Real estate owners told a House Judiciary subcommittee that forcing private building owners to give access to all telecom service providers would violate constitutional rights of landowners. The Real Access Alliance, comprised of 11 real estate trade associations, has mounted an aggressive lobbying campaign to kill legislation in Congress and a Federal Communications Commission proposal to help fixed wireless start-ups, like Teligent Inc. and Winstar Communications Inc., compete against Baby Bells, GTE Corp. and other entrenched local monopolies.
Sens. William Roth (R-Del.) and Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y) introduced legislation to make normal trade relations with China permanent. The Clinton administration wants Congress to vote on China trade by Memorial Day, but leaders in both chambers have yet to schedule debate. The wireless industry supports free trade with China, a nation of 1.3 billion people with a poor telecom infrastructure.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Richard Fisher said the United States may complain to the World Trade Organization about Japan telecom deregulation. A key issue is Nippon Telegraph and Telephone’s refusal to further reduce interconnection fees paid by firms wishing to offer competing phone and Internet service. NTT holds controlling interest in NTT DoCoMo, the nation’s top mobile phone operator, and in NTT Data Corp.
The Justice Department, in an apparent change, appears to be leaning toward a settlement in its antitrust suit against Microsoft Corp. Such a shift would pit DOJ against several states that want the software giant broken up.
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comments on rules for the lower 800 MHz specialized mobile radio auction on Sept. 13. Comments are due by April 5 and replies by April 12.
