If ever there was a week when the FCC bore the brunt of everyone’s aggressions, it was last week; I heard Hundt & Co. even was blamed for the Lindburgh kidnapping.
First, commissioners decided at the last minute to pull the microwave cost-sharing item off the agenda. Now, I haven’t seen as much wireless business being voted as I would like this year, so it was a disappointment. I’ve been told the questions being mulled on the Eighth Floor are not brain surgery; rather, they’ve been likened to a lobotomy. Talks could go until late next week. I’m not one to gossip, so you didn’t hear it from me.
Then there was a press release from a wireless association that railed against a commission decision regarding the auctioning of a nationwide 2.3 GHz license when, in fact, no proposal on such a deal has been introduced. What’s up with that?
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas didn’t even bother to comment on his rejection of the FCC’s plea to flip a circuit-court stay of its interconnection rules. Very impolite not to RSVP. Will Ms. Ginsburg have better manners, one way or the other?
There were some questions regarding whether the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau was on track regarding Michele Farquhar’s luncheon speech at the Industrial Telecommunications Association’s annual gathering here. Most of the text dealt with commercial wireless issues, and several members at my table wondered if the WTB actually is addressing their problems with auctions, freezes, pools, refarming (which was mentioned) and spectrum management. I’m not one to gossip, so you didn’t hear it from me.
There has been talk of major changes at 1919 M St. come next spring, no matter who occupies the White House next January. Certain long-time players and observers believe that four completely new bodies will be sitting in those chairs, including the chairman’s. Possible new commissioners? Regina Keeney and Bill Kennard. Possible new chair(wo)man? Susan Ness or Anne Bingaman.
But I’m not one to gossip, so you didn’t hear it from me.
-Congrats to Motorola’s Len Kolsky and ITA’s Cindy Chappelle on their well-deserved association awards for outstanding private wireless industry contributions.
-Look for the lawsuit between Gary Noreen and American Mobile Satellite Corp. to heat up soon.
-Heard that outgoing Rep. Jack Fields (R-Texas) was not too happy about the recent Bliley/Dingell spectrum-policy letter. How come?
