The Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling in the Brand X case, backing an FCC decision to treat cable broadband as an information service and not a telecom service. The 6-3 ruling in FCC v. Brand X is a major boost for cable operators. “We've won,” said cable consultant Steve Effros. “The law is evolving with regard to the delivery of data services, but it is clearly evolving toward a deregulatory stance.”
The Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling in the Brand X case, backing an FCC decision to treat cable broadband as an information service and not a telecom service. The 6-3 ruling in FCC v. Brand X is a major boost for cable operators. “We've won,” said cable consultant Steve Effros. “The law is evolving with regard to the delivery of data services, but it is clearly evolving toward a deregulatory stance.”
The Corp. for Public Bcstg. (CPB) board announced the appointment of Assistant Secy. of State Patricia Harrison, a former co-chmn. of the Republican National Committee, as CPB’s new president. In doing so, the Republican majority on the board rejected pleas by public broadcasting stations and leaders and congressional Democrats to desist from naming a partisan to lead CPB. Public broadcasters voiced disappointment at the “partisan” choice, but said they hope Harrison will protect the independence of public TV and radio.
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear broadcaster arguments to appeal a 3rd U.S. Appeals Circuit, Philadelphia, order remanding FCC media ownership regulations for agency review. “I'm now looking forward to working with all my colleagues as we reevaluate our media ownership rules consistent with the 3rd Circuit’s guidance and our statutory obligations,” said FCC Chmn. Martin.
The FEC comment deadline on its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for Internet communications is today (Fri.). At least one group had made public its comments Thurs.: The Online Coalition (OC), founded by former Kerry for President online ad guru Michael Bassik, recommended the FEC include “paid advertisements on the Internet” under the “public communications” definition; extend the volunteer exemption to include individuals and groups of individuals, as opposed to corporations and unions; and include certain online publications under the media exemption.
The FCC could field multiple requests for reconsideration of a 3650-3700 MHz order that opened access to new spectrum for wireless broadband. The Wireless Communications Assn. (WCA) will be asking the FCC to clarify the order’s interference protection obligations section. Similar requests on other parts also may be coming from the Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA), WiMax Forum and others.
BERKELEY, Cal. -- Corporate efforts to bridge the digital divide internationally typically retain first- world assumptions of connections that are always available, when intermittent connections may be more suitable in less-developed places, researchers said. Intermittent connections are much better than nothing for many important purposes, and poverty, unreliable or nonexistent phone or electric networks, sparse populations and rough terrain may make continuous connectivity impractical, researchers Jessica Aalami and Kevin Fall told a U.N. Industrial Development Organization conference Fri. at the U. of Cal. here. They cited promising tests from a point of sale (POS) system in Uganda to a study of whether zebras are suitable for use in a store & forward system. But Ghanaian consultant Eric Osiakwan argued for a new communications development model for Africa that could provide the most advanced services.
Govt. efforts to devise tools for national security may be on a collision course with citizen privacy -- in theory, anyway. Analysts at a Sandia National Labs think tank are mulling ways to boost homeland security with consumer-oriented technologies. When the Advanced Concepts Group (ACG) at the Albuquerque, N.M., research facility recently described its concepts, privacy watchdog groups set up a howl.
President Bush named Comr. Martin FCC chairman. He succeeds Chmn. Powell, expected to leave office at week’s end. Martin was a leading contender (CD Feb 23 p6), though NTIA Dir. Michael Gallagher seemed a comer to some. “I look forward to working with the Administration, Congress, my colleagues, and the FCC’s talented staff,” Martin said in a statement.
The NAB said it would work to overturn the FCC’s decision that cable systems don’t have to carry all broadcast TV digital signals. “NAB will be working to overturn today’s anti-consumer FCC decision in both the courts and in Congress. We look forward to the fight,” NAB Pres. Edward Fritts said in a statement.