State lawmakers from across the U.S. will tackle telecom and technology issues this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual conference in Seattle. Proposed state and national telecom law rewrites and wrangles over municipal Wi-Fi are among the hot topics at the 5-day conference, which begins today (Tues.). About 7,000 state legislators, policy experts, advocates, govt. leaders and media are expected to attend.
State lawmakers from across the U.S. will tackle telecom and technology issues this week at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual conference in Seattle. Proposed state and national telecom law rewrites and wrangles over municipal Wi-Fi are among the hot topics at the 5-day conference, which begins today (Tues.). About 7,000 state legislators, policy experts, advocates, govt. leaders and media are expected to attend.
The FCC voted at its open meeting Fri. to reduce regulation of wireline broadband service by reclassifying it as an “information service,” in line with the FCC’s treatment of cable modem service. The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the agency’s cable modem classification in the Brand X case, triggering action on the wireline companion piece which had been placed on hold during the litigation.
The FCC voted at its open meeting Fri. to reduce regulation of wireline Internet access service by reclassifying it as an “information service,” in line with the FCC’s treatment of cable modem service. The U.S. Supreme Court in June upheld the agency’s cable modem classification in the Brand X case, triggering action on the wireline companion piece which had been placed on hold during the litigation. DSL is the most common wireline Internet access service.
As FCC staff and commissioners continued negotiating over terms of the proposed wireline broadband order Thurs., lobbyists continued blitzing commissioners’ offices to make sure their views were reflected in the talks. At our deadline it still wasn’t known if the agency would get enough agreement on contested issues to place the broadband item on today’s (Fri.’s) agenda. The FCC had delayed its Thurs. meeting until today, reportedly to give it more time to reach consensus. The item would generally lessen regulation of wireline-provided broadband service by reclassifying it as an information service. However, judging from the continual discussions at the agency, there appeared to be many nuances within that general description of the proposed order.
As FCC staff and commissioners continued negotiating over terms of the proposed wireline broadband order Thurs., lobbyists continued blitzing commissioners’ offices to make sure their views were reflected in the talks. At our deadline it still wasn’t known if the agency would get enough agreement on contested issues to place the broadband item on today’s (Fri.’s) agenda. The FCC had delayed its Thurs. meeting until today, reportedly to give it more time to reach consensus. The item would generally lessen regulation of wireline-provided broadband service by reclassifying it as an information service. However, judging from the continual discussions at the agency, there appeared to be many nuances within that general description of the proposed order.
When the USF was new, Franklin Roosevelt wasn’t halfway through his first term. Even so, the venerable program still has a startling capacity to make news.
Several telecom groups wrote the Senate Commerce Committee leadership Wed. to express support for S-241, legislation that would permanently exempt the Universal Service Fund (USF) from Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA) requirements. The Committee has held a hearing on the bill (CD April 12 p1), introduced by Sen. Snowe (R-Me.) and co-sponsored by Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska), Committee ranking Democrat Inouye (Hawaii), and Sen. Rockefeller (D-W. Va.). No markup’s scheduled for the bill, and the groups urged quick action in the letter. “Given the potential disruption to all universal service programs, it is vital for the Commerce Committee to address this issue as soon as possible, so that the uncertainty that currently hangs over these programs can be permanently eliminated,” the letter said. Since the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) required the FCC to apply ADA rules to USF last year, the program has needed funds in hand to make disbursement commitment. Congress last year passed a temporary one-year exemption from ADA, since it would have resulted in missed payments from USF and the E-rate program. The letter said: “Without such an exemption, millions of people will undoubtedly experience service disruptions and significant increases in the universal service contribution factor.” Signers of the letter include Alcatel, Apple, Independent Telephone & Telecom Alliance, NARUC, NASUCA, National Education Assn., NTCA, OPASTCO, TIA, U.S. Conference of Mayors and Western Wireless.
More than 100 rural telecom executives hit Capitol Hill Tues. to start 2 days of lobbying for universal service and broadband issues as part of an annual event sponsored by OPASTCO. In a morning briefing, OPASTCO staff told rural ILECs Antideficiency Act (ADA) legislation should top their agendas as they visited representatives and senators from their home states.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va -- Comr. Abernathy called for a change in the Sunshine rules to let FCC commissioners meet in private as needed to get consensus on complex issues out of the public eye. Abernathy told the FCBA annual retreat held here Fri. and Sat. that 1970s-vintage rules work against development of policy on critical but complicated issues.