FCC

The Gap

March 11, 2010

There's a gap of about 93 million Americas who do have Internet Access (of any kind - not even dialup! I can't even wrap my head around that). The FCC is on a mission to bridge that gap.

Commissioner Clyburn's statement was informative, especially about the proposed "National Digital Literacy Corps in order to help individuals who are unfamiliar with or intimidated by the on-line world develop the skills they need to be comfortable on-line and to take full advantage of all it has to offer." Like a help desk.

Posted in FCC, Internet, broadband, duopoly, economy

FCC, SBA Discusses Broadband

March 2, 2010

On Thursday, March 4, 2010, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills will highlight ways that the FCC's National Broadband Plan will promote broadband opportunities for small businesses. Recognizing the importance of broadband for ensuring America's economic development and leadership, Congress and the President tasked the FCC with developing a National Broadband Plan to connect all Americans to affordable, world-class, high-speed Internet. The FCC's National Broadband Plan, which the agency will deliver to Congress on March 17, 2010, will create jobs and spur economic growth; unleash new waves of innovation and investment; and improve education, health care, energy efficiency, public safety, and the vibrancy of our democracy. [Docket]

Posted in FCC, broadband

Is it the Regulatory Environment?

February 9, 2010

In a twitter exchange with Erik Cecil, former regulatory counsel at Level3, we were dialoging about the Fairpoint bankruptcy. (FairPoint aims to cut debt by two-thirds).

My reply stated, "Just 2 years after the deal w/VZ to create an unstable Fairpoint despite opposition, Fairpoint screws everyone." By everyone, I mean the customers, the economy, the state, the PUC who approved the deal despite being against it (And Erik, you think there is regulation?), the workers, the Union, shareholders and the debt holders. I actually don't care about the last two, because both should have known it was going to go POOF!

Posted in FCC, Internet, broadband, cableco, cellular, economy, mergers, politics, telco, wireless, wireline

Which Docket, Dave?

February 4, 2010

Dave Rusin is the CEO of American Fiber Systems. He is a self-proclaimed fiber bigot. He has a two part blog post about the Special Access fight at the FCC.

Dave may have his dockets confused. He calls it the Special Access docket at the FCC, but he is really ranting about the UNE docket. What's the difference?

The Special Access docket was started by Sprint and T-Mobile.

Posted in CLEC, FCC, Internet, broadband, fiber, telco, wireline

Fostering Broadband Competition

December 29, 2009

One of the Broadband Stimulus grants (at $33M) went to North Georgia Network Cooperative. ComputerWorld is all atwitter because this grant means that NGNC will compete with Windstream, which already offers 10Mb to 100MB Internet Access in that region. And "Windstream covers about 70 percent of the area that North Georgia Network Cooperative proposes to cover using government money".

The irony is that pundits are criticizing the FCC's new National Broadband Policy precisely because it does NOT include any measures to increase competition for broadband. Now one of the few grants approved actually will increase broadband competition in Dawsonville and the surrounding area and one media outlet is upset.

Posted in FCC, broadband, cableco, duopoly, fiber, politics, telco, wireline

Cellular Blues

December 12, 2009

It's a blue holiday for the cellular networks. Apparently, AT&T would like you to use your iPhone way less than you are. It's abusing their already tired network. The funniest response to this was by Fake Steve, who also happens to point out that the only innovation is in financial engineering.

VZW has doubled early termination fees for smartphones. The FCC is looking in to that.

Sprint is raising fees (that look like taxes but aren't) because they need some profit.

Posted in FCC, cellular, wimax, wireless

Were There Highlights in 2009?

November 25, 2009

Ken Camp's Year in Review prompted me to write this. It's been an interesting year. SIP, UC, Cloud, Merger. That's really how I see the blur that was 2009. I attended so many conferences this year.

Posted in CLEC, FCC, PBX, TCA, TMC, agents, bandwidth, broadsoft, cloud computing, economy, saas, sip trunking, social network, telco, tele-presence, telecommunications, twitter, unified communications, voip, xo

Open Neutral Fair

November 20, 2009

There are a bunch of debates raging over the telecommunications infrastructure.

Congress has looked at Open Access bills for cellular networks. By this we mean that a consumer can use any available handset or device on any cell network. This is kind of the Carterphone concept for cellular.

The 700 MHz auction had open access provisions built right in, so VZW's 4G/LTE network will need to incorporate Open Access.

Spectrum is a finite resource. TV, radio, public safety and the cell companies all share access to various licensed spectrums.

Posted in FCC, Internet, cellular, communications, politics, spectrum, technology, telco, telecommunications, voip, wireless, wireline

NYT Explains Traffic Pumping

November 1, 2009

The New York Times has an article explaining "traffic pumping" here. This practice largely centers around Iowa Independent phone companies who are partnering with phone service companies like chat lines and free conferencing companies. AT&T has been complaining to the FCC about it for a while Many of these companies are in litigation to get paid by the IXC's. What it really comes down to is that the "new" FCC has to take a stand on Inter-Carrier Compensation soon. It has been "studying" the issue for years.

Posted in FCC, politics, telco, wireline

COMPTEL Updates FISPA

October 2, 2009

Jerry James, CEO of COMPTEL, updated the CLEC's and ISP's at FISPA about the major issues on the Hill and at the FCC. Besides, the National broadband Policy that is due by February 2010, the FCC has to make major decisions on the following issues: USF Reform, Forbearance petitions galore (Qwest in Phoenix, Verizon on the East Coast, AT&T wherever they can get it), Inter-Carrier Compensation, and Net Neutrality. Worrisome for CLEC's to say the least. There's also a bill about criminalizing Caller ID Spoofing. Ouch!

Posted in CLEC, FCC, wireline

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