Japanese wireless carriers KDDI, NTT DoCoMo and SoftBank launched rich communications services based on GSM Association specifications, GSMA said Wednesday: Called "+ message," it's an upgrade to SMS, adding "messaging features such as chat, group chat, video, gifs, file and location sharing.” The service “is poised for explosive growth this year with more and more operators launching,” said Alex Sinclair, GSMA chief technology officer.
The Supreme Court should review Apple’s attempt to block a class-action lawsuit alleging it monopolized the distribution of App Store applications, inflating consumer prices by preventing third parties from selling apps directly to consumers, DOJ said Tuesday. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the lawsuit could proceed, citing federal antitrust law. DOJ claims the lower court misapplied the Illinois Brick rule, which prevents indirect purchasers from seeking certain antitrust damages passed on by third parties -- in this case the developers. Apple has argued only the developers, not consumers, can sue in this case. Applying the Illinois Brick rule to these types of e-commerce sales “will significantly affect the private enforcement of federal antitrust law, in part because other existing and emerging e-commerce platforms use similar models,” DOJ said. “The importance of the question presented will only grow as commerce continues to move online.”
Waymo, Uber and other ride-hailing companies should publicly detail testing procedures and results for autonomous vehicles, Consumers Union said Wednesday. CU cited two recent collisions involving separate Waymo and Uber test vehicles. It said Uber reportedly determined a test vehicle killed a pedestrian in Arizona in March (see 1803230071) after its systems identified the person as a “benign object.” Waymo denied blame in a May accident in Arizona in which a swerving mini-van apparently crossed a median and collided with a test vehicle, said the group. “There shouldn’t be tests on public roads, let alone commercial use, until the companies have proven the systems are safe,” said CU Director-Cars and Products Policy and Analysis David Friedman. Uber is doing a “top-to-bottom” safety review of the program, working with former National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Christopher Hart on safety culture, a spokeswoman said. “Our review is looking at everything from the safety of our system to our training processes for vehicle operators, and we hope to have more to say soon.” Waymo didn’t comment.
The Commerce Department’s Office of Inspector General is launching a review of FirstNet’s contract with AT&T to build the national network for first responders. The audit focuses on FirstNet’s implementation of the contract rather than the award itself and is a routine audit, government officials said. AT&T, NTIA and FirstNet didn’t comment. “Our objective is to determine whether FirstNet properly administered Task Order Number 3, Deployment, Operation, and Maintenance of the Nationwide Core,” said a one-page May 3 IG memo. “We will conduct our fieldwork at FirstNet’s headquarters in Reston, Virginia, and other locations as needed.” The IG could be conducting a spot audit, which is common “especially with contracts this large” or the IG could be reacting to a complaint, said a former Commerce Department official.
Digital billboard company Liantronics found itself in the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s crosshairs for alleged violations of RF rules. Liantronics agreed to admit it “marketed LED signs without the required equipment authorization, labeling, and user manual disclosures, will implement a compliance plan, and will pay a $61,000 civil penalty,” said a Tuesday order. “Rules ensure that radio-frequency devices marketed in the United States do not interfere with authorized communications, thereby maintaining network integrity and security and protecting consumers.” The Shenzhen, China-based company didn’t comment.
The wireless industry must take responsibility for designing more attractive cellsites, Marcus Spectrum Solutions filed in FCC docket 17-79. The firm questioned whether there's a “serious culture problem” in the cellular industry that keeps it from offering more attractive facilities. “While the industry has shown itself capable of designing and installing very neat small base stations, it also is installing quite messy ones on utility poles even in the present era of local government oversight,” Marcus said in the Tuesday filing. “We support limiting such oversight, but unless the industry changes its culture on this issue there is a real risk of a grass root reaction to messy construction near eye level in 1000s of neighborhoods across the country.”
The Association of American Railroads expressed concerns about railroads’ ability to use the 6 GHz band for the safe operation of trains if the spectrum is opened for licensed or unlicensed mobile use. “Railroads have depended on interference-free communications systems that utilize the 6 GHz band to serve as the backbone for their communications networks for several decades,” AAR filed Monday in docket 17-183. Railroads use the band to control wayside track switches and signals and provide an ongoing view of train location, the group said. The FCC launched a notice of inquiry in August seeking comment on mid-band spectrum for 5G and other wireless broadband (see 1708030052).
NXP, which makes dedicated short-range communications chips for the 2017 Cadillac CTS, told the FCC it should protect the technology in the 5.9 GHz band. “DSRC is uniquely configured to enable continuous, low latency, and secure data exchanges between vehicles and the roadway infrastructure to support safety-critical applications,” NXP said in docket 13-49. "Connected Vehicle technologies based on DSRC have the potential to provide benefits including increasing mobility, reducing crashes, and most importantly saving lives."
The Utilities Technology Council said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should contact the FCC and hold formal meetings on energy and telecom industry convergence. UTC filed the request in FERC docket AD18-7, looking at how to build a more resilient electrical grid. A UTC official said this is the first time the group formally made that request at FERC. “Jurisdictional overlaps speak to the growing interdependencies between the telecommunications and energy sectors,” UTC said. “Not only is spectrum needed for day-to-day reliability on the Bulk Power System, but it is essential for ‘smart grid’ and utility of the future applications. As the use of these resources grows, electric utilities will need more spectrum to continue the reliable operation of their systems. If the transition to a more consumer-centric, distributed utility industry is going to be realized, a clear recognition of these cross-sector interdependencies must be understood and collaboration across government must occur.” UTC said most utilities use communications networks for real-time monitoring of medium- and high-voltage networks, protective relays, energy, outage and distribution management, smart metering and substation automation.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is developing a virtual reality simulation program that will allow first responders to practice emergency response operation and communication. One virtual scenario is firefighting in a hotel, NIST said, and researchers are creating scenarios for law enforcement. “We’re creating this test bed because we don’t believe anyone else has the focus or capabilities to test user interfaces for first responders,” NIST project leader Scott Ledgerwood said. NIST said companies will be able to visit NIST “soon” to test experimental interfaces.