Save Access

from: The Mercury News

Local governments: FCC not playing fair

JOHN DUNBAR
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The nation's chief telecommunications regulator stands accused of misrepresenting the facts while pushing through rules that will make it easier for big phone companies to get into cable television.

from: Wi-Fi Networking News

Transparency in Broadband Availability Lacking

January 24, 2007
By Glenn Fleishman

The FCC requires broadband firms to report by Zip code, the UK’s regulator Ofcom by actual lines installed: I’ve come across a situation that’s relatively well known in the industry, but I’m not quite sure that the average person gets this. And the average reporter clearly does not. When the FCC says that 99 percent of the US population has access to broadband—not subscribes to, but is passed by service they could choose to subscribe to—they are deriving this in the following specious way: 95 percent of Zip code areas in the US have at least a single subscriber to a broadband service. Further, broadband is 200 Kbps or faster in either direction.

from: Washington Post

FCC to Feel Unfamiliar Heat from Democrats

From Washington Post, January 26, 2007
By Charles Babington

As congressional Democrats prepare to give the Federal Communications Commission its toughest scrutiny in years, a rivalry between the powerful agency’s two most prominent Republicans is raising questions about its readiness to handle barbed questions and stiff challenges.

from: Washington Post

The FCC and Media Ownership Rulemaking

From Associated Press, January 25, 2007

— A look at how the Federal Communications Commission has dealt with writing new rules for ownership of broadcast stations:

_ June 2, 2003: The commission votes 3-2 to ease broadcast ownership rules. The three Republicans, including Kevin Martin, are in favor. The two Democrats, Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps, are opposed.

from: Associated Press

Spiked Study Leads to New FCC Query

From Associated Press, January 26, 2007
By John Dunbar

When the government decided to take a hard look at how well broadcasters were serving their communities, two economists at the Federal Communications Commission got a research idea: They would look at whether locally owned TV stations produced more local news than stations owned by companies based outside the area.

SA Note: The Telephone companies have been using increased cable rates as a justification for deregulating their entry into cable delivery services (by eliminating public interest requirements, local control, etc). Cables pricing was deregulated federally in the '96 Telecom Act, since then, only local municipalities maintain some a level of control over pricing. The FCC is fueling the fire of the Telco campaigns by further deregulating cable prices, often in advance of Telco deployment and by removing the authority of local municipalities to limit rate increases.

from: Broadcasting and Cable

Breaking News
Challenge to FCC Local Video Franchise Process Expected
By John Eggerton

Local franchising authorities and community activists groups say they are preparing a court challenge to the FCC's recent order revamping the local video franchise process.

Note: Grand Rapids, Michigan is home to one of the most vibrant community media centers in the country, founded by the late Dirk Koning. The video franchise signed into law is a shameful affront to the memory of Dirk and others who have struggled to improve media at the local level.

from: Ron Suarez Blog

from: Alliance for Community Media
Alliance for Community Media and Local Governments Retain Counsel to Challenge FCC Rulings

The Alliance for Community Media Strongly Questions the Legality of FCC Actions

The Alliance for Community Media (ACM) and the Alliance for Communications Democracy (ACD) working with local government partners, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), National League of Cities (NLC), and National Association of Counties (NACo) announced today that they have retained legal counsel to challenge the FCC’s recent Order preempting local government control and authority over cable franchises, compensation for public property, community services and the availability of consumer protection in local communities.

from: Technology Daily

Senate Panel Won't Pursue Sweeping Telecom Measure

By David Hatch

(Tuesday, January 23) Senate Commerce Committee officials confirmed that Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, will pursue a series of small, targeted telecommunications bills -- and not sweeping legislation.