Senate Commerce Communications Subcommittee members say they intend to work with wireless industry to exceed E-911 Phase 2 compliance plan deadlines. Sen. Wyden (D-Ore.) said at hearing Tues. that nation “has been forced to reorder its priorities” since Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and should serve as reminder to carriers “of the absolute critical need” to deploy location identification technology.

European Telecom Network Operators Assn. (ETNO) urged European Union (EU) telecom ministers to put forward “harmonized legal framework” on competition principles. Telecom ministers meet in Brussels Oct. 15-16 to take up 2nd and final reading of telecom regulatory review package, which includes general framework proposal and 4 more specific proposals on access and interconnection, universal service, authorization, data protection. Adoption of final package is expected in Dec., ETNO said. “We do not want any regulation of services such as mobile telephony that have emerged from a competitive environment,” ETNO Dir. Michael Bartholomew said. “We require a level playing field. To achieve a single market in telecoms, we need safeguards against arbitrary, and potentially contradictory, decisions by national regulatory authorities in different EU countries.” ETNO, which represents 45 European telecom operators in 35 countries, said in position paper submitted to telecom ministers that it was “anxious” over extent to which debate could be reopened on traffic data retention after last month’s terrorist attacks in U.S. Under current regulatory regime for data protection, network operators are permitted to store traffic data for only limited period and only for billing purposes, ETNO noted. Proposed directive that ministers are considering on data protection “does already contain provisions” that will let EU member states adopt legislative measures to safeguard public security and open investigations into criminal and terrorist activities. “ETNO strongly believes that any extension in storage requirements to meet the requests of law enforcement authorities will have to be carefully justified in terms of all costs and benefits for society as a whole,” position paper said. In other areas, ETNO said it was concerned that EU members “do not appreciate the fundamental need to achieve a harmonized market.” It urged safeguards to bar “arbitrary” decisions by national regulatory authorities. Group also urged hands-off regulatory approach, particularly on proposals by telecom ministers on access and interconnection directives. Prospect of “price controls could discourage investment in new technologies and services,” ETNO said.

National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA) expressed disappointment that FCC granted conditional waivers last week to 5 carriers on Enhanced 911 implementation. “While NENA is disappointed with the conditional approval of these carriers’ implementation plans, the FCC is attempting to take positive steps to move wireless 911 forward,” NENA Pres. Sharon Counterman said. “Clearly our public safety efforts mandate that this technology is implemented soon rather than later.” She said FCC orders released Fri. (CD Oct 9 p1) responded to some of public safety community’s concerns through provisions such as required quarterly reporting. “Enforcement action regarding AT&T and Cingular is also appropriate and NENA urges the Commission to proceed with consent decrees that reflect AT&T’s and Cingular’s recent more proactive TDMA proposals, which come much closer to meeting the goals of Phase 2,” NENA said.

National Communications System (NCS) said Thurs. that U.S. govt. planned to work with newly named Special Adviser to the President for Cyberspace Security Richard Clarke on accelerating efforts to deploy priority access service for wireless networks. “In times of severe wireless network congestion, call completion percentages can drop well below 5 percent,” Clarke said. “It is essential that we work with industry to deploy priority access service for use in crisis situations as soon as possible.” Clarke said he asked Lt. Gen. Harry Raduege (Ret.), NCS manager, and NCS Deputy Mgr. Brent Greene to help in “getting priority service deployed for cellphones as soon as possible.” Cellphone network congestion in immediate hours after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks received public attention. NCS praised emergency response of industry and govt. workers to restore emergency communications after attacks. Wireline networks already have mandatory priority access system that ensures that calls by emergency workers and designated public officials could be made on network even if it were tied up with higher-than- normal level of calls. FCC last year laid out rules for priority access for public safety and security personnel during emergencies, but order didn’t mandate that carriers provide that to public safety personnel at federal, state and local levels. CTIA wrote recently to NCS that, at its request, industry would provide priority access service capabilities for 500 national security and emergency personnel in about 60 days. System that would support 50,000 personnel would be ready by year-end 2002, CTIA said. NCS said Sept. 11 attacks had “reaffirmed the need for such a capability and its accelerated implementation.” It said that “in certain emergencies where wireline networks have been damaged, wireless systems provide the only means of communication, increasing congestion even further.” NCS said it planned to evaluate ways to roll out wireless priority access service in short term in certain metropolitan areas and in longer term across U.S.

