A trust fund to finance educational and public broadcasting from spectrum auction proceeds could start as a pilot program due to budget limitations, said Anne Murphy, exec. dir. of Digital Promise, now lobbying Congress for the trust. Digital Promise was started by former FCC Chmn. Newton Minow and former PBS Pres. Lawrence Grossman to get Congress to create the Digital Opportunity Investment Trust (DOIT) for schools, libraries, museums and public broadcasters.
That the partisan divide is as wide as ever over whether there’s enough money to supply DTV coupons to all who want them was evident at this week’s House Telecom Subcommittee hearing on the DTV transition (CD March 29 p1). But for now, Democrats who say NTIA’s coupon program is vastly underfunded seem content to maintain close oversight over the process as they monitor coupon requests, converter box availability and consumer outreach.
Comr. McDowell said Thurs. he has made no decision on a Skype petition asking that Carterfone rules apply to wireless. McDowell, addressing the Content Abundance in a Multiple World conference at Catholic U., said today’s timetable gives small and rural carriers time to prepare for the 700 MHz auction. He urged that the FCC “create incentives” for the private sector to cut the cost of effective safety communications.
FCC designated entity (DE)rules guarantee minority investors will avoid spectrum auctions, said Mosaic Partners, a new minority investors group. A filing by the group, which last week began meeting with agency officials, came as the FCC contemplates rules for the 700 MHZ auction, which could begin as early as summer.
The FCC could start the 700 MHz auction as early as Aug., Chmn. Martin said Wed. That’s earlier than most potential bidders expected. Verizon and other major wireless carriers want an early start. Small carriers generally want one as late as possible. DTV legislation approved by Congress last year requires that the auction start by Jan. 28, 2008.
House Commerce Committee Chief Counsel Howard Waltzman resigned to become a partner with Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, departing Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.) announced Wed. Waltzman, an architect of the House telecom bill (HR-5252), worked for the committee for 5 years. He helped write several communications laws dealing with spectrum auctions and the digital transition and worked on oversight of the FCC and NTIA.
The ITU radiocommunication arm got short shrift at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, which focused more than previous conferences on “non-radiocommunication issues,” like bridging the digital divide, top U.S. officials said Tues. Reflecting on the ITU meeting at a Society of Satellite Professionals International lunch, ITU Radio Regulations board member James Carroll told satellite officials to “keep an eye on” changes at the ITU -- especially given the regulatory body’s budget challenges.
E. LANSING, Mich. -- The once-sharp distinctions between telecom and media are blurring as digital telecom devices and services develop into a delivery vehicle for radio, movies, TV channels and games, FCC Comr. Tate told a Michigan State U. audience Tues. She said every day sees some new development in wireless and Internet video, in technology or market concepts, that blurs the line a bit more.
Rules the FCC is developing for the 700 MHz band auction will require the Commission to decide whether to impose tough “use it or lose it” requirements, and whether to offer some spectrum in chunks small carriers can afford to buy and use. Both questions were fiercely debated in reply comments to the FCC, pitting groups of rural carriers against their large, national competitors. The auction, expected in late 2007, will offer some of the most eagerly awaited spectrum in FCC history.
The 30 companies and associations that filed comments on FCC rules for the upcoming 700 MHz auction speak to the massive interest in the 60 MHz of spectrum to be auctioned before early 2008, sources said Tues. “From a business standpoint, if AWS is beachfront spectrum, this is the Riviera of beachfront,” said an industry official: “The fact that you did see all these commenters is indicative of how interested people are.”