White House formally renominated FCC Comr. Ness again for new term, throwing her bid to stay on Commission back to Senate Commerce Committee for consideration. Ness was renominated last year, but Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.) never scheduled confirmation vote, and she currently functions under recess appointment that expires as soon as another commissioner is appointed. If cleared by Committee, Ness’s 5-year term would start from July 1, 1999, expiration of her last one. However, Commerce Committee spokeswoman said panel would concentrate on confirming Bush cabinet members before considering Ness’s situation.

U.S. Navy has authorized Boeing Satellite Systems to begin production of 11th in series of UHF Follow-On (UFO) satellites, which provide global communications for armed forces. UFO F-11 will carry UHF payload for narrowband 2-way battlefield connectivity and EHF payload. Subsystem provides enhanced antijam telemetry, command, broadcast and fleet interconnectivity communications, using advanced signal processing techniques.

AT&T Wireless subsidiary Triton PCS said it added 84,811 customers in quarter ended Dec. 31 and for year subscriber base doubled to 446,401 from 1999. Triton said churn (customer turnover rate) dropped to 1.78% in quarter from 1.94% in 3rd quarter. Roaming min. in 4th quarter rose to 110 million from 56.6 million. Leap Wireless ended 2000 with 190,000 customers in 10 markets, adding 127,500 in quarter ended Dec. 31 and tripling subscriber base and exceeding year-end goals, Leap CEO Harvey White said. Leap plans to offer its Cricket wireless service in 35 markets by end of this year.

France Telecom plans to float up to 15% of shares of Orange PLC, its subsidiary European wireless carrier, in London and Paris. Share price will value Orange at 70-80 billion euros. Further 5% will be available to investors in convertible bonds, exchangeable for Orange shares at up to 1/3 above price. Prospectus will be published at end of Jan. Flotation comes after mobile phone sector racked up debt in recent 3G license auctions.

Rep. Oxley (R-O.) may have lost his bid to lead Commerce Committee, but he still could have influence on telecom policy. He introduced bill (HR-235) to require FCC to eliminate its restrictions on newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership. Meanwhile, Rep. King (R-N.Y.) offered bill that would authorize FTC to issue new regulations on telemarketers. He has 9 initial co-sponsors, including Oxley. Also, two more lawmakers quickly brought back bills from last year: (1) Rep. Portman (R-O.) reintroduced his bill to repeal 3% telephone excise tax (now HR-236), with 30 initial co-sponsors. Bill passed House by 420-2 vote last year but never got vote in Senate. It then was folded into appropriations legislation that was vetoed by President Clinton. Bill again will go through Ways & Means Committee. It’s expected to get more favorable reception from incoming President Bush. (2) Rep. Holt (D-N.J.) reintroduced his measure (now HR-113) to prevent spamming on wireless devices. Introduced late in last session, Holt’s bill never got serious consideration.

New technology may allow engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to stay home and do their jobs. Service provided by eTrue may allow engineers to use biometric authentication to log on from off-site computers or repair unmanned space craft. After test project is completed within year, NASA will test 3 other biometric products and select one to implement in 2 years.

Cingular Wireless and CWA finalized 4-year contract that covers more than 2,100 workers in Ill., Mass., N.Y. and Md. and includes 15.3% pay increase over life of accord. CWA said negotiation was first with Cingular, which includes merged wireless arms of BellSouth and SBC. Agreement provides for card check recognition, which allows company to recognize union when majority of employees sign cards saying they want representation. System already exists for wireless workers in SBC territory but hadn’t been for larger Cingular entity. Agreement also creates first pay progression system at Cingular, from entry to top levels, CWA spokeswoman said. While deal covers wage increase, most workers will receive additional boosts under progression plan. Contract creates grievance, mediation and arbitration procedure and keeps existing retirement, health care and education benefits, CWA said. Union now represents 10,000 Cingular employees. Agreement with Cingular came after SBC and CWA late last month broke off negotiations for contract renewal covering Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell/Nevada Bell, Ameritech and Southern New England Telephone. Contracts don’t expire until April 1 but company and union had hoped to wrap up talks before Dec. holidays.

Ericsson will upgrade network of Ukraine’s Kyivstar to General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) under $100 million contract. Companies said that marked first GPRS agreement in Ukraine. Contract includes addition of GSM 1800 MHz for dual-band capacity and GPRS/GSM core and radio access infrastructure that will allow wireless Web access. Ericsson said wireless Internet services were expected to be in operation in 2nd half of year.

Ind. Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will hold hearing Jan. 16 on Ameritech’s proposed $1 million settlement for continuation of price cap regulation. Under agreement with Office of Utility Consumer Counsel, Ind. Intelenet Commission and AT&T, Ameritech would invest $832 million in next several years to improve its infrastructure, including replacement of all analog electronic network switches with digital, and upgrading substantial portion of central offices to provide high-speed Internet access. Agreement also would require Ameritech next fall to cut residential rates $62 million and business rates $106 million. Separately, bill introduced in Ind. Senate would give IURC legal jurisdiction over mergers of parent holding companies that own telephone, energy and other utilities operating in state. Legislation by state Sen. Timothy Lanane (D-Indianapolis) addresses 1999 Ind. Supreme Court ruling that IURC lacked legal authority over SBC-Ameritech and Bell Atlantic-GTE mergers.

To no one’s great surprise, cable TV remains dominant technology for delivering video programming to consumers, according to 7th annual video competition report adopted last week and released by FCC Mon. Commission found that cable industry totaled 67.7 million subscribers in June 2000, up one million (1.5%) from 66.7 million in June 1999. But DBS continued to make steady inroads in cable’s market share, adding almost 3 million subscribers over same period to reach nearly 13 million last June, up 29% from year earlier. Largely as result, cable operators now control 80% of burgeoning pay-TV market, down from 82% year earlier, while DBS providers now command growing 15.4%.