Turn, which helps sellers target digital advertisements to consumers, agreed to settle FTC allegations it deceived consumers by tracking them online and through mobile apps even after they tried to opt out, said the commission in a Tuesday news release. Commissioners voted 3-0 to issue the administrative complaint and accept the consent agreement, which will be published in the Federal Register soon and subject to public comment through Jan. 19. After that, the commission will decide whether to make the proposed order final. The FTC alleged Turn's privacy policy said consumers could block targeted ads through blocking or limiting cookies on web browsers. But the company "used unique identifiers to track millions of Verizon Wireless customers, even after they blocked or deleted cookies from websites," said the commission. Turn's opt-out mechanism applied only to mobile browsers, but even users there couldn't block tailored ads, the agency added. The consent order bars Turn from misrepresenting the extent of its tracking and the ability of consumers to limit or control the company's use of data. It directs the company to offer an effective opt-out mechanism. In a blog post, Turn General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer John Wolf Konstant wrote that the company agreed to the order to avoid a "lengthy and costly litigation process." He said the company complies with laws, industry standards and regulations and takes consumer privacy "seriously" since it was built to avoid collecting personally identifiable information.

Audiology device supplier Oticon will use CES to showcase what it calls the world’s first hearing aid capable of connecting to the internet via the IFTTT network that supports Amazon's Alexa and other devices, the company announced Monday. Called the Opn, the small, discreet hearing aid can be programmed to talk directly with doorbells, smoke detectors and other smart devices via an Oticon app, it said. “In its core function as a listening device, Opn overcomes a challenge the most advanced hearing solutions can’t solve: the ability to handle noisy environments with multiple speakers.”

The NFC Forum announced availability of one candidate specification and three adopted technical specs that will enable communication with a broader range of devices and tags, it said in a Monday announcement. NFC Controller Interface (NCI) spec version 2.0, published as a candidate spec in June 2015, is now adopted after comments from stakeholders. Additions enable more flexibility for near-field communications devices with multiple secure elements, the option for NFC controllers to emulate NFV Forum tags autonomously, and a high-level radio-frequency interface allowing IoT devices to support communication with NFC Forum tags, it said. NFC Activity Technical Specification Version 2.0 defines the building blocks (activities) to set up the RF protocol for different roles inside an NFC device. NFC Digital Protocol Technical Specification Version 2.0 defines the digital part of the RF protocol used by NFC devices.

The Small Cell Forum and 5G Americas said Monday they jointly released two detailed guides to support the efficient deployment of small cells. The two mobile wireless organizations cooperated to produce the reports, "Small Cell Siting: Regulatory and Deployment Considerations" and "Multi-Operator and Neutral Host Small Cells: Drivers, Architectures, Planning and Regulation." “The documents mark the first output of SCF and 5G America’s liaison agreement, created explicitly to support and simplify the planning and regulatory issues associated with the dense Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) deployments that will be typical in our 5G mobile future, and in which small cells will be a significant component,” the groups said. Small-cell shipments are expected to more than double from about 4 million in 2016 to nearly 10 million in 2020, the groups said. The papers are available for free from both groups.

The FCC Public Safety Bureau sought comment Monday on a request by the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) that the agency initiate a proceeding on how smartphone 911 apps potentially interface with 911 systems. “NASNA states that its members have had ‘real-world’ experiences with 911 apps that ‘concern [them] greatly,’ including: a 911 app that ‘enables the end-user to over-ride location information generated by the device and send a different location to 911,’” the bureau said in a notice in RM-11780. “We seek comment on NASNA’s request and the appropriate role for the Commission.” Comments are due Feb. 2, replies March 6.

The FCC Wireless Bureau proposed to modify the license of a 218-219 MHz station in New Jersey to facilitate positive train control (PTC) deployment for New Jersey Transit, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and certain freight railroads. That “will serve the public interest in rail safety first by providing NJ Transit access to suitable spectrum in an area where it has encountered challenges in obtaining spectrum to deploy PTC,” the Monday order said. “It will enable SEPTA to transition its PTC operations to the 218-219 MHz band, providing needed spectral separation from potentially interfering freight railroad PTC operations in the 220-222 MHz band.” PTC-220, which is helping railroads deploy PTC, has 30 days to protest the decision, the bureau said. Officials said lack of PTC was partly to blame for a September train crash involving an NJ Transit train (see 1609290067). U.S. railroads were supposed to have had PTC in place by Dec. 31, 2015, but got a three-year extension last year after telling Congress they couldn't launch everywhere along their systems by then (see 1510290069).

