I get NECA’s daily email about what is happening at the FCC. What a headache. So much activity. Look:

Under Open Internet:

• Paid Prioritization 
• Net Neutrality 
• Title II Classification for Wireless Broadband Services

• ATT Supports Using Section 706 to Prohibit Paid Prioritization
• Google Supports Rules Encouraging Investment in Abundant Bandwidth
• Free Press Opposes Open Internet Hybrid Approach, Edge Facing Proposals
• Sen. Cruz calls Net Neutrality the Obamacare of the Internet
• Akamai Technologies Supports Section 706 for Broadband
• 5% of rural America cannot get wired broadband.
• If only we had more competition for broadband… The Future was stolen.

Other Topics under Consideration:

• Rural Call Completion Reporting Rules (and Problems)
• TDM-to-IP Transition
• USF/ICC Transformation Order
• IP Inter-connection Rules
• VoIP Symmetry Rule
• ATT Argues CLECs, VoIP Partners Do Not Provide Local Switching
• CAF Phase II Cost Model
• ECT/Lifeline Program
• Urban Rate Floor [comments]
• Muni Broadband Networks
• LNP Administrator Transition

Not to mention the usual E-911, public safety, consumer protection and competition goals of the FCC.

And now “The Federal Communications Commission took its first step into the field of data security regulation on October 24 when it hit two telecommunications companies with a $10 million fine for allegedly failing to adequately safeguard customers’ sensitive information.” [source]

The open topics are ways that the FCC can make itself relevant again. This past week it floated 3 more ideas around. David Byrd at ANPI summarized them:

“Earlier this week, I circulated a proposal to update the Commission’s rules to give video providers who operate over the Internet — or any other method of transmission — the same access to programming that cable and satellite operators have. This change should ultimately give consumers more options to buy the programming they want.

“Those same principles apply in the context of an item I circulated last week on an issue commonly referred to as ‘VoIP symmetry.’ The notion is simple — interconnected VoIP is functionally equivalent to traditional voice service, and the Commission’s rules that govern the way communications companies pay each other to complete voice calls must reflect that. Technology-neutral rules are best.

“Technology transitions will be speeded by technology-neutral rules that promote, preserve and protect the enduring values that consumers have rightly come to expect. Chief among them is the ability to reach emergency responders, and the ability to choose products and services in a competitive market. Technology must improve; these values must be protected.”

The E-Rate program is also under review and being re-vamped for 2015.

The USF Rural Healthcare program is also under review. This program provides up to 65% of the costs of network. We will see where they go with that.

Crazy morning thought about hosted PBX:

Let your competition buy another phone system. Our business communications system will blow that away.
It doesn’t just allow you to communicate with your customers; it allows your employees to collaborate.
It will change the way you do business. (Do you want to change the way you do business?)

While that may make good ad copy, it would make for a good sales pitch from a confident sales professional who could then have a great conversation about the business and how it communicates now.

This is old copy of an add from ININ (Interactive Intelligence).

In an article today from VC Fred Wislon:

“Capital is not normally a recipe for success vs competition. Product execution, network effects, go to market strategies, and a few other things are what allows companies to win the market. Access to capital and raising a boatload of it is rarely the thing that wins the market.”

I gave a talk recently where I said that Ideas were worthless. Ideas are free and a dime a dozen. Execution is where it is at. Without execution, an idea is just a dream.

My projects are usually about execution or improving execution.

Since TWC is about to be bought and broken up, I didn’t think they would roll out any new products. And since TWC is one of the few MSO’s without a Broadsoft, I didn’t even think an app was possible. But TWC launched a phone and tablet app for its home landline users call Phone 2 Go. The analyst at Telecompetitor thinks that people will dump their voice plans on their cellphone.

IP Transition was the subject of 2 big meetings at the FCC.

XO “met with Wireline Competition Bureau staff on October 9, 2014, to suggest it would serve the public interest to maximize use of existing copper infrastructure in the transition to fiber.” Any EoC carriers are going to be worried about how the ILECs handle copper retirement going forward. XO “also expressed support for Windstream’s proposal regarding continued access to DSn unbundled network elements regardless of the underlying technology and to access equivalent services where DSn special access services are discontinued.”

“Windstream met with Chairman Wheeler’s Legal Advisor and General Counsel staff on October 22, 2014, to reiterate its view that discontinuation of TDM services and retirement of copper facilities does not warrant elimination of FCC oversight of competitive issues in the telecommunications industry. It urged the Commission to remind ILECs that they cannot relieve themselves of their obligation to provide DS1 and DS3 unbundled network element loops simply by transitioning to an all-IP network or retiring copper plant.” [NECA]

Something to watch.