Regulators Look For Another Way

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
Date: September 15, 2004 1:09:07 PM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net () warpspeed com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Regulators Look For Another Way
Reply-To: dewayne () warpspeed com

Regulators Look For Another Way

By Mark Rockwell
September 14, 2004
<http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp? 
layout=newsat2direct&starting=2&pubdate=09/14/04>

 WASHINGTON -- A new group of state regulators and telecommunications  
companies, including a heavy contingent of wireless companies, is  
banding together to address how new telecom regulation should be  
formed.

The group, called the Federation For Economical Rational Utility Policy  
(FERUP), convened its first annual D.C. summit this morning, pulling  
heavyweight speakers such as FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein; FCC  
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief John Muleta; Dorothy Attwood,  
vice president of SBC; Thomas Sugrue, T-Mobile USA's vice president of  
government affairs, and others. FCC Chairman Michael Powell, BellSouth  
Chairman Duane Ackerman, Cingular Chairman and CEO Stan Sigman and CTIA  
President and CEO Steve Largent are on this afternoon's speakers'  
agenda.

All are lending their perspective to what they see as an alternative  
movement to come to terms with the rapidly changing cross-over  
competition and convergence developing among wireless, wireline, cable  
and IP-based services. FERUP was formed, according to Florida Public  
Service Commissioner Charles Davidson, to counter some state public  
service commissions and commissioners who want more state-driven  
regulation. A more national framework for telecom regulation is needed,  
he said, and the organization hopes to raise issues before Congress  
starts to re-configure the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

 FERUP was formed only months ago, and the conference was pulled  
together in a few weeks in anticipation of the coming review the new  
Congress is expected to give the Telecom Act. 

 Wireless will play a vital role in the possible reformation of the act  
as VoIP and other services that make media, traditional services and  
regulation obsolete. VoIP, said Jeffrey Pulver, panel participant and  
chief executive of Pulver.com, will drastically warp current regulatory  
models. Wi-Fi and WiMAX threaten the same, he said.

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