Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: Re: FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force Inquiry
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 07:25:25 +0900
------ Forwarded Message From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com> Reply-To: dewayne () warpspeed com Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2002 20:28:27 -0700 To: "Dewayne-Net Technology List" <dewayne-net () warpspeed com> Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Re: FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force Inquiry [Note: This item comes from reader Benn Kobb. Benn is quite correct here. I also noticed the strange way in which this item came out from the FCC and the troubling statement issued by the two Commissioners. That being said, I still think that it is important to file comments on this item if you have something to say on the matter. DLH] At 18:42 -0700 6/8/02, Bennett Kobb wrote:
From: Bennett Kobb <bkobb () ieee org> To: dewayne () warpspeed com Subject: Re: [Dewayne-Net] FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force Inquiry Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2002 18:42:33 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Whatever its possible promise, the inquiry is a "task force inquiry" -- apparently an excursion around the normal process. The inquiry is in the form of a Public Notice, not a standard Commission text. It states, "the Task Force is requesting that interested parties submit written comments," not "the Commission" seeks comments. Hmm. The Task Force is just FCC staff members. Kevin Martin and Michael Copps -- two of the four sitting Commissioners, that is, those responsible to the Congress we elect -- don't think highly of the way this is being done. They take substantial exception to the spectrum inquiry, on both procedural and content grounds. For what it's worth, Mr. Martin is in the Republican majority on the Commission. Interested citizens should still file comments in this very sweeping proceeding. FCC regulation can always benefit from broad public participation. But the problems Martin and Copps point out are troubling. See their comments below. Benn Kobb * * * Statement of Commissioners Kevin J. Martin and Michael J. Copps on the Spectrum Policy Task Force's Public Notice On Spectrum Policies (Public Notice, ET Docket No. 02-135) Spectrum management is one of the Commission's most important functions. It requires full Commission attention every step of the way. Instead, in this proceeding, a newly created task force is seeking comment on formulating policy on fundamental spectrum management issues without direct input or oversight by the Commission. Task forces can be a tremendous help to the Commission in meeting the many challenges we face, from spectrum management to media ownership to homeland security. But they must always be responsible to the full Commission as their work proceeds. These are critically important issues, and we believe they would be better addressed in a Notice of Inquiry issued by the Commission. We also fear that without Commission input critical issues may be left out of consideration. For example, we are concerned and surprised that our obligation to use our rules to promote service to rural Americans is barely mentioned in the Public Notice. This responsibility is too important to be ignored. Additionally, we are concerned that, in drafting their report without Commission guidance, the staff may become wedded to certain views or frame the debate in a manner that is ultimately not consistent with the views of the majority of the Commission. Finally, we fear that the approach used here could ultimately lead to greater delay because it will necessarily require at least one additional round of notice and comment before the Commission itself even begins to engage in the issues. Accordingly, we believe regulatory certainty and expeditious decision making would be better promoted -- and critical Commission goals like serving rural America would have been better served -- by having the Commission itself conduct this proceeding.
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- IP: Re: FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force Inquiry Dave Farber (Jun 09)