AT&T Wireless is offering a buy-one-get-one smartphone deal through Dec. 24, it said Friday. New customers can get up to $695 in credits per line ($650 for the 32 GB iPhone 7 or 7 Plus; $695 for the Samsung GS7 or LG G5) for free when they trade in their current smartphone and sign up for the BOGO offer, a spokeswoman emailed us. AT&T is leveraging its DirecTV business, offering smartphone customers with DirecTV unlimited data for four smartphone lines for $180 a month after two bills at $220 per month. The fine print says after 22GB of data usage on a line in a bill cycle, AT&T “may slow data speeds” for a line for the remainder of the bill cycle “during periods of network congestion.” The eligible smartphones are “virtually every one you would want for the holidays,” said the carrier. The BOGO offer requires AT&T Next or AT&T Next Every Year plans starting at $70 per month.

The FCC Public Safety Bureau sought comment on cybersecurity for 5G devices, it said in a Friday notice of inquiry. “We are not conducting this NOI in a vacuum,” the bureau said. “We intend this inquiry to complement the important work on cybersecurity that is already taking place within the government and private sector. The Commission, these other groups, and the wireless industry all have a significant interest in ensuring that these new networks consider security risk and mitigation techniques from the outset. This NOI, and the record it seeks to develop, will help in that effort.” Initial comments are due 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The FCC released its order, approved Thursday, on the transition from text technology (TTY) to real-time text (RTT) (see 1612150048). “RTT is a native IP technology designed for the packet-switched network environment that allows users to make RTT calls using the built-in functionality of numerous off-the-shelf devices,” said the order, released Friday. “Commenters confirm that RTT features, including its full duplex operation, seamless integration of voice and text, international character set, and speed, will greatly improve the availability, efficiency and reliability of text-based communications sent over IP-based networks.” A key question has been how flexible the rules would be. “Given that the deployment of RTT is still in its infancy in the U.S., we acknowledge the need for flexibility in its implementation, and agree that specific calling requirements at this time could delay or undermine its deployment,” the FCC said. The agency said, rather than mandate specific features or capabilities, the order has the “overarching goal of enabling RTT to serve as a universally integrated accessibility solution that is functionally equivalent to voice communications.” The item also includes a Further NPRM. Among the questions is when the FCC should sunset a requirement that carriers also support TTY along with RTT as TTY is being phased out.

The FCC Wireless Bureau granted petitions by Maritime Communications/Land Mobile (MCLM) and Choctaw Holdings to reconsider a 2014 memorandum and order (MO&O) in docket 13-85. The FCC had rejected a request by MCLM and Choctaw to obtain relief under the commission’s Second Thursday doctrine that would have permitted the processing of an application to assign all of MCLM’s licenses to Choctaw as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan. The FCC instead granted in part an alternative request by the parties that involved assigning some MCLM spectrum to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority and various electric, gas and oil companies. But the Wireless Bureau changed its mind in the order released Thursday. “Changed circumstances -- the discharge in bankruptcy of Donald DePriest, an alleged real-party-in-interest in MCLM -- arising after the adoption of the MO&O warrant reconsideration of the MO&O and support granting Second Thursday relief,” it said. “This decision also terminates the hearing as to MCLM’s basic qualifications, eliminates the need to address the merits of the other pending petitions for reconsideration of the MO&O, and paves the way for MCLM’s remaining licenses to be assigned to qualified third parties, with the proceeds benefitting innocent creditors of MCLM.” The FCC also denied an application filed by Warren Havens for review of a Wireless Bureau Mobility Division action denying other petitions for reconsideration of the initial grant of the automated maritime telecom system licenses to MCLM.