Debate about FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s third-way broadband reclassification proposal comes on the eve of a key international meeting on broadband, October’s ITU Plenipotentiary Conference where government regulation of the Internet is expected to be a key topic. Genachowski has not indicated when the FCC will vote on a reclassification order.
Some analysts and economists see the Google-Verizon proposal as a step in the right direction, though they're skeptical of some of the principles. Tom Navin, former Wireline Bureau chief, said in a conference call hosted by Credit Suisse Tuesday that the proposal shows some frustration with negotiations on broadband reclassification at the FCC. Google and Verizon, like many other companies, are probably getting tired of uncertainty as the FCC examines net neutrality, said Navin, now with Wiley Rein. Google’s willingness to compromise takes political leverage away from the FCC, he said.
The Department of Agriculture awarded 126 broadband grants worth $1.2 billion Wednesday as a part of its second round of broadband funding through last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Despite the ambitious nature of the initiative, Secretary Tom Vilsack said it wouldn’t ensure the full deployment of universal broadband in the U.S.. “It’s a down payment, but not a balloon payment approach … to make broadband available in all corners of the country,” he told a media briefing. “There is a lot of work to be done but this certainly puts people to work.”
Career FCC staffers are updating an overdue report to Congress on hurdles minorities, small businesses and women face in the media and telecom industries which Chairman Julius Genachowski will soon seek a vote on, agency officials said. The triennial report, due last Dec. 31, is mandated by Section 257 the Telecom Act to cover the past three years of work the commission has done to improve such constituents’ access to the industries and describe barriers that are faced, agency and industry officials said. Advocates for minorities said they'll closely scrutinize the document when it’s publicized to get a sense of what steps Genachowski is taking to reduce barriers to entry.
Donna Gregg, ex-FCC, White House Office of Technology Policy, CPB and Wiley Rein, becomes director, Catholic University Institute for Communications Law Studies … New at Ascent Media: Larry Birstock, ex-Prime Focus, senior vice president-media services; Alan Silvers, ex-Reliance Networks, vice president-media services; Charlie Mitchell, ex-Origin Digital, vice president-digital services group … David Petersen, ex-Nielsen Mobile, becomes CEO, Sense Networks … New to SeniorNet board: Debra Berlyn, Consumer Policy Solutions; Julie Reynes, Patient Access Network Foundation; Lisa Lee Washington, Design-Build Institute of America; and Michele Warholic Wetherald, Certified Financial Planners Board of Standards … Discovery Communications changes: Bruce Campbell promoted to chief development officer and general counsel, as General Counsel Joe LaSala leaves at year’s end; Lee Bartlett, ex-ITV and Fox, to executive vice president-global production manager, business and legal affairs … Jim Goss, ex-NBC, hired by Inspiration Networks as senior vice president for creative services, on-air promotions and short form programming, new position … Travel Channel names Patalia Tate, ex-Food Network, senior vice president, marketing, creative and brand strategy … William Janosky, ex-Defense Department, joins CapRock Government Solutions as director-information assurance … New American Cable Association board members: Colleen Abdoulah, WOW; Patricia Jo Boyers, Boycom; Martin Brophy, Shen-Heights TV; and Robert Gessner, Massillon Cable.
CE makers are seeking a blanket waiver to exempt mobile DTV devices from FCC Part 15 requirements that all TV devices include analog and legacy ATSC DTV tuners. Dell and LG filed a joint petition, seeking a waiver for battery-operated mobile devices. Separately, Hauppauge Computer Works sought a broader waiver to cover any “television receivers capable of mobile use by consumers” that has a mobile DTV receiver. Comments on both requests, which the commission will consider together, are due June 4 under an accelerated process. Replies are due June 11.
Broadcast and wireless industry representatives agreed that additional stations probably will look at taking part in the spectrum auction the FCC sought in the National Broadband Plan. Speaking at a Media Institute lunch Tuesday, President David Donovan of the Association for Maximum Service TV and CTIA Vice President Chris Guttman-McCabe agreed that the voluntary approach the commission is taking to the mobile-future auction is best. They agreed on little else and often interrupted each other and occasionally moderator Richard Wiley.
The recording industry’s drive for congressional action to require radio stations to pay performance fees for music they air probably won’t be successful in 2010, Washington insiders said Monday at the annual convention of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters in Hershey. Former FCC Chairman Richard Wiley said, “I don’t think it’s going to happen this year.” NAB Executive Vice President Jane Mago said she expects a “continuing battle” in Congress. She also said it’s “very unlikely” that the Supreme Court will consider the must-carry case on appeal. Wiley said mobile video provides “a very exciting future” for TV stations. Of the proposal to auction some spectrum assigned to TV, he said, “I'm not sure that’s going to happen.” The current FCC is “very technology oriented,” he said.
The first two DTV allotments made by the FCC in five years may attract few broadcasters willing to bid for the licensees at auction and start operations from scratch, several industry lawyers predicted. Wednesday, the Media Bureau approved the second new allotment in as many months, for channel 5 in Seaford, Del. (CD April 29 p14). Because that slot and channel 4 in Atlantic City, N.J., are in the VHF band, where digital reception problems have occurred, and the stations are far away from large cities, interest may be limited, the lawyers said. One was upbeat about Seaford’s drawing interest because of the area’s demographics.
New in TechAmerica Washington office: Chris Wilson, ex-Wiley Rein and ex-aide to Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., as director and regulatory counsel for e-commerce and telecom; Randi Meyers, ex-aide to Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., as director and counsel, federal government relations …