The House Communications Subcommittee approved Internet accessibility legislation in a voice vote Wednesday afternoon, with a manager’s amendment by Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va. Boucher said he hoped to offer another manager’s amendment later to address “remaining points of difference,” including those related to video description rules. Meanwhile, disabilities rights advocates were upset after learning the amendment cut out a provision that would subsidize broadband services and equipment for people with disabilities.

Analysts debated over renewed speculations that a Verizon iPhone deal is coming in January 2011. A Bloomberg story citing unnamed sources said the device will be available to customers in January. A deal could hurt manufacturer Research In Motion’s BlackBerry sales, some analysts said. Spokespersons from Verizon Wireless and Apple declined to comment.

Cable and CE interests used replies this week in the FCC’s rulemaking into how to level the playing field for retail-based CableCARD devices (CD April 22 p6) by rehashing familiar arguments in the years-old CableCARD debate. Cable and other pay-TV providers renewed their call for an FCC waiver from CableCARD rules for digital tuning adapters (DTAs). CE companies urged the commission to reject a “blanket waiver” on DTAs and to go slow on any such exemptions until the “true cost” of CableCARD “alternatives” can be established.

The president’s quest to get 500 MHz of spectrum for wireless broadband (CD June 28 p1) could be met by using allocations from various federal government agencies, including the Defense Department, and spectrum set for private use, broadcast and wireless lawyers said. Spectrum on the government side could also come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Justice Department, while mobile satellite service (MSS), D block and other spectrum set for private use also would help, they said. President Barack Obama’s memo outlining the White House’s commitment to identifying and reallocating federal and commercial spectrum has left those in the wireless and broadcast industries wondering how the administration and agencies will proceed, and which private sector entities are willing to let go of their spectrum.

Members of the NoChokePoints Coalition used the pending termination of price controls on AT&T’s special access lines to urge the FCC to move ahead with its special access proceeding. The telco agreed to price controls when it acquired BellSouth. They no longer apply as of Thursday. Those who purchase special access from AT&T describe the rates the company charges -- and the new rates it will charge once it’s out of its agreement -- as exorbitant. AT&T has described the current rates as “temporary rate reductions” and said Tuesday any increases would be returns to normal rates.

There’s precedent for the FCC to pause the so-called shot clock in its review of Comcast’s plan to buy control of NBC Universal, though doing so more than once as the commission has in this case is somewhat rare, veteran agency and industry officials said. That the FCC has twice paused the clock, moved back to day 37 and held there until the companies file additional materials, augurs that the commission will end the review before day 180, the agency’s goal in reviewing all deals, they said. Thorough review by the commission and Justice Department had been expected and doesn’t necessarily mean the deal won’t be approved (CD Jan 19 p8).

Vermont regulators turned thumbs down on a FairPoint proposal for a new regulatory arrangement with the state as part of the company’s Chapter 11 reorganization. The settlement was negotiated with the state Department of Public Service. Earlier, the Maine utility commission approved a variation on the proposal that the Vermont board rejected. New Hampshire authorities are still reviewing the settlement version proposed there.

Belgium, assuming the EU presidency July 1, will oversee several key telecom initiatives, including the creation of a multi-year radio spectrum policy plan and a pan-European broadband strategy. Political upheaval that resulted in a caretaker government may make the country less effective at pushing the issues than other nations, several observers said.

Bills on spectrum reallocation are coming soon from Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., they said after President Barack Obama committed to freeing up 500 MHz of spectrum over 10 years for wireless broadband. In a presidential memo Monday, Obama outlined a process to identify federal and commercial spectrum for reallocation, and use auction proceeds to support public safety. The effort will comprise administrative and legislative actions, and the White House plans to work with members of Congress, a senior administration official who refused to be named in stories told reporters on a conference call.

Final FCC action on program access cases against Cablevision may be in sight now that Verizon amended its complaint and after AT&T changes its own, which may occur soon, industry and commission officials predicted Monday. Action by Media Bureau staffers reviewing the complaints that the cable operator unfairly withheld HD streams from the telcos of two regional sports networks had been awaiting the revision by Verizon, they said. AT&T said Thursday it would make a supplemental filing within 10 days if Madison Square Garden (MSG), spun off from Cablevision, didn’t start good-faith talks (CD June 25 p11).