TIA coordinated and presented the U.S. policy recommendations in the July 1 meeting of the U.S. India-ICT Working Group at the U.S. Department of State. Pulling together input from TIA members and other companies, including major U.S. service providers, TIA’s presentation focused on spectrum, licensing and IP-enabled services issues.

The meeting included participation by the U.S. and Indian governments and private sectors. The U.S. participation was led by Ambassador David Gross, Coordinator for U.S. Information and Communication Policy. The meeting also included an opening presentation on the U.S. Telecommunications Sector by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, and remarks by National Telecommunications and Information Administration Acting Assistant Secretary Meredith Baker and International Trade Administration Deputy Assistant Secretary Holly Vineyard. The Indian delegation was led by Special Secretary Madhavan Nambiar of the Department of Information Technology and included Kirthy Kumar, Deputy Director General of the Department of Telecommunications.

Kumar said it was possible that India would hold 3G spectrum auctions (simultaneous ascending) before the end of 2008, although he did not say whether new entrants would be permitted to bid. He also expressed interest in working with the United States on the licensing issues that were raised by this country, and he noted that there was a Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India consultation process on Internet telephony as well as a Department of Telecommunications committee examining the various issues associated with this IP-enabled service.

The Indian delegation requested closer collaboration with the U.S. government on infrastructure security and expressed a desire for greater collaboration on R&D through India’s Centres of Excellence program. There was also a request to learn more about exchanging information on technologies and best practices for public safety and disaster management through the use of ICTs.

Both sides agreed to work together in advance of the next meeting of the U.S.-India ICT Working Group in December in New Delhi to fulfill the recommendations/requests made in the July 1 meeting.

On June 30, TIA sponsored and organized a lunch in honor of the Indian government delegation and members of the Telecommunications Subcommittee, providing an opportunity to discuss the issues on a more informal basis. The lunch was held at the Washington office of TIA member Nortel.

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TIA applauded the June 27 decision of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the FCC’s video franchise ruling issued under Chairman Kevin Martin’s leadership. The FCC, relying on its authority under Section 621 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, adopted an order in December 2006 that will help speed the roll-out of broadband Internet across the country and result in more consumer choices in the communications services market.

"Across the country, consumers want more video and broadband choices, and communications providers are ready to upgrade their networks for new applications and services," TIA President Grant Seiffert said. "We are pleased by the court’s affirmation of the FCC’s decision to elevate competition in the broadband market by limiting unnecessary regulatory delays at the local level. It is the consumer who stands to benefit most, as more competition will pave the way for more broadband services and lower prices."

TIA has long argued that while limited governance over video service offerings is appropriate at the local level, it is primarily a responsibility of the federal government.   The Sixth Circuit’s decision upholds the FCC’s order, which sets time limits on how long a "local franchise authority," usually a city or county government, can review requests by new entrants to offer broadband video. TIA has supported a uniform local franchise process because unreasonable delay and build-out requirements create barriers to market entry, discouraging investment, innovation and competition.

Contact Danielle Coffey at TIA, dcoffey@tiaonline.org, phone +1.202.346.3243 for more information on the court’s ruling.

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