attached to a larger spending bill and needs to pass
through conference before becoming law. The DOD says that the system is
intended "to seek patterns in transactions data like credit card bills and
travel records to stop terrorist plots."
"Senator Wyden was very concerned that the Pentagon had left Congress
completely in the dark on this," said Wyden spokeswoman Carol Guthrie,
adding "there will be no money spent on it until Congress has a chance to
review the plans for the program."
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34547-2003Jan23.html)
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