The FCC could get a new member, replacing longtime Commissioner Michael Copps, as soon as summer, industry and commission sources told us. Copps’ term expires in June and he could serve until January 2013 without confirmation to an additional term. But most indications are the Obama administration is eager to put its mark on the commission. Copps took office in May 2001. He declined to be interviewed for this article.

Cablevision won an FCC waiver to become the first cable operator allowed to encrypt basic cable channels. The company and supporters have said the action will reduce pollution by allowing the company to turn service on and off without sending technicians to homes (CED Oct 26 p6). The CEA and Public Knowledge had some qualms about the ruling, made by the Media Bureau and released Friday. The order requires Cablevision to make good on its promise to give CableCARDs or set-top boxes without charge to subscribers who don’t have either.

Cablevision won an FCC waiver to become the first cable operator allowed to encrypt basic-cable channels. The company and supporters have said the action will reduce pollution by allowing the cable operator to turn service on and off without sending technicians to homes (CD Oct 26 p3). The CEA and Public Knowledge had some qualms about the ruling, made by the Media Bureau and released Friday. The order requires Cablevision to make good on its promise to give CableCARDs or set-top boxes without charge to subscribers who don’t have either.

The three appeals judges who heard FCC v. Comcast expressed skepticism that the commission had ancillary authority to find the company had violated net neutrality principles in blocking peer-to-peer file transfers (CD Aug 4/08 p1). Judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit pressed FCC General Counsel Austin Schlick Friday to cite a statute that gave the regulator direct authority over an ISP’s network management. Comcast’s lawyer was challenged to show how the company was harmed by the commission’s order against it, since no fine was imposed.

The three appeals judges who heard FCC v. Comcast expressed skepticism that the commission had ancillary authority to find the company had violated net neutrality principles in blocking peer-to-peer file transfers (WID Aug 4/08 p1). Judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit pressed FCC General Counsel Austin Schlick Friday to cite a statute that gave the regulator direct authority over an ISP’s network management. Comcast’s lawyer was challenged to show how the company was harmed by the commission’s order against it, since no fine was imposed.

An appeals court decided last week to hear oral argument Jan. 13 on an indecency case remanded from the Supreme Court (CD April 29 p2), a participant in the case said. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York will hear arguments of 22 minutes for each side in Fox v. FCC, said President Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Access Project.

The Media Access Project supports a bill to allow private meetings between three or more FCC members (CD Dec 3 p11). The Federal Communications Commission Collaboration Act (HR-4167) would “provide new safeguards which will actually provide greater transparency and disclosure to the public,” President Andrew Schwartzman said Wednesday. Commissioner Michael Copps also welcomed the proposed bill. A longtime advocate of revising meeting rules, Copps said he has seen “first-hand and up close the heavy costs of this prohibition.” The proposed bill from Rep. Bart Stupak, D- Mich., is a “balanced” remedy, Copps said.

A realistic approach to a dialog to repurpose radio waves for wireless broadband use is needed, said Executive Director Blair Levin of the FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative. Broadcasters “will just say there is no way to do it, there is no creativity” when it comes to using TV spectrum for other purposes, he said Tuesday at a Progress & Freedom Foundation event in Washington. Stations want to engage in the dialog Levin seeks, but must know how much spectrum the FCC wants, said President David Donovan of the Association for Maximum Service Television.

A realistic approach to a dialog to repurpose radio waves for wireless broadband use is needed, said Executive Director Blair Levin of the FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative. Broadcasters “will just say there is no way to do it, there is no creativity” when it comes to using TV spectrum for other purposes, he said Tuesday at a Progress & Freedom Foundation event in Washington. Stations want to engage in the dialog Levin seeks, but must know how much spectrum the FCC wants, said President David Donovan of the Association for Maximum Service Television.

Coming steps in the FCC’s media-ownership review probably will include a notice of inquiry and hearings outside Washington, said commission, industry and public- interest group officials we surveyed. The commissioners probably will approve a notice formally starting the review, done every four years, in the first quarter, FCC officials said. The office of Chairman Julius Genachowski has given little indication about timing, because the National Broadband Plan is due Feb. 17 and takes priority, officials said.