Bill introduced for new session of N.J. legislature would make that state 13th with state-administered “No-Call” list to curb unwanted telemarketing calls. It will be assigned to Telecom & Utilities Committee. Under AB-3028, sponsored by N.J. state Rep. Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex), state No-Call list would be maintained by Dept. of Consumer Affairs or by private vendor contracted to state. List would be updated quarterly. Telemarketers that called names on list would be liable for $2,000 fine per call. Money collected from fines would be used to educate public and telemarketers about No-Call list. Exceptions to rule would include calls (1) to existing customers or in connection with established business relationship, (2) in response to customer’s request, and (3) for purpose of making sales appointments. Bill also would require all N.J. phone directories to include notice about no-call list and signup instructions. To date, 9 states have put no-call list laws into effect -- Ala., Alaska, Ark., Conn., Fla., Ga., Ky., Ore., Tenn. In addition, Ida., Mo. and N.Y. will be putting no-call laws passed in their 2000 legislative sessions into effect by midyear.
GlobalNet CEO Robert Donahue told shareholders Tues. he was concerned that company’s stock was so low and he didn’t know why. “Our company has a market capitalization of less than half our projected revenues for calendar year 2000” and there’s no reason for it, he said in letter to shareholders. GlobalNet’s revenues have risen to $54.4 million for 9 months ending Sept. 30 from $792,000 in 1997 and it projected continued increase to $441 million in 2002, he said. Company provides international voice, data and Internet services over IP network.
Capitol Bcstg.-backed AccessDTV said it was starting DTV-to- PC service at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. AccessDTV offers package of hardware, software and services to allow DTV to be displayed on PC monitors, including universal analog/digital tuner card, antenna to receive broadcast DTV signals, DTV video card, software including on-screen remote control, interactive program guide, personal video recorder-like functionality. Package allows PC (at least 300 MHz) to output DTV and AC-3 digital audio, company said. Pricing hasn’t been set, but it’s expected to be under $500 for one-time purchase, with option of smaller upfront fee combined with monthly subscription. DTV broadcaster Capitol is minority investor, with rest coming from what company called “techno-angels.” It’s currently raising additional financing. First hardware is expected to be in consumer hands by end of March and AccessDTV has deals with several unnamed suppliers. “Most people could tune DTV broadcasts today, but they simply don’t have the right equipment,” COO Doug Leech said: “AccessDTV enables PC users to experience… DTV interactively and affordably.”
FCC told Congress in report Tues. it wouldn’t make recommendations on specific measures to facilitate provision of local signals to subscribers in rural markets by direct-to-home (DTH) satellite and multichannel video programming operators because licensing process hadn’t been completed and it would be premature to make recommendations before licensing. Under requirement of Rural Local Broadcast Signal Act, Commission must inform Congress of ways its licensing and authorizations have helped provide local signals to satellite TV subscribers in remote areas.
CompTel said it was considering legislative campaign to urge structural separation on Bell companies in return for broadband LATA freedom. “This is not a wild-eyed theory,” CompTel Pres. Russell Frisby said at Tues. news briefing. Think of it as “return to the MFJ era,” he said, referring to Modified Final Judgment that laid ground rules for 1984 AT&T divestiture. Frisby said trade association hadn’t decided whether to recommend separation idea to Congress but idea would be to follow what Pa. PUC had required of Verizon -- separation of retail and wholesale operations. In return, Bells’ retail units would receive permission to offer data services across LATA lines without gaining Sec. 271 approval from FCC, Frisby said: “My sense is there are some people on the Hill who would be interested.”
National Exchange Carrier Assn. (NECA) files revisions in its average schedule formulas that will result in combined increase of 2.49% in common line and traffic-sensitive settlements. Those “settlements” are like interstate access charges for small rate- of-return carriers that don’t conduct their own cost studies. NECA said new formulas would go into effect July 1 if FCC approved them.
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft (R) appointed Cleveland transit executive Clarence Rogers to PUC seat of Craig Glazer, who resigned; if confirmed, Rogers’ terms would end in 2006… Changes at Global Crossing: Co-COO David Walsh promoted to COO and co-COO Gary Cohen named COO, Global Crossing Solutions; Wally Dawson, CEO, Atlantic Crossing, appointed exec. vp-Global Network; Wim Huisman, CEO, Europe, retires, Carl Grivner, COO, N. America, assumes his duties; James Demitrieus, ex-pres., IXnet, named COO, N. America. Promoted to exec. vps: Daniel Cohrs, CFO; James Gorton, gen. counsel; John Comparin, human resources; Joseph Perrone, finance… Stephen Knup, ex-Coopers & Lybrand, named pres.-COO, Superior TeleCom… John DuBois, ex-Redback Networks, appointed CEO, Nx Networks… Nextel’s Richard Lefave elected to Mi8 board.
Satellite Bcstg. & Communications Assn. (SBCA) finished 1999 $127,000 in red after donations dipped and expenses rose slightly, according to 1999 Form 990 tax returns. Total revenue was $5.1 million, down from $5.3 million in 1999, but expenses edged up to $5.3 million from $5.28 million. Membership dues dipped to $2.1 million from $2.2 million, but still were over $1.6 million in 1998. Revenue from annual convention was $1.87 million, Sky Trends $350,000, Sky Forum $325,000. Pres. Charles Hewitt received $422,311 in salary plus $50,000 in benefits.
Cablevision Systems reportedly has placed its Rainbow Media Holdings programming group up for sale after first planning to spin off unit as separate tracking stock. N.Y. Times said Cablevision, which had been considering move for weeks (CD Dec 22 p6), already had contacted USA Networks, NBC, Comcast and Liberty Media Group, 4 most likely suitors. Cablevision reportedly is seeking $5-$6 billion for Rainbow. Companies have until Jan. 16 to submit bids. Move came as UBS Warburg downgraded rating on Cablevision stock to buy from strong buy Tues. because Rainbow sale would “remove a major catalyst for the stock.”
FCC would be taking “serious misstep” if it delegated reciprocal compensation and LEC-wireless interconnection decisions to state regulators, CTIA said in letter sent to Commission Fri. FCC has indicated it may take that route but “such a decision would be contrary to law” and would run counter to agency’s previous position in regulating commercial mobile radio service (CMRS), CTIA Gen. Counsel Michael Altschul wrote. “At issue is the fundamental question of the Commission’s jurisdiction -- over CMRS providers in general and LEC-CMRS interconnection specifically -- and its decision to abandon its regulatory responsibilities and delegate them to the various states,” letter said. “One certain fact has resulted from the extensive litigation surrounding the Commission’s implementation of the interconnection provisions found in the Act,” Altschul wrote: “The FCC has the sole authority to establish the terms of and to review LEC-CMRS interconnection agreements.”