Mich. PSC gave Ameritech and Verizon until Jan. 24 to explain why they couldn’t implement any relief plan for Pontiac 248 area code before mid-2002, year after code is projected to run out of numbers. Companies in Dec. told PSC they couldn’t address relief for 248 until they completed relief plans adopted for Lansing 517 and suburban Detroit 810 codes. PSC wants to know why companies can’t work concurrently on 3 code relief plans, hire outside contractors to handle one or more plans or implement interim code conservation measures such as rate center consolidation or number pooling. PSC said delay contemplated by 2 incumbents would lead to number shortage that would greatly inconvenience Pontiac customers and have “chilling effect” on development of local competition in city. In another matter, PSC approved amendment to Ameritech’s statement of generally available terms (SGAT) for local interconnection to offer CLECs several additional types of network element bundles. Ameritech agreed to incorporate amendment in its existing interconnection agreements with CLECs. It said it proposed change to meet Telecom Act requirement for nondiscriminatory access to network elements. However, PSC declined Ameritech request for finding that change would put company in full compliance with unbundled network element (UNE checklist requirement of Sec. 271. PSC said request was premature. Agency said it wanted to see effect of new UNE combinations on development of competition before making any UNE- related checklist finding.

Despite concerns of sales slowdown for wireless equipment, Nokia reported Tues. it had sold more than 128 million phones in 2000, level that it said beat overall market growth. It also reported preliminary estimates of 405 million wireless phone units sold in last year, short of 420 million forecast by rivals such as Ericsson. Still, Nokia said 405 million number marked 45% increase from 1999. In preliminary numbers released before financial results are reported Jan. 30, it also indicated that global wireless subscriber base reached 700 million by year-end, which Nokia said represented international penetration of 12%.

Federation of Internet Solution Providers of the Americas (FISPA) urged FCC to extend today’s (Wed.) deadline for submitting reply comments on Commission’s cable open access inquiry. FISPA, which mostly represents smaller ISPs in Fla. and other states, asked agency to push deadline back 30 days to Feb. 9 to allow its members and other parties more time “to analyze the initial comments, evaluate the important legal, policy and operational issues regarding high-speed Internet access and prepare reply comments which will aid the Commission in its consideration of the questions raised in the notice of inquiry.” In 3-page filing with FCC last Fri., FISPA also argued that “the significance of these questions, their complexity and the large number of thoughtful and insightful comments filed in the initial round” weigh in favor of “a modest extension of time.”

Hughes Electronics said 2 of its subsidiaries, DirecTV and Hughes Network Systems, would start new high-speed satellite Internet service “Powered by DirecPC” as key part of expanding broadband strategy. Company plans to bundle satellite Internet service with DBS and offer it to DirecTV DBS subscribers. Service is expected to begin in this quarter.

U.S. Appeals Court, D.C., handed important victory to Assn. of Communications Enterprises (ASCENT) late Tues., vacating FCC order on one of conditions imposed on SBC-Ameritech merger in 1999. Court vacated order that covered tradeoff FCC made with SBC in which company was permitted to provide advanced services free of interconnection requirements if it created separate affiliate to provide those services. Decision focused on arguments by challenger ASCENT that FCC essentially was forbearing from regulating when it decided to bypass interconnection requirements of Telecom Act’s Sec. 251 because SBC would be providing advanced, not basic, service through separate subsidiary.

Arbitron Co. said it has placed Portable People meters (PPM) with first 50 consumers for its upcoming Philadelphia market trial. Arbitron plans to install meters in another 250 homes over next 6 to 8 weeks. Company said 54 radio, broadcasting and cable outlets are now encoding their signals in preparation for trial, with at least another 16 expected to be added to list.

Motorola will provide 3rd-generation wireless network upgrades for Sprint PCS under infrastructure agreement, terms not disclosed. Motorola said it would provide CDMA equipment with interoperability specifications and cdma2000 1x high-speed packet data “in a significant portion” of Sprint wireless markets. It said upgrade orders cover Sprint operations in Charlotte, Chattanooga, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, O., Greensboro, N.C., Honolulu, Knoxville, Norfolk, Raleigh, Richmond. Separately, Motorola said it completed 3G calls in Sprint PCS lab in Kansas City as part of tests before commercial deployment of next-generation wireless systems. Most recent trial involved Motorola’s 4-carrier base station that uses interoperability standard to connect to packet data serving node.

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.

CTAM and Cablevision called for entries for 18th Annual Mark Awards competition with Feb. 9 deadline. Awards recognize marketing and advertising excellence in cable and telecom.

Interim committee of W.Va. legislature, studying ways to regulate telemarketers, filed report that recommended no legislation for 2001 session. Group had considered restrictive measures such as state “no-call” list, but concluded existing laws were sufficient to address any telemarketing problems. Several state legislators said they planned to disregard panel’s report and would be introducing telemarketing bills this session.