Connection MasterHead 600x113
Vol. 11, No. 28
July 20, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
TOP OF THE NEWS
INTERNET PEERING
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
WELCOME
NEW MEMBER


MEMBER NEWS









For more information about submitting member company news, please contact Gail Norris.
FCC DEADLINES

July 31

August 5

September 4

September 25

October16

SOCIALIZE WITH COMPTEL

 

@COMPTEL 

@COMPTELPLUS 

                          

Diamond Rio publicity shot

 
TOP OF THE NEWS
FCC Releases Tentative Agenda for August 6 Meeting 
Last week, the FCC announced its tentative agenda for the Thursday, August 6 Open Meeting, which includes:
  • Emerging Wireline Networks and Services - The Commission will consider a Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will advance long-standing competition and consumer protection policies on a technologically-neutral basis, and further the technology transitions underway in our nation's fixed communications networks that offer the prospect of innovative and improved services to consumers and businesses alike.
  • Ensuring Continuity of 911 Communications - The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would protect consumers through the transitions from legacy copper networks to modern networks by adopting rules to ensure that consumers have options, and sufficient information about those options, to maintain 911 communications at home during power outages.
  • Mobile Spectrum Holdings - The Commission will consider an Order on Reconsideration addressing petitions for reconsideration of certain aspects of the Mobile Spectrum Holdings Report and Order.
  • Incentive Auction Procedures - The Commission will take the next step to commencing the incentive auction in the first quarter of 2016 by considering the Procedures Public Notice, which adopts a balanced set of auction procedures that will ensure an effective, efficient, and timely auction. The Public Notice establishes and provides information on final procedures for setting the initial spectrum clearing target, qualifying to bid, and bidding in the reverse and forward auctions.
  • Unlicensed Operations in TV Bands and 600 MHz Band - The Commission will consider a Report and Order that adopts technical and operational rules for unlicensed services, including wireless microphone operations, in the broadcast television bands and in the post-incentive auction 600 MHz band. The rules are intended to maximize unlicensed access to spectrum while ensuring that licensed services are protected from harmful interference.
  • Wireless Microphones - The Commission will consider a Report and Order that adopts a plan to accommodate the long-term needs of wireless microphone users by providing new opportunities for their use in the broadcast television bands and in several other frequency bands.
The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. 
INTERNET PEERING
Charter's New Peering Policy Move Good News for
Open Internet, Over-the-Top Service Growth
On July 15, Charter Communications filed a letter with the FCC, which contains significant changes to its Internet peering policy, offering to provide settlement-free (i.e. unpaid) connections to companies like Netflix and other over-the-top carriers. Charter indicated that it is willing to abide by this policy as a condition to FCC approval of its pending merger with Time Warner Cable and Bright House until the end of 2018. 

In response to this news, COMPTEL CEO Chip Pickering said, "COMPTEL is pleased that Charter has offered modifications to its Internet interconnection policy that promotes consumer access and choice to over-the-top content and will maintain a policy of no access charges. Charter's offer to maintain this policy as a condition to its merger goes a long way in addressing concerns that the proposed merger would result in a large ISP with the size and capability to harm the development of online content, apps and services and harm the open Internet."

Pickering added that Charter's commitment on Internet interconnection policy further promotes the industry standard on settlement free peering for transit providers, CDNs, and content providers. 

"This is a free market approach that all ISPs should readily adopt to promote an open Internet, and it is a commitment that should be made in all similar mergers. Specifically, we urge the Commission to ask AT&T why it isn't willing to adopt the same policy with respect to its pending merger with DirecTV," he noted. "COMPTEL continues to review other aspects of the proposed Charter merger, and we are withholding our endorsement of the merger at this time. Nonetheless, we are very pleased to see that Charter has made a significant commitment with respect to its Internet interconnection policy, and we commend it for this progress."
COMMITTEE MEETINGS 
All COMPTEL Committee meetings are held at the association's headquarters, 1200 G St NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005, unless otherwise noted.  All times listed are Eastern. For more information, call 202-296-6650.

July 21             Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting
2 p.m.              Contact Karen Reidy

July 28             Regulatory/Legislative Committee Meeting 
2 p.m.               Contact Karen Reidy
© 2015. All Rights Reserved.