Senate lawmakers kept the heat on FCC Chairman Reed Hundt last week insofar as implementing the 1996 Telecom Act. Hundt didn’t let lawmakers force him into a corner, and artfully dodged questions that Commerce Committee members wanted him to answer their way. Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) remarked in good humor that Hundt’s nose appeared to grow longer after a response.
Intent of Congress is a catch phrase that’s in vogue.
… Where was George? Well, last week, Carlo, the head of Wireless Telecommunications Research was on the CBS Evening News in the middle of a new controversy-this one about oral polio vaccines for children.
… Is Rachelle Chong, Republican FCC commissioner, going to seek reappointment next year or head back to San Francisco?
… Thomas Hart, small business telecom advocate, is said to have won a seat for five years on the Telecommunications Development Fund to the chagrin of Hundt.
… Apologies to Gerry McGowan, wireless telecom attorney and FOB, for goof in Notes last week. I owe you one. See you at Murphy’s Pub after work.
… Mark Crosby, president of ITA, is reappointed to NTIA’s Spectrum Planning and Policy Advisory Committee.
… Get your nifty ties and scarves out for AMTA’s Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting in D.C.
… We’re right; they’re wrong. PCIA attorney Alan Tilles to Jill Stern, the lawyer representing the upstart Coalition for a Competitive Paging Industry, on the paging coordination fee controversy: “Despite your assertions to the contrary, ALL functions [frequency coordination]*…*will continue to be needed, with the exception of frequency selection.”
… Good news, bad news for all you folks who spent billions for PCS licenses. Inflation should be in check for the next few years, but don’t count on interest rates going down much anytime soon. Translated: Alan Greenspan is in for another four years as Fed chairman.
… Congrats to Jonas Neihardt, CTIA congressional affairs chief and former OMB telecom staffer, and wife Lynn, on the recent arrival of Isabella Francesca. “Any incoherent phone messages left over the last month can be chalked up to sleep deprivation,” said the proud, weary father. It’s getting better, he adds.
… Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-Va.), voicing fears about auctions driving local broadcasters in his state out of businesses and then hearing Hundt crow about $20 billion raised in auctions: “My great grandfather would have been very pleased with your first answer.”
… Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the infobahn’s Ralph Nader, introduced an electronic privacy bill last week.
“Regardless of the technology that a consumer uses-satellite, cable, telephone, wireless or the Internet-they deserve to have three basic rights for the digital age: knowledge of when information is being collected about them; clear and conspicuous notice if the recipient of that information intends to reuse it for other purposes or sell; and the right of the consumers to say `No’ and prohibit or curtail such reuse or sale.” We’re saved!
