New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) urged the FCC and wireless industry to partner to expand language accessibility for severe weather alerts. FCC rules currently require carriers to send wireless emergency alerts in English and Spanish. The AG is “deeply concerned” the alerts don’t support other languages, James wrote Wednesday to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and CTIA President Meredith Baker. “In the absence of that capability, immigrant communities across the country -- including an estimated 1.3 million New Yorkers who have limited English proficiency and are not Spanish speakers -- are left without critical information to protect themselves in response to severe weather and other emergency situations.” James earlier sought more languages in a Feb. 23 letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and the National Weather Service’s then acting Director Mary Erickson. Erickson told James that NWS supported sending alerts in more languages, but the FCC would have to update its rules, the AG said. New York City Council Members Sandra Ung and Julie Won agreed in the AG’s news release Thursday. “In my district, where three Asian immigrants lost their lives during Hurricane Ida, 72 percent of the residents are Asian and over 90 percent of Asian senior citizens have limited English proficiency,” said Ung. The Asian American Federation and Asian Americans for Equality also supported the AG’s letter. "Within a WEA message, local alert originators can already today include links to websites with information that warns and informs the public about an emergency in any format, including illustrations or videos and multiple languages," said a CTIA spokesperson: Industry will keep working with the FCC, Federal Emergency Management Agency, New York state "and the broader alert originator community to ensure that WEA messages continue to fulfill their life-saving mission." The FCC didn’t comment.
The Biden administration’s IoT labeling program will help consumers gauge the level of security for internet-connected devices across sectors, Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said Thursday. The White House anticipates a program rollout in the spring, she said. Data shows consumers are willing to pay more for security, she said during a Center for Strategic and International Studies event: Consumers value security, but they can’t make a “security decision” because when they buy products like smart TVs, there’s no way to compare the security features. The U.S. needs to make sure it harmonizes regulations across sectors because companies operate across the economy, said National Cyber Director Chris Inglis. They discussed cybersecurity issues at large. Neuberger urged companies not to pay ransoms for ransomware attacks. While it helps the company being attacked, it incentivizes the continued illegal activity, she said.
The following are short summaries of recent CBP NY rulings issued by the agency's National Commodity Specialist Division in New York:
The FCC approved 4-0 Thursday an NPRM that proposes new rules to make the emergency alert system and wireless emergency alerts more secure. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the rulemaking is one part of the FCC’s current focus on making systems more secure. FCC officials said, as expected (see 2210250057), there were only minor changes over what Rosenworcel proposed, FCC officials said.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is confident it will soon convince allies to adopt similar semiconductor export controls on China, Undersecretary Alan Estevez said, adding that he expects some type of “multilateral deal” finalized in the “near term.” Estevez, speaking during an Oct. 27 event hosted by the Center for a New American Security, also said BIS isn’t “done” imposing chip-related controls and said companies should expect new restrictions on emerging technologies, including on biotechnologies, artificial intelligence software and items in the quantum sector.
The emerging world of the metaverse and digital twinning (see 2210190017) will require more powerful networks, though how much more powerful is an open question, said Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark at the Nokia and New York University Brooklyn 6G Summit Tuesday. The metaverse has been defined as the ability to render 3D virtual worlds in real time, with an unlimited number of users able to experience them at the same time, he said.
Windstream’s bankruptcy reorganization shouldn’t be rolled back to provide relief to unsecured creditors such as appellant U.S. Bank National Association, ruled the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday in a summary order in docket 21-1754 affirming a previous ruling by the U.S. District Court for Southern New York. U.S. Bank appears “to invite us to carve out the facts of this case ad hoc. We must decline this invitation,” said the decision from Circuit Judges Pierre Leval, Denny Chin and Eunice Lee.
The FCC will tackle 911 calling at its Nov. 17 commissioners' meeting, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Wednesday. The agenda is light, with only a broadcast item and an enforcement action also set for a commissioner vote. Drafts are expected to be released after Thursday's meeting.
The emerging world of the metaverse and digital twinning (see 2210190017) will require more powerful networks, though how much more powerful is an open question, said Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark at the Nokia and New York University Brooklyn 6G Summit Tuesday. The metaverse has been defined as the ability to render 3D virtual worlds in real time, with an unlimited number of users able to experience them at the same time, he said.
President Joe Biden signed a new executive order expanding the power of the Treasury Department to potentially block imports from Nicaragua. The Oct. 24 Executive Order on Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua allows the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and Commerce to prohibit imports of Nicaragua-origin products from certain sectors.