D.C. Briefs

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has denied a request from NextWave Telecom Inc. to review an earlier decision that said the Federal Communications Commission must first rule on NextWave’s petition for reconsideration before the appeals court can act. NextWave had attempted to leapfrog the FCC’s recon petition process arguing that the FCC would not alter its opinion that it had the authority to take back and re-auction its licenses. The FCC has scheduled the re-auction for Nov. 29.

The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will conduct an interactive demonstration of its Universal Licensing System Aug. 17. The demonstration will include a preview of the land mobile filing system which is about to go online.

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions has released a standard that can be used as a safe harbor by telecommunications service providers attempting to comply with the digital wiretap act. The standard, known as the Lawfully Authorized Electronic Surveillance Standard, defines the interface between a telecom service provider and a law enforcement agency.

The FCC on Thursday adopted an order that should make it easier for competitive local exchange carriers to collocate their equipment with the equipment of incumbent LECs. In addition, the FCC is seeking comment on certain issues remanded by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The issues include the meaning of the terms “necessary” and “physical collocation.”

The FCC has dismissed the application of Interactive Wireless Access Inc. to use frequencies in the 218-219 MHz band for automated utility meter reading after the company said it had changed its business plan and no longer needed the waiver for which it had applied.

The FCC has dismissed the petition of reconsideration of David B. Popkin regarding whether amateur radio licensees should be required to submit their Social Security Number when applying for a license and also whether foreign citizens can use all available frequencies in a band for which their home country has given them authority to operate. The FCC said both issues had been thoroughly discussed previously on reconsideration.

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