FCC Wireless Bureau denied Pegasus Broadband petition asking Commission to dismiss Northpoint application for violating ex parte rules. Bureau said it would only “admonish” Northpoint to follow rules, which regulate disclosure and documentation, more closely. FCC said Northpoint “committed no significant violation” of ex parte rules.
Rockwell Collins extended $3 million development contract with Datron Systems to build satellite antennas that would allow commercial aircraft to receive broadband video and data over Internet for passenger entertainment. Datron received contract in Aug., but addition covers full funding for development of flight test units and establishes terms and conditions under which Rockwell may place future orders. Contract calls for delivery of 9 Ku-band antennas beginning in spring.
Fox should re-evaluate its advertising for Temptation Island, FCC Comr. Tristani said in letter to News Corp. Chmn. Rupert Murdoch. She said “many parents” had complained about ads for show airing during children viewing hours, saying “children should not be exposed to advertisements for programming that is inappropriate for children.”
Northern Communications agreed to buy broadcast group owner Shockley Communications for undisclosed price, companies said. Northern also said it would spin off KXLT-TV (Ch. 47, Fox) Rochester, Minn., to Shockley family. Northern will sell 5 former Shockley-owned ABC affiliates in Wis., plus 2 postproduction facilities, to Quincy Newspapers. Northern is private investment group that buys privately owned properties and “maximizes assets” by spinning off components, it said. In separate transaction, Lee Enterprises said it would sell KMAZ (Ch. 48, TBN) Las Cruces, N.M., to Council Tree Hispanic Bcstrs. for undisclosed price. Sale will complete Lee’s exit from commercial broadcasting.
FCC Enforcement Bureau fined SBC $94,500 for violating requirement that it post notices on its Internet site identifying central offices that have run out of physical colocation space. Notice requirement is one of conditions placed by FCC when it approved SBC-Ameritech merger. SBC spokesman said company didn’t dispute that it made “a few clerical errors.” However, “we think it was unfortunate that the Enforcement Bureau feels it necessary to propose a penalty for a few errors of this nature,” he said. Posting is necessary so CLECs don’t waste their time waiting for space in central office that can’t be provided instead of finding other ways to serve their customers. Violation occurred in audit period of Oct 8, 1999-June 8, 2000.
Cingular Wireless and VoiceStream filed applications with FCC for approval of proposed license exchange. Subsidiary of Cingular would exchange PCS spectrum in L.A. and San Francisco for spectrum held by VoiceStream subsidiaries in N.Y. and St. Louis. VoiceStream also proposed giving Cingular license in Detroit now held by Cook Inlet/VoiceStream GSM in exchange for Cingular spectrum in San Francisco. To carry out exchange, some of licenses would be disaggregated or partitioned. Comments are due at FCC Feb. 20, replies March 2.
Telecom Business Notes: (1) Qwest won contract worth more than $100 million to provide network capacity to Cable & Wireless. (2) Viatel said it realigned its operations to focus on high- growth businesses and would stop providing consumer voice services in countries “that do not meet long-term corporate objectives.” Streamlining will lead to staff reduction of about 30%. (3) Time Warner Telecom plans IPO of 4.4 million shares of its Class A common stock. Proceeds will be used to repay portion of $700 million senior unsecured bridge loan that Time Warner Telecom used to finance purchase of GST Telecom’s assets.
TruePosition filed lawsuit in U.S. Dist. Court, Wilmington, Del., alleging that SigmaOne Communications had infringed on 3 patents related to TruePosition’s network-based wireless location systems. TruePosition is seeking unspecified damages and injunction that it says would bar SigmaOne from further infringing on patents. Suit focuses on 3 TruePosition patents that address location on wireless network control channel, combining processed location signal with collateral information and locating phones with several location techniques.
Broadcasters are averaging 4 hours of children’s TV programming per week, one more than FCC’s 3-hour guideline, FCC Chmn. Kennard said in letter to Capitol Hill Thurs. Letter accompanied FCC reports on children’s TV rules and on DTV public interest standard. On kidvid, Kennard said more still needed to be done, including limiting preemption of children’s programming and publicizing availability of shows. On DTV public interest, report listed 11 possible ways for broadcasters to “fulfill their statutory duty to serve the public interest,” Kennard said. He said principles should “provide useful guidance” for congressional discussions with broadcasters. Principles cited in report include airing local issue-oriented programs, carrying PSAs, “enriching children,” protecting children from harmful programs, “enhancing democracy,” providing disaster and emergency information, protecting consumer privacy, making programming accessible to disabled, using technology to enhance service.
Bill introduced in Ark. House (HB-1229) would ban use of handheld mobile phones by drivers of moving vehicles except for calls to 911 or those made by emergency service personnel. Drivers would be allowed to use hands-free phone models while on road. There would be only warning without penalty on first offense, with $50 fine for subsequent offense.