Democratic senators are actively eyeing how to use a planned $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package to further boost broadband spending beyond the $65 billion in connectivity money included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR-3684) the chamber passed Tuesday. Republicans told us they’re concerned about such an attempt to double-dip on broadband spending given the amount of money they already agreed to allocate via HR-3684 and a set of COVID-19 aid bills. HR-3684 itself still must clear the majority-Democratic House before it goes to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Most mobile phones won't display the wireless emergency alert test message during Wednesday’s nationwide tests of WEA and the emergency alert system, said a joint FCC and Federal Emergency Management Agency news release Monday. The tests will be at 2:20 p.m. EDT (see 2107260043). The message will be received only by “specially configured phones” that have been opted in to receive test messages, FEMA said. “In contrast, consumers will automatically receive real emergency alerts on compatible phones (even if they do not receive the test message),” said the release. Instructions on how to opt in are on the FCC’s website. The WEA message will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The broadcast EAS audio message will include the phrase “No action is required” and will be accompanied by a visual message on televisions. FEMA and the FCC are partnering with the National Weather Service and several state and local emergency management agencies on the test, the release said.
Tech sector and civil society continue to disagree on aspects of a proposed EU AI regulation, they said. The draft Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) seeks to create trust in AI technologies via a risk-based approach that categorizes them as prohibited, high-risk or limited risk (see 2104210003). The proposal got generally positive though mixed reviews when it emerged in April. A European Commission consultation that closed Friday showed public interest and consumer groups remain worried about the measure's potential impact on human rights, while technology companies are concerned the law is too broad and could be onerous.
Tech sector and civil society continue to disagree on aspects of a proposed EU AI regulation, they said. The draft Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) seeks to create trust in AI technologies via a risk-based approach that categorizes them as prohibited, high-risk or limited risk (see 2104210003). The proposal got generally positive though mixed reviews when it emerged in April. A European Commission consultation that closed Friday showed public interest and consumer groups remain worried about the measure's potential impact on human rights, while technology companies are concerned the law is too broad and could be onerous.
Tech sector and civil society continue to disagree on aspects of a proposed EU AI regulation, they said. The draft Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) seeks to create trust in AI technologies via a risk-based approach that categorizes them as prohibited, high-risk or limited risk (see 2104210003). The proposal got generally positive though mixed reviews when it emerged in April. A European Commission consultation that closed Friday showed public interest and consumer groups remain worried about the measure's potential impact on human rights, while technology companies are concerned the law is too broad and could be onerous.
President Joe Biden extended for one year a national emergency that authorizes certain U.S. export control authorities, the White House said Aug. 6. The authorization allows the U.S. to continue to carry out provisions in the Export Control Reform Act, along with other regulations. The emergency would have ended Aug. 17.
The U.S. needs to expand export and investment restrictions to prevent China from acquiring advanced semiconductor equipment and other sensitive technologies, former national security officials told Congress this week. One official specifically said the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security should impose export controls more actively. Another said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. needs more resources.
AT&T confirms hiring Axios' Kim Hart, who becomes vice president-corporate communications, overseeing public policy communications ... VMware rehires Kyle Victor, leaving office of Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., as the company's senior director and head-U.S. government relations ... Phone2Action hires Adrian Muniz, ex-Logi Analytics, as chief financial officer, and Mikhail Opletayev, ex-Higher Logic and Real Magnet, as chief technology officer, announces CEO Steven Schneider, who joined in June, also from Logi Analytics ... Shentel's William Pirtle's departure delayed until Dec. 31 from Aug. 2, "to assist with the orderly transition" of sales in "an internal reorganization"; he's now senior vice president-sales.
The FCC, to “create and preserve racial justice,” should act quickly on seven initiatives for social diversity, said the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council in a letter to acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s office filed Wednesday in docket 17-105. “There is no better time than now to give effect to this moral imperative,” said the letter, signed by new MMTC President Robert Branson. MMTC wants the agency to give minorities more access to FM station ownership through geotargeting and a C4 class, improve the radio incubator program, require equal opportunity in procurement, press Congress on the minority tax certificate, include diversity impact statements in FCC orders, vigorously enforce equal employment opportunity rules, and pursue multilingual emergency alert system messages, the letter said. The FCC “carries the enormous responsibility of overseeing one-sixth of our national economy, including some of America’s fastest-growing industries and greatest exports,” the letter said. The agency’s “long and malodorous history of minority exclusion should both haunt and motivate all of us,” MMTC said. “Hopefully, looking back on 2021, future students of history will recognize the FCC as an agency that seized the moment and swiftly affirmed its commitment to racial justice.”
AT&T confirms hiring Axios' Kim Hart, who becomes vice president-corporate communications, overseeing public policy communications ... VMware rehires Kyle Victor, leaving office of Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., as the company's senior director and head-U.S. government relations ... Phone2Action hires Adrian Muniz, ex-Logi Analytics, as chief financial officer, and Mikhail Opletayev, ex-Higher Logic and Real Magnet, as chief technology officer, announces CEO Steven Schneider, who joined in June, also from Logi Analytics ... Shentel's William Pirtle's departure delayed until Dec. 31 from Aug. 2, "to assist with the orderly transition" of sales in "an internal reorganization"; he's now senior vice president-sales.