Effort to get tech-related provisions added to economic stimulus package reached Las Vegas Wed. as U.S. Internet Industry Assn. (USIIA) used ISPCon to start its call for a national broadband strategy. USIIA Pres. David McClure told us that while multipart plan urged on President Bush was constituent of long-developed strategy to keep U.S. ahead in technology, events of Sept. 11 and possible recession made many provisions relevant for stimulus package. Computing Technology Industry Assn. (CompTIA) and its affiliated Alliance for Small Business Investment in Technology (ASBIT) also released what CompTIA spokesman called high-tech “wish list” for economic stimulus package. CompTIA and ASBIT wrote members late Tues., and like USIIA focused on such issues as broadband tax credits and R&D funding. “Deployment of broadband would add $600 billion to the U.S. economy,” McClure said, benefitting all of communications, “from satellite and wireless to cable and telephony.” USIIA broadband policy contains 10 points: (1) Deploy broadband Internet in every home, business and school in America by 2010. (2) Specify that broadband services are interstate and international to exempt them from state regulations. (3) Make reliability of broadband networks equivalent to telephony networks. (4) Make permanent federal R&D tax credit. (5) “Commit to economic policies that encourage investment in new and emerging broadband technologies, including wired, fiber optic, cable, wireless and satellite technologies.” (6) Require broadband network operators to allow access and nondiscriminatory pricing for independent ISPs. (7) Issue regulations that encourage investment in broadband networks through regulatory parity and “doctrine of laissez-faire.” (8) Ensure service in underserved areas through subsidiaries and investment incentives. (9) Make sure broadband is affordable by passing permanent moratorium on Internet access charges by govt. taxing agencies. (10) Continue support for the Commerce Dept.’s Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), e-rate and other federal programs.

White House centralized coordination of infrastructure security Tues. by creating “cybersecurity czar” position that would report to National Security Advisory Condoleezza Rice and newly appointed Homeland Security Dir. Thomas Ridge (R) (former Pa. governor.) Richard Clarke, most recently National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection and Counterterrorism on National Security Council, will become Special Adviser to President for Cyberspace Security. “Our economy, our national defense, increasingly our very way of life, depends upon the secure and safe operation of critical infrastructures, that in turn depend on cyberspace,” Clarke said Tues. Office of Homeland Security created Mon. will have oversight of critical infrastructure protection. Protection of “critical public and privately owned information systems” from terrorist attack was one specific function of office outlined in order. Order also tasked office to “coordinate efforts to ensure rapid restoration of public and private critical information systems after disruption by a terrorist threat or attack.” Clarke also will be chmn. of govt.-wide board to coordinate protection of critical infrastructure systems, Ridge said. July 19 draft described board with representatives that included: Depts. of State, Defense, Commerce, Justice, Energy, Treasury, Transportation, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Office of Management & Budget, Office of Science & Technology Policy, General Services Administration, Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO) dir. (located in Commerce Dept.), vice chmn. of Chief Information Officers (CIO) council, FBI’s National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) dir. FCC chmn. could appoint representative, but “such appointment shall in no way derogate from the Commission’s independence in its regulatory and administrative functions,” draft said. Sources told us there might be representative for state infrastructure protection issues, but there was no mention of that representation in July 19 draft.

