Waiting For Martin’s Next (Big) Steps

WAITING FOR MARTIN'S NEXT (BIG) STEPS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
In December, a politically divided Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that give franchising authorities 90 days to act on cable entry petitions filed by phone companies and others with pre-existing access to rights of way. But pressuring local governments to act swiftly on the cable franchise applications of companies like AT&T and Verizon Communications could be just a baby step in FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s ongoing march to overhaul cable competition policy. The biggest step would be a ruling by the Martin-led commission that AT&T’s Internet Protocol-TV offering is an interstate service. That would have the effect of sweeping aside any actions taken by the 50 states — including the ones that have gone to statewide franchising to appease the deployment schedules of AT&T and Verizon. Another big step: the FCC could declare that IPTV is an information service, just like digital subscriber line, cable-modem service and dial-up Internet access. That would be a gamechanger because, as a rule, the FCC doesn't regulate information service providers. Nor do the states. If either step were to be taken, the FCC would effectively be saying that IPTV isn't a cable service within the meaning of federal law. If IPTV isn't a cable service, then none of the key cable provisions found in Title VI of the Communications Act would apply, including franchising requirements; franchise fee obligations; mandatory carriage of local TV stations; program access rules; public access and leased access channel set-asides; and local approval of IPTV system sales. In short, regulatory nirvana for IPTV providers.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6404701.html?display=Policy

MARTIN AIDE WILLEFORD JOINS WHITE HOUSE STAFF
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Emily Willeford, a senior aide to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin, moved to the White House, serving in the office of deputy chief of staff Karl Rove. Willeford was Chairman Martin’s deputy chief of staff and top adviser on international communications issues. Her departure wasn't announced by the FCC, but she recently spoke to a reporter on the phone from her White House office. She left the commission in late December.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6404676.html?display=Breaking+News