Rep. Boucher (D-Va.) asked NARUC to take a position on broadband network neutrality and universal service reform. In a Tues. talk at the NARUC winter meeting in Washington, D.C., Boucher urged NARUC to “get involved. You have a special understanding of the situation and we want your advice and guidance.” NARUC also heard from industry panelists and Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.) on network neutrality.

The W. Va. PSC opened a new docket to examine the cost basis for Verizon’s E-911 service charges to local 911 agencies for call routing and management. Case 04-0102-T-GI began in fall 2004 with a PSC inquiry into apportioning costs of E-911 database management services. A task force urged a system in which Verizon billed each county monthly, then paid other incumbents involved in completing 911 calls. Disputes arose over the cost basis for a proposed expansion of Verizon E-911 routing and call-tracking capabilities. The task force decided Verizon’s proposed rates meant significantly higher costs for many counties, and Verizon’s 911 costs haven’t had a comprehensive review in over 20 years. The staff report said no one besides Verizon had reviewed the costs and allocations the Bell used to justify its new rates. The PSC called for the staff to file recommendations by April 4, with responses due May 5.

Bills applying state E-911 surcharges to VoIP providers advanced in Pa. and Va. The Pa. Senate passed a bill to make VoIP providers collect E-911 surcharges. Under SB-936, VoIP providers that interconnect with the public switched telephone network would have to impose the state’s $1 monthly 911 fee per line and forward collections quarterly to the state Emergency Management Agency, as other telecom providers must do. The state fee would be listed as a separate line item on bills and be in addition to any other 911 service fee the VoIP provider charges. The 911 collections wouldn’t be deemed part of providers’ gross receipts for state and local tax purposes. Meanwhile, a Va. Senate committee advanced an amended version of a VoIP E-911 bill (SB-395) to widen the jurisdiction of the Wireless E-911 Service Board to all types of VoIP provider. The bill, approved by the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee, would alter the E-911 fund distribution formula, sending 70% of funds to local 911 authorities running public safety answer points and 30% to wireless carriers. Senate panel amendments would increase the 911 board to 15 members and give it power to distribute grants for wireless E-911 projects.

Leaders of the world’s biggest fixed satellite services (FSS) firms scratched their heads Tues., wondering aloud how the FSS industry is going to compete amid telecom convergence and mobility. Speaking at Satellite 2006, CEOs from Intelsat, PanAmSat, SES Global, New Skies, Eutelsat and Loral -- citing video to mobile phones, broadband in automobiles and other uses -- agreed FSS must compete in new mobile data and video markets. But none said they know exactly how they'll do it.

Bills addressing E-911 funding bases, wireless services, and regulatory administration came into the state legislative spotlight as 2006 sessions entered their 2nd month. Those issues shared attention with bills on phone consumer privacy, VoIP taxation and telemarketing.

Wanda McCarley, Tarrant County (Tex.) 911 Dist., takes over as pres. of Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials; Richard Mirgon, Douglas County (Nev.) becomes acting 2nd vp… Julian Horn-Smith to retire from Vodafone board, effective in July; Anthony Watson, ex-Hermes Pensions Management, joins board May 1.

Chmn. Martin said he’s not certain if 800 MHz rebanding -- the outgrowth of the landmark 2004 order by the FCC, remains on track. Martin also warned Mon. that the FCC likely will take a tough stance as it evaluates requests for waiver from the tier-one wireless carriers who failed to meet a Jan. 31 deadline that 95% of their subscribers use “location-capable” handsets as part of the move to E-911.

Cal. PUC Comr. Dian Grueniech proposed an alternative telecom consumer bill of rights for wireless and wireline service that emphasizes vigilant enforcement of a relatively small number of rules, coupled with extensive consumer education programs. The PUC was scheduled today (Jan. 26) to take up a telecom consumer rights proposal by PUC Pres. Michael Peevy and former Comr. Susan Kennedy, but under recently adopted procedural rules, Grueniech’s release of her alternative proposal Wed. automatically bumped the item back to the PUC’s March 2 meeting. Grueniech said she reviewed the 2004 plan shelved by the PUC and did away with 2/3 of the rules because they amounted to micromanagement of competitive markets. Grueneich’s proposal says consumers have a right to choice, nondiscrimination, safety, nondiscrimination, privacy, full disclosure, accurate bills, protection from unauthorized charges, and public participation in regulatory processes. The 10 pages of rules for vindicating consumers’ rights would require disclosure of key terms at point of sale, a 30-day trial period in which to cancel a contract without penalty, disclosures and contracts made in the same language as the solicitation, prior notice to customers of major service changes, mandatory 911 access for all telecom services, and adherence to defined complaint and dispute resolution processes. Grueneich said her proposal differs from the competing plan Peevey offered in Dec. by including specific protections against cramming -- unauthorized nontelecom charges on phone bills. She said her rules wouldn’t stop companies from billing nontelecom services through cellphones, but would require a clear record that customers had authorized the charges. She said her program also emphasizes adherence to enforceable rules, not just to general principles. Her plan also calls for extensive educational outreach to consumers through the industry, community based organizations and the PUC itself, with special emphasis on non-English-speaking populations, low-income and disabled communities. She also called for expanded enforcement, including hiring up to 30 additional PUC staff to monitor carrier compliance and handle customer complaints. Grueniech said her program responded to “skyrocketing” consumer complaints about wireless service but isn’t targeted at wireless carriers. She said it’s intended to apply to all telecom providers equally, regardless of technology. She said she carefully crafted her program to avoid any conflict with the federal jurisdiction.

SAN JOSE -- Rep. Radanovich (R-Cal.), a member of the House Commerce Committee’s Telecom Subcommittee, sang the praises of committee Chmn. Barton’s (R-Tex.) measure on BITS, for broadband information transmission service. The bill “is the way to get where everyone wants to go… to get to deregulation and a level playing field… to get all these [digital] services provided at a reasonable cost,” he said Tues. at a telecom policy forum here. He acknowledged, in response to a Cal. League of Cities lobbyist’s challenge of federal video franchising, that “getting from here to there is fraught with hundreds of issues,” including 911 and universal service.

Globalstar became the FCC’s 2nd Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ACT) licensee Fri., gaining an International Bureau green light to operate terrestrial base stations and handsets in tandem with its Big LEO satellite system. The FCC’s blanket approval is for an unlimited number of ATC base stations and dual-mode terrestrial ATC/satellite phones. Globalstar officials responded with relief that the highly anticipated ATC license the firm had sought since March finally came through -- and with delight that Globalstar will now be more attractive to industry financiers.