In unveiling “new plan” for 3G, Bush Administration took off table -- for time being -- bulk of 1755-1850 MHz band occupied by Defense Dept. systems that had been under consideration for advanced wireless services. NTIA, FCC, DoD and other executive branch agencies outlined revised assessment of 3G spectrum that now focuses on potential use of 1710-1770 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz. Move had been expected, particularly in light of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that increased political leverage of DoD for fending off efforts to relocate its spectrum (CD Oct 2 p1). NTIA said late Fri. that 1770-1850 MHz band was “not part of this assessment.” Overall plan falls short of overall amount of spectrum and band that wireless industry had been targeting, although CTIA lauded extent to which development provides 3G spectrum “sooner rather than later.”

Telecom networks could better withstand physical and cyberattacks if Congress and Administration instituted more stringent standards and encouraged more information sharing among networks, Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio told Senate Governmental Affairs Committee at hearing Thurs. Nacchio, who also is vice chmn. of National Security Telecom Advisory Committee (NSTAC)composed of executives of telecom and information technology industries, recommended that NSTAC and National Security Council develop benchmarks and requirements for information security best practices in telecom industry. NSTAC provides advice to President on security and emergency preparedness.

Iridium offered FAA proposal to provide real-time cockpit voice and flight data monitoring system using satellites, company said Tues. Service would address national security concerns related to aircraft safety and control, Iridium said. It also could be deployed quickly using commercial “off-the-shelf” components along with 66-satellite Iridium constellation. Air safety has become major concern for FAA after terrorists hijacked 4 planes Sept. 11. “With existing systems, officials on the ground have only limited visibility into what is happening inside an aircraft in flight,” Iridium CEO Dan Colussy said. Using global footprint, voice and data capabilities, combined with commercially available equipment, he said ground personnel could receive “unrestricted access” to voice and data communications from aircraft. FAA spokeswoman said it was “considering all proposals that were coming in,” but agency didn’t have anything “definitive” to say about Iridium.

CTIA committed to wireless industry implementation of wireless priority access services to support national security and emergency personnel. FCC laid out rules for priority access for public safety and security personnel during emergencies in July 2000, but left it up to carriers whether to provide capability. One source said need for priority system was driven home after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which heightened interest at National Communications Systems (NCS) in creating such system for wireless networks. To that end, CTIA wrote to NCS that, at its request, industry would provide priority access service capabilities for 500 national security and emergency personnel in about 60 days. NCS previously had 2 goals, CTIA said: Roll out short-term fix for wireless priority access service and longer-term operational capability by end of 2002. Industry also plans to begin work on larger system that could support 50,000 personnel and launch by end of 2002. CTIA said that because priority access services were expected to be used in disaster areas, wireless industry was interested in making sure enough spectrum existed to support both priority access service and basic 911 calls. “At the heart of this issue lies the matter of how the capacity of wireless networks is constrained by limited spectrum and limitations on spectrum usage,” CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler said. “Notwithstanding the challenges, we are committed to developing solutions that will balance our concerns with your objectives within the framework of the FCC’s rules for wireless PAS [priority access service].” Any outstanding issues can be resolved quickly, Wheeler said. In letter to NCS Chief-Technology and Programs Div. Peter Fonash, Wheeler said NCS’s “immediate request” that basic PAS capabilities to support 500 national security and emergency personnel was “reasonable.” He said PAS capability that complied with different air interfaces would require NCS to work with industry standards groups. “Because each technology is likely to require differing degrees of handset and/or switch development, the time frame associated with developing PAS standards for the different wireless platforms may not be identical,” Wheeler wrote. He also told Fonash that while plans for interim wireless capabilities might comply with “spirit” of FCC’s PAS order, “they may not comply with the literal, technical requirements” of Commission rules, such as ability to support 5 levels of priority callers. “Should NCS wish to pursue these interim solutions, NCS would need to seek a waiver of the Commission’s rules,” Wheeler wrote. “We would hope that the Commission would act quickly and grant waivers to support this immediate and limited need.”