Michael Brouder, ex-WBZL Miami, appointed dir.-creative services, WGN Cable, Chicago… Ronald Walter promoted to vp-govt. & cable relations, N. Y. Times Bcst. Group… Kathy Payne promoted to dir. of programming, Cox Communications… Bob Walker, ex-KQMB Salt Lake City, becomes program director, WKTI Milwaukee… Dave Wampler promoted to dir. of finance-central and eastern regions, CableRep Advertising… Philip Bouchard, ex-ThinkLink, appointed CFO-COO, Chapter 2… Bob Collet, ex-Teleglobe, named pres., Velocita… Jack Reily, ex-Broadview, appointed exec. vp-corporate development, Efficient Networks… Mona Klausing, ex-Novatel, named dir.-product mktg., Invertix… Craig Young, AT&T Canada vice chmn. and dir., joins board of Global Metro Networks… Joseph Armstrong, ex-State Of The Art Inc., appointed CFO, Sorrento Networks… Davis Masten, co-founder, Cheskin Research, elected to Truste board… Minoru Nakamura, ex-NTT PC Communications, appointed pres., AOL Japan… Alan Amico promoted to CPO, PeopleFirst.com… Marc Randall advanced to vp- engineering, Force10 Networks… Lance Simmens, ex-Small Business Administration, appointed dir.-govt. relations, Screen Actors Guild… Promoted at 20th Century Fox: Ted Gagliano to pres.- postproduction, Joe Hartwick to pres.-physical production… Travis Rutherford, ex-Dreamworks and Disney, appointed senior vp, MGM Consumer Products and Interactive Divs.

Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Assn. (CTIA) urged FCC to continue to forego regulation of wireless intercarrier roaming, contending automatic roaming rule isn’t needed. Comments are in response to notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in which FCC examines whether mandatory automatic roaming rule remains unnecessary. NPRM said agency wouldn’t mandate automatic roaming unless market forces along couldn’t ensure availability of competitive roaming services. “The Commission’s current roaming requirements have proven sufficient to foster cellular and PCS roaming services without imposing undue costs” on industry, CTIA said. National Telephone Cooperative Assn. (NTCA) didn’t ask FCC to implement mandatory automatic roaming requirement, but asked it to continue to monitor situation to “ensure that roaming agreements do not discriminate against small and rural CMRS providers.” NTCA said market appears to be working “and automatic roaming agreements are generally available where it is technically and economically feasible.” While rural carriers don’t have trouble striking roaming deals, sometimes terms are “unjust,” group said. In such cases, NTCA said, “the rural carrier pays more for the privilege to roam in the urban territory than the large carrier pays to roam in the rural territory.” Rural Ala. carrier Corr Wireless Communications went step further, saying market is “clearly not working on its own to prevent abuses of power.” “Small independent carriers do not have the economic clout to bargain with large carriers who have their own wide-area footprints for automatic roaming,” Corr wrote, citing alleged problems with Cingular Wireless. “This permits large carriers to engage in the very sort of bullying abuses which led” to regulatory curbs for wireline competitors, Corr said. Corr is asking agency to adopt automatic roaming rule that tracks basic interconnection obligations of common carriers under Telecom Act. Several commenters cited concerns about wireless consolidation, which they said creates less incentive for larger competitors to strike low priced roaming pacts.

FCC is holding first meeting of World Radio Conference (WRC) Advisory Committee Jan. 30, 10 a.m.-noon in Commission meeting room. International Bureau’s Planning & Negotiations Div. will take lead on FCC’s WRC efforts, with Julie Garcia directing preparations and serving as designated federal official to advisory panel. Brian Fontes, Cingular Wireless vp-federal regulation, and Jennifer Warren, Lockheed Martin senior dir.- telecom trade and regulatory affairs, are chmn. and vice-chmn. of committee. FCC said particular emphasis at next WRC in June 2003 will be on International Mobile Telecommunications-2000, terrestrial wireless interactive multimedia services, sharing in 40 GHz with aeronautical mobile-satellite services. FCC also expects focus on public protection and disaster relief, broadcasting-satellite interregional sharing, amateur and amateur satellite services, high frequency broadcasting, regulatory procedures for satellite networks. “Our priority during this WRC cycle is to successfully complete the domestic preparatory process in a time frame that allows the U.S. to be a leader at regional and international meetings,” International Bureau Chief Donald Abelson said. FCC also has created new Web site: http://fcc.gov/wrc-03.

Cablevision Systems said it aims to install up to 500,000 Sony advanced digital cable boxes in subscribers’ homes this year, starting in June. MSO, which plans to take 3-1/2 years to deploy advanced digital boxes throughout its large N.Y.C. area franchise, said it also intends to start offering IP telephony through its digital set-tops later this year. In addition, Cablevision said it added 100,000 high-speed data customers in 4th quarter, closing 2000 with 239,000 cable-modem subscribers, or 12% of homes marketed. Separately, Cablevision and AT&T completed swap of cable systems in N.Y.C. and Boston areas. As part of trade, AT&T received systems serving 358,000 customers in Boston and eastern Mass., boosting its Boston market cluster to nearly 2 million subscribers and 3.5 million homes passed. In return, Cablevision gained systems in northern N.Y. suburbs serving 130,000 subscribers, as well as $870 million in AT&T stock and about $300 million in cash. With deal, Cablevision’s N.Y. cluster now serves about 3 million homes and passes more than 4 million.

