The FCC delayed for a second time emergency alert system rules for traditional media to get and pass on to viewers and listeners EAS warnings that the government distributes online. The commission Friday delayed by nine months to June 30 the date when all multichannel video programming distributors and radio and TV stations must be ready for the Common Alerting Protocol format. That’s longer than the four-month compliance delay sought (CD Aug 8 p3) by CAP’s developer, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It released the new standard in September 2010, and CAP is part of the integrated public alert and warning system (IPAWS).
On the evening of September 19, 2011, the Senate is scheduled to conduct one or more procedural votes on H.R. 2832, the House-passed bill to reinstate the GSP program retroactive to its expiration date and raise the Merchandise Processing Fee. It is not known if a vote to pass H.R. 2832 could also occur on this date, or if there is significant opposition to the measure.
Parts of the jobs bill’s spectrum provisions are being given by analysts, lobbyists and others at least a fighting chance of being enacted by Congress in coming months. Observers agree that spectrum fees called for in the White House-proposed legislation face a tough fight. While giving the FCC authority to hold incentive auctions has broad support on the Hill, many Republicans continue to oppose a proposal in the jobs bill giving public safety the 700 MHz D-block in addition to the 700 MHz spectrum it already has.
Lawmakers offered high praise for the FTC’s proposed changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Thursday. Consumer advocacy groups were mixed in their reaction to the proposal, while industry groups like the Direct Marketing Association said COPPA needs no changes.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has asked cable lobbyists about what the commission should do with carrier of last resort (COLR) obligations as it contemplates universal service reform, cable executives told us Wednesday. Wireline staff have also asked questions about whether cable companies would be willing to go through the eligible telecommunications carrier process if the commission gets rid of the provision for ILEC right-of-first refusal in the proposed America’s Broadband Connectivity plan, executives said in a reporters’ briefing Wednesday at NCTA headquarters in Washington.
Spectrum proposals in the Jobs Bill proposal released by the White House Monday (CD Sept 13 p1)) offer “the most promise for actually creating sustainable jobs on a long-term basis -- more than almost any other aspect of the President’s proposals,” Free State Foundation President Randolph May said Tuesday. “The spectrum proposals contain positive elements, such as giving the FCC permanent auction authority and giving it authority to hold incentive auctions.” CTIA President Steve Largent said Congress should act quickly on the spectrum provisions. “Bringing additional spectrum to auction expeditiously is critical to efforts to address wireless consumers’ demand for mobile broadband service, just as it is key to spurring additional investment, innovation and job creation across the wireless ecosystem,” he said. CEA also praised the spectrum parts of the bill. “By incentivizing broadcasters to return underutilized spectrum, our nation can solve our wireless spectrum shortage, create jobs and raise billions of dollars to help address the ballooning deficit,” said CEA President Gary Shapiro.
FBI Director Robert Mueller asked for legislation to speed government requests for access to user communications on Google, Facebook and other websites. Tuesday at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing about the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Mueller said the FBI wants to ensure that social media websites “have the capability to respond to court orders” seeking communications of users. The FBI had raised the issue at a February hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, but hadn’t called for legislation.
FBI Director Robert Mueller asked for legislation to speed government requests for access to user communications on Google, Facebook and other websites. Tuesday at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing about the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Mueller said the FBI wants to ensure that social media websites “have the capability to respond to court orders” seeking communications of users. The FBI had raised the issue at a February hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, but hadn’t called for legislation.
Rick Kaplan, chief of the FCC Wireless Bureau, said that as it moves on spectrum legislation, Congress should give the FCC maximum flexibility to act. The remarks came during a panel Tuesday sponsored by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Speakers disagreed sharply about whether Congress is playing a helpful role as it considers legislation giving the FCC authority to hold voluntary incentive auctions for broadcast and other spectrum, as proposed last year in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan. This week, the administration proposed incentive auctions as part of the spectrum provisions in its Jobs Bill (CD Sept 13 p1).
Press reports indicate that Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) has announced a deal for a time line on amending and passing H.R. 2832 to reinstate the GSP program retroactive to its expiration date and raise the Merchandise Processing Fee.