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 President Grant Seiffert will deliver a keynote address at Semicon West 2008 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on July 16.

During his presentation, “The Cord Has Been Cut – Now What?” (view abstract) Seiffert will discuss the ongoing evolution in wireless technology and how it ultimately affects the semiconductor market segment, including the latest trends and drivers. Seiffert also will present a near-term and longer-term vision for the future, the challenges facing those in the semiconductor field and the keys to overcoming the challenges and capturing the enormous opportunities that accompany cutting the cord.

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Verizon President and Chief Operating Officer Denny Strigl, Sprint Nextel President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Hesse, CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard Green, Infinera CEO Jagdeep Singh and Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo all provided keynote addresses at NXTcomm08 in Las Vegas last month and were the subject of Telecom TV interviews. 

To hear what they had to say, click here.

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TIA announced last month it is investing in a number of green initiatives for the electronics industry worldwide. At a news conference at NXTcomm 08 in Las Vegas, TIA Chairman of the Board, Tellabs President and CEO Rob Pullen, gave TIA’s “green” presentation. Showcased were:

•  EIATRACK, TIA’s global benchmark for environmental intelligence and product-oriented regulatory tracking and analysis
•  TIA’s E-cycling Central Web site, with a new state-by-state database of more than 2,000 electronics recycling locations in the United States.

Pullen also announced that TIA is also rallying communications companies around issues related to the greening of technology. He was introduced at the news conference by TIA President Grant Seiffert.

Click here to watch the presentation video

Also last month, three months of environmental compliance news for the electronics  sector was summarized in the latest EIATRACK - Quarterly Newsletter, providing a concise review of all material provided by the EIATRACK service in the last quarter.

EIATRACK is the essential business tool for global companies working across borders, jurisdictions and countries. At a time when environmental sustainability and business profitability goals have merged, TIA offers companies a way to strategize for their future growth and environmentally conscious initiatives in new markets.

TIA's EIATRACK systematically tracks, analyzes and reports on product-oriented environmental legislation in Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and South America, providing companies a cost effective “early-warning system” for monitoring and evaluating product-related measures.

For a sampling of special reports and regulatory tracking services EIATRACK offers, click here.

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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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Reserve your space now in TIA’s USA Pavilions at ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 and ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009. These events promise to be the key meeting places for the global telecom industry. They will provide a vital platform where participants can exhibit, meet, network and do business with the world’s top ICT players.  

Exhibit space in the USA Pavilion will be allotted by TIA on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to book without delay. Contact Paul Semple at +1.714.731.2113, or via email at paul@semplemedia.com to reserve your space in the official USA Pavilion today for both ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 and ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009. Visit the News & Events section of our Web site for more information or to fill out a space contract. 

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