The U.S. needs to be careful when imposing export controls on emerging technologies to avoid hurting U.S. research and innovation, said Robert Blair, Microsoft's senior director-5G and external affairs. Blair, speaking during a May 10 event hosted by the Task Force on American Innovation, said industry wants to help the administration stem the proliferation of technologies to bad actors while also avoiding hurting the competitiveness of U.S. companies, specifically those working on quantum technologies.
The Biden administration’s Monday announcement (see 2205060046) that 20 ISPs committed to offer low-income households broadband plans with download speeds of at least 100 Mbps at no more than $30 per month got a mixed reception among communications policy stakeholders. All of the participating ISPs -- which include Altice, AT&T, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Frontier, Mediacom and Verizon -- were already part of the FCC’s affordable connectivity program that subsidizes qualifying households’ broadband up to $30 per month. The White House said the participating ISPs cover more than 80% of the U.S. population.
The FCC is racking up expressions of interest in participating in wireless emergency alert tests in combination with the agency. The FCC released a public notice last month seeking partnerships with local emergency agencies to gather data on how WEA is performing at the local level (see 2204210050). A national WEA test showed the “need for localized WEA testing to confirm WEA’s performance at the local level and to generate data on WEA’s geotargeting performance,” said an April 21 notice by the FCC Public Safety Bureau. The FCC sought “testing partners that represent the diverse environments where WEAs are sent (i.e., dense urban, urban, suburban and rural areas).” So far, more than 20 have filed in docket 22-160, from diverse markets. The Maricopa County, Arizona, Department of Emergency Management Friday became one of the first large county entities to offer to work with the FCC. The county, which includes Phoenix, “conducts annual siren tests around a commercial nuclear power plant and has included WEA in the past several years,” it said: Maricopa “coordinates volunteers annually for these tests and will be able to utilize these volunteers and other municipal participants for this test.” The county said it conducted a WEA test in 2019 “with substantial press and public outreach and will continue to provide public awareness campaigns on the use of WEA and this upcoming test.” Monroe County Emergency Management offered the ability to test in an area that starts in the mainland of Florida and extends through the entire Florida Keys. Idaho offered to involve the entire state in a test. “Our city is a very diverse urban locality (53 square miles) and home to the world's largest naval station,” said the Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Emergency Preparedness and Response: “The diversity and demographics of the city will provide a unique platform to ensure all citizens can be contacted during emergency notifications.” The Ingham County, Michigan, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said it’s interested in participating in the testing. “This would be countywide and include the City of Lansing and Michigan State University,” the county said. Ingram said it also has an agreement with Eaton County for a two-county test.
The following are short summaries of recent CBP NY rulings issued by the agency's National Commodity Specialist Division in New York:
PHILADELPHIA -- The Bureau of Industry and Security is leaning toward new export controls on brain computer interface technologies despite urging from industry to avoid the restrictions altogether. Thea Kendler, BIS assistant secretary for export administration, said BCI technology has too many potential “nefarious” uses to not be subject to at least some restrictions.
President Joe Biden on May 4 announced several initiatives to “advance” U.S. innovation in quantum information science and ensure the U.S. remains a leader in quantum technologies. The announcements include an executive order meant to “enhance” the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee and a national security memorandum aimed at addressing the risks posed by quantum computers to America’s cybersecurity. The memorandum directs federal agencies to “develop comprehensive plans” to protect American intellectual property, research and development and other “sensitive” technology from being acquired by America’s “adversaries,” the White House said.
Public Knowledge and other groups urged FCC action on a March petition asking the regulator to classify interconnected VoIP as a Communications Act Title II service (see 2203020052), in a webinar Friday. With revised net neutrality rules on hold at a 2-2 FCC, Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld said the FCC faces a dilemma, and the time to provide clarity is now.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and some Senate Commerce Committee members used a Wednesday hearing on the Commerce Departments FY 2023 budget goals (see 2204210059) as a platform to press Congress to move swiftly to reach an agreement marrying elements of the House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) and Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260). Committee members also pressed Raimondo on NTIA’s plans for distributing $48 billion in broadband money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how to improve interagency spectrum coordination.
FCC commissioners will consider a proposal to create an enhanced alternative Connect America model program to bring "faster, better broadband to rural America" at the agency's May 19 meeting, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a meeting preview Wednesday. Commissioners will also consider an order targeting gateway providers and illegal robocalls originating abroad, updates to priority services rules, and regulatory relief for FM radio broadcasters.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and some Senate Commerce Committee members used a Wednesday hearing on the Commerce Department's FY 2023 budget goals (see 2204210059) as a platform to press Congress to quickly reach agreement marrying elements of the House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) and Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260). Committee members also pressed Raimondo on NTIA’s plans for distributing $48 billion in broadband money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how to improve interagency spectrum coordination.