FCC Issues of Interest

NATOA Applauds FCC Order Protecting Public Safety

NATOA Seeks FCC Action on Request for Stay

NATOA ASKS FCC TO TAKE ACTION ON STAY REQUEST

Alexandria, VA – The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) has sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin asking that the Commission take action on its Request for Stay of the Second Report and Order in the Video Franchise proceeding in Docket 05-311.  The Request for Stay was filed on December 21, 2007.  NATOA’s Executive Director, Libby Beaty, chastised the FCC for its slow response.  “The Commission has failed to respond to our Request for Stay for over 60 days.  All we want the Commission to do is to grant or deny our Request.  This foot-dragging on behalf of the Commission is hypocritical, especially when a majority of the Commission believes it is reasonable to impose arbitrary deadlines on local government franchising decisions.”

NATOA promotes community interests in communications. NATOA is a national trade association based in Alexandria, VA representing local government jurisdictions and consortiums, including elected and appointed officials and staff, who oversee telecommunications and cable television franchising.

XM Radio - Sirius Satellite Radio Proposed Merger - Comments

NATOA filed additional comments with the FCC regarding the proposed merger between XM Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio (MB Docket No. 07-57).  NATOA raised the concern that the merged company would establish a “sole source” model for the design, manufacture, and distribution of satellite radio devices, resulting in a monopoly of the satellite radio device market.  In earlier comments, NATOA pointed out that a merger would not be in the public interest in that is would likely harm consumers by driving up prices, decreasing innovation, and harming the quality of service.  

Reply Comments to Oppositions to Reconsideration of FCC’s Second R&O

NATOA and its partners (NLC, NACo, USCM, ACM, ACD) submitted Reply Comments in response to Oppositions by Verizon, NCTA and Hawaii to our Petition for Reconsideration of the Commission’s Second Report and Order in which the Commission extended its new franchising rules and interpretations to incumbent operators.  On February 11, Verizon and NCTA filed comments in Opposition to the Petitions in which they argued, in part, that the Second Order applied to ALL incumbent operators, even in those states that have enacted state-level franchising legislation.  The State of Hawaii also filed comments, arguing that the Second Order did not apply nationwide.  NATOA filed these Reply Comments.  In addition, the cities of Albuquerque, NM and Breckenridge Hills, MO, filed reply comments.

National Associations Seek Stay of Rules and Request Reconsideration of the FCC’s Second Report & Order in the Video Franchise Docket

The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) today joined other national associations representing local governments across the nation in requesting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reconsider and stay the rules adopted in the Second Report and Order in the Video Franchise Docket 05-311.

US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has set oral argument for February 6, 2008.