In response to FCC’s latest video competition report (CD Jan 9 p5), NCTA said report confirms “irrefutable trend of the last five years” that DBS has emerged as cable’s biggest video rival and “is rapidly becoming a significant competitor in data as well.” NCTA argued that report, which indicated that cable’s dominance of pay TV market is slipping because of DBS inroads, also shows why no new regulation of cable industry is needed. “Competition from satellite, wireline overbuilders and wireless operators is benefitting consumers,” group said. “It has made cable rise to the challenge by providing digital tiers, video-on- demand and data and phone services. This competition is reason enough to reject government micro-management of these communications markets.”

FCC C-block bidding edged up to $14.2 billion Tues. after 39 rounds, with Verizon Wireless solidifying its lead to $6.5 billion. While overall pace of bidding has slowed since auction resumed Jan. 4, Verizon Wireless bids picked up, rising from $5.1 billion in net high bids Mon. AT&T Wireless-backed designated entity Alaska Native Wireless came in 2nd with $2.5 billion, followed by Cingular Wireless-backed Salmon PCS with $1.9 billion. For first time on Tues., 2 N.Y.C. licenses edged up past $1 billion. Previously, Verizon had been bidding $1.17 billion for one license in that market, but it edged up bid for 2nd to $1.27 billion. Alaska Native Wireless is bidding $930.7 million for 3rd license there.

Verizon formally asked Pa. PUC to support Sec. 271 application to FCC for interLATA long distance authority and informed PUC it planned FCC filing in 100 days (around April 20). Verizon’s filing with PUC Tues. said carrier had met all 14 market-opening requirements of Sec. 271 checklist, its Pa. local markets were “fully and irreversibly open” to local competition and CLECs “can compete effectively using our systems.” Verizon said final report by KPMG Consulting on operation support systems test proved its claims: “Our systems scored an ‘A’ on this rigorous test. The results validate the real-world experience of more than 85 competitors who rely on our systems to provide local phone service” in Pa. Verizon said CLECs were serving 670,000 customers using 220,000 resold Verizon lines and 450,000 of their own lines. Verizon said it had implemented 164 interconnection agreements and 1,700 colocation agreements with competitors, had installed 310,000 trunks between its network and those of competitors, and exchanged more than 15 billion traffic min. with CLECs in 2000 -- 32% more than in 1999. Verizon said 85% of its residential lines and 91% of business lines were accessible to CLECs. Local rival AT&T disputed Verizon’s claim of 271 compliance, saying KPMG test failed to provide conclusive proof Verizon could handle commercial volumes of CLEC orders for voice loops and digital subscriber lines on day-to-day basis without glitches. AT&T said CLECs “continue to be hamstrung by Verizon’s wholesale unit” in Pa. local marketplace.

LAS VEGAS -- Broadcasters offering data services are “very comfortable” that they can have good data business without running afoul of congressional pressure for HDTV, Matt Jacobson, exec. vp of iBlast, told CES convention here. Geocast Vp John Abel went further, saying hearing by House Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Tauzin (R-La.) to pressure broadcasters on HDTV was “baloney.” Abel, former NAB exec. vp responsible for HDTV, also said still- undisclosed DTV test results “tilt in favor of staying the course” for using VSB-based standard.

PASADENA “The audience has spoken and they've demonstrated that they have a huge appetite for this type of nonscripted programming” and Fox TV Network plans to capitalize on reality shows “within the boundaries of appropriateness.” That was message delivered here by Fox Entertainment Chmn. Sandy Grushow and Pres. Gail Berman to TV critics -- who were highly critical of Fox program Temptation Island, which airs tonight. One critic questioned network about “the ethics and perhaps the morality of bringing in people and trying to pry couples apart.”

FCC Wireless Bureau denied petitions for reconsideration filed by Alliance for Radio Competition (ARC) and Hugh Taylor on assignment of 900 MHz licenses from Geotek. Last Jan., bureau granted applications for Geotek, which had filed for bankruptcy, to assign licenses to creditors and to assign from creditors to FCI 900, subsidiary of Nextel, licenses not covered by 1995 agreement of Nextel, Motorola, Dept. of Justice. (That consent decree barred Nextel from acquiring 900 MHz licenses in 15 markets.) Bureau also at time accepted FCI request to withdraw applications to assign from creditors to FCI licenses in markets covered by consent decree. ARC had argued that assigning licenses to FCI 900 would decrease competition in dispatch market. Taylor had contended Geotek wasn’t qualified to hold FCC licenses. Bureau concluded that neither ARC nor Taylor had raised new arguments or showed material errors in how decision was made. Order released Tues. reiterated FCC stance that original decision wouldn’t cause competitive harms in affected wireless voice markets.