Wireless Advertising Assn. (WAA) hired Wiley, Rein & Fielding law firm to lobby on consumer privacy policy for wireless devices and ads, WAA said. John Kamp will be law firm’s WAA representative.
Robert Wise, ex-Discovery Communications, joins Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp as partner… Erik Flannigan, ex-Walt Disney Internet Group, named vp-music services & programming, RealNetworks… Kristin Baumgartner, ex-Cisco Systems, appointed senior vp-sales and mktg., Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises… Herman Schwarz, ex-Elrick & Lavidge, named pres.-CEO and elected to board, Aegis Communications Group… Changes at ADC: William O'Brien, ex-AT&T, named chief mktg. officer; Barclay Fitzpatrick, ex-Rockwell International, appointed vp-business development… James Plant promoted to pres.-CEO, NewTek… Scott Kurnit, chief Internet officer-chmn.-CEO, Primedia, elected to Interactive Advertising Bureau’s board… Larry Whitfield, ex-Exigent Software Technology, named vp-gen. mgr.-strategy-business development, Govt. Communications Systems Div., Harris Corp… Brian Jackman. retires as pres.-global systems-technology and exec. vp, Tellabs… Christopher Libertelli named legal counsel to FCC Common Carrier Bureau Chief Dorothy Attwood… Patricia Paoletta, ex-Level 3 Communications, named head-International Telecom Group, Wiley, Rein & Fielding… Ellen Craig, ex-CoreComm Communications, appointed senior adviser, Brattle Group.
Newest FCC Comr. Martin is focused on statutory-based authority of Commission and need for “more stable regulatory environment,” he said. In interview with Communications Daily Fri. in his still sparsely-furnished office, with boxes of files not yet arrived from Austin, he said: “That’s kind of an overarching philosophy, that the government has limited but important roles. The Commission specifically is an implementer of congressional policy, first and foremost.” Martin repeatedly emphasized role that competition played in protecting consumer interests and said “the government has a vital role in making sure that playing fields are level and fair.” He also stressed importance of strong enforcement arm in maintaining level playing field.
Decision by 4th U.S. Appeals Court, Richmond, Va., that federal law bans localities from imposing open access mandates on cable operators is likely to halt efforts by cities and counties to enact such requirements, according to both open access proponents and opponents. With its unanimous ruling late Wed. that cable modem lines were “telecommunications facilities” that couldn’t be regulated locally, 4th Circuit panel joined 9th U.S. Appeals Court, San Francisco, and U.S. Dist. Court, Miami, in striking down local open access ordinances as violations of either Constitution or federal law. Although 3 courts differed on grounds for rejection and on regulatory classification of Internet access over cable lines, they all agreed that cities and counties couldn’t impose restrictions on cable modem service. “The local authorities are becoming preempted out of this,” said Andrew McBride, partner at Wiley, Rein & Fielding, who represented Verizon in joint case with Henrico County against AT&T and MediaOne. “They [the courts] keep reaffirming the federal authority over this.”
White House Tues. formally sent nomination of Nancy Victory as NTIA dir. to Senate (CD June 25 p9). Victory is a partner with Wiley, Rein & Fielding and has worked on numerous telecom issues. She is declining comment while her nomination is pending. There was no word on when Senate Commerce Committee would hold hearing on her nomination.
President Bush finally moved to fill top spot at NTIA by announcing his intention to nominate Wiley, Rein & Fielding partner Nancy Victory to be asst. secy. of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA dir. Position has been vacant for months, with Clinton appointee Greg Rohde taking over Dutko Group’s new e-Copernicus.com consulting arm in Feb. Victory joined Wiley, Rein in 1989, and has been involved in wide array of telecom activities, from representing PCIA to authoring last year antenna and tower site compliance handbook. She received her law degree from Georgetown U. Law Center. Victory had emerged in recent weeks as leading contender for position (CD May 11 p9). She couldn’t be reached for comment Fri.
FCC electronic filing requirements and procedures once again are under attack by attorneys and engineers who are required to use Consolidated Database System (CDBS) for most of their filings on behalf of clients. Making matters worse, according one lawyer, is that “there’s a complete lack of communication” on electronic filings between bureaus. Such communication is “absolutely necessary” for system to work, lawyer said, because, for example, Wireless Bureau handles broadcast auxiliary applications while Mass Media handles all other TV-radio applications. Principal complaint of lawyers was that attachments to electronically filed documents weren’t properly put with applications they referred to until days, sometimes weeks, later. Electronic filing system was criticized year ago (CD July 5 p1/00), and recently was shut down for overhaul (CD June 15 p10).
Wiley, Rein & Fielding partner Nancy Victory is latest said to be leading candidate for NTIA dir., sources indicated. President Bush hasn’t announced formal nomination, and one source indicated deal isn’t final. Victory isn’t widely known in telecom circles, wasn’t available for comment.
Washington law firm Wiley Rein & Fielding opens office in suburban Va. at 7925 Jones Branch Dr., Suite 6200, McLean 22102, phone 703-905-2800. Partners Michael Senkowski and Rand Allen will be co-heads of Va. office.
Despite some progress by movie studios and videogame makers, Sen Lieberman (D-Conn.) intends to introduce today his controversial bill that would impose fines on entertainment companies that marketed adult content to children. Dan Gerstein, Lieberman’s communications dir., said proposed legislation clearly would empower FTC to pursue civil penalties against movie studios, videogame makers, record companies and others that used “false and deceptive marketing practices” to target adult-rated material to kids in TV and print ads. Speaking at American Advertising Federation (AAF) conference in Washington Wed., he said bill also would authorize FTC to conduct periodic evaluations of how well industries were complying with advertising restrictions. “We said we would issue legislation if [industry] commitments were not made,” Gerstein said, noting that only videogame industry had responded fully so far. “We were very consistent all along.”