The Bureau of Industry and Security believes its export controls are adequate to protect all 19 of the critical and emerging technology categories identified by the White House as important to national security (see 2202090016), a BIS official said on Jan. 17.
The California Office of Emergency Services opposed a proposal by the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance urging the FCC to effectively give control of the 4.9 GHz band to FirstNet for its national public safety network (see 2401020050). Awarding the license to FirstNet “will promote commercial influence over the band by AT&T and creates potential for interference with existing and planned uses by the state and local public safety community,” said a filing posted Wednesday in docket 07-100: Such action “would undermine the Commission’s goal for the band.”
The World Customs Organization is considering changes to the tariff nomenclature that underlies the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. and over 200 other country tariff schedules around the world to potentially make classification easier and allow for more detail and accuracy in the identification of goods.
Carvana violates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by “bombarding” consumers’ mobile phones whose numbers are listed on the national do not call registry “with non-emergency advertising and marketing text messages without prior express written consent,” alleged plaintiff Michael Cribier’s class action Friday (docket 3:24-cv-00094) in U.S. District Court for Southern California in San Diego. The California resident alleges Carvana sent him at least 10 promotional text messages, though his cellphone number was listed on the registry since December 2004, said the complaint. Carvana also “continuously and willingly” ignored Cribier’s requests for the company to stop sending him text messages, it said. Carvana “failed to establish and implement reasonable practices and procedures to effectively prevent telephone solicitations in violation of the regulations prescribed” under the TCPA, it said.
Nevada, New Jersey and New York diverted about $205.4 million, or 5.3% of all 911 fee revenue, for unrelated purposes in 2022, an FCC report to Congress posted Tuesday found. The commission’s previous annual report found the same three states diverting about $198.5 million in 2021. The states used some of the revenue for public safety programs unrelated to 911; New York and New Jersey also used a portion for purposes unrelated to 911, the FCC said. Under the NET 911 Act, states must use 911 fee revenue for 911-related activities. The agency said 49 states, the District of Columbia and four territories responded to last year’s data request. Together they collected more than $3.5 billion in 2022 for 911. Idaho and the Northern Mariana Islands didn't report. New Jersey diverted 78.1% of $127.1 million collected, while fellow repeat offender New York diverted 41.7% of $254.4 million collected, said the report: It's unknown how much Nevada diverted from a $2.9 million pot. Nevada disclosed that at least two local jurisdictions diverted funding in 2022 for police body and vehicular cameras, the report said. “New Jersey and New York did not self-identify ... as diverting funds, but, consistent with previous reports, the Bureau has determined based on review of the information provided that these states diverted funds for non-911 related purposes within the meaning of the NET 911 Act.” In addition, the FCC said 44 states, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico reported $512 million in total next-generation 911 spending in 2022. It said 37 states and jurisdictions reported having operating emergency services IP networks (ESInets). D.C., Puerto Rico and 47 states reported having text-to-911 by the end of 2022. Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands expected to provide that capability in 2023, the report said. National Emergency Number Association CEO Brian Fontes said it's unfortunate and unacceptable that some states still see 911 revenue as a way to fund other programs. "Funds that the public pays specifically for 9-1-1 purposes should be used to ensure that 9-1-1 callers receive an effective emergency response." NENA urges states that divert funds to end the practice. Instead, they should use the money for maintaining 911 service levels and upgrading to NG-911, he said.
The Senate Banking Committee held a hearing Jan. 11 to renew its push for congressional passage of the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act, which would use sanctions and anti-money laundering measures to counter the illicit fentanyl supply chain that is blamed for tens of thousands of American deaths annually.
The White House “deeply believes” it’s critical that Congress restore FCC auction authority, Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser-cyber and emerging technology, said Thursday during a CES event. “Think about how much making spectrum available has enabled innovation,” she said: “That’s something that we’re working on closely with the Hill, and it’s an area that we know needs to be addressed.”
NTIA posted comments it received last week on the implementation plan for the national spectrum strategy (see 2401030059). Among noteworthy comments, public safety groups pressed the administration to also consider public safety spectrum. Utilities sought additional spectrum for their networks. T-Mobile and Verizon urged a focus on high-power licensed spectrum.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez warned at the CES in Las Vegas that the U.S. could fall behind other nations unless the agency once again has authority to conduct spectrum auctions. The remarks were her first at a CES as an FCC member. Meanwhile, Commissioner Brendan Carr, also at the show, said the FCC is moving backward on spectrum. Carr slammed the administration’s national spectrum strategy for not opening any new spectrum (see 2401100032), which he called “a bit of a miss.” CTA officials said Carr and Gomez toured the CES show floor together Wednesday.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing workforce problems at emergency call centers, said Tina Buneta, 911 director for Aurora, Colorado, during a National 911 Program webinar Tuesday. “We were already struggling in the 911 profession,” with a 14%-17% average national turnover rate going into 2020, she said. Without much investment in 911, there was a culture where professionals took on more "disempowered behaviors,” Buneta said. The pandemic brought a "great reassessment" of priorities for 911 telecommunicators, she said. Upset with negativity and seeking more time with family, many exited the profession, said the 911 director: The exodus reduced service levels and increased wait times for callers. Aurora responded by seeking to better understand workers’ stress and planning how to meet their essential needs, Buneta said. Emergency call centers should offer fair compensation, flexible hours, an inclusive culture, and psychological and other support, she said. Aurora increased salaries roughly 63% over three years after realizing it was benchmarking pay against rural areas with lower costs of living, she noted. Also during the webinar, North Carolina and Minnesota officials described recent successful recruitment campaigns. Responding to 911 centers' reports about reduced job applicants after COVID-19, the North Carolina 911 Board launched a recruitment campaign on TV, streaming video and online, said Education and Training Coordinator Angie Turbeville. Now more are applying for jobs, and existing 911 telecommunicators have praised the increased awareness brought to their profession.