The National Emergency Number Association and Center for Internet Security adopted a memorandum of understanding on working together on best cybersecurity practice and will host a summit. “As we continue to lead the transition from legacy 9-1-1 to NG9-1-1 technologies, it is imperative that we elevate 9-1-1 professionals’ knowledge of cybersecurity,” said NENA President Gary Bell.
Keep consumers "front of mind" as the FCC prepares to roll out its emergency broadband connectivity fund, Common Cause, the National Consumer Law Center, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and United Church of Christ told acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, per a filing posted Friday in docket 20-445. The groups raised the importance of outreach and education about the fund and what happens when the program ends (see 2101070052). They want "price transparency requirements" for providers that opt in so eligible households know the total cost if they enroll. And "ensuring portability of the benefit to allow consumers to shop with their feet is another important program design feature." Pay special attention to non-English-speaking consumers and individuals with disabilities, the groups said.
The FCC decision not to stay its Ligado approval (see 2101200001) was "a disappointing, last-minute maneuver" by Chairman Ajit Pai's commission "that puts the FCC completely at odds with the" National Defense Authorization Act, the Satellite Safety Alliance said Wednesday. In its NDAA passage and veto override, Congress "told the FCC its April Ligado order creates harmful interference to satellite communications service providers and GPS and American taxpayers will not foot the bill," it said. "We're encouraged by the negative votes from Commissioners [Jessica] Rosenworcel and [Geoffrey] Starks and we hope for swift action to protect critical services. The members of the Satellite Safety Alliance have been raising the alarm for years and will continue to do so." Alliance members include Iridium, Aerospace Industries Association, National Air Transportation Association and National Emergency Number Association.
Problematic FCC maps and a rush to meet a federal deadline to use coronavirus relief money factor into a dispute over Wyoming broadband support, said the different sides in interviews. Tongue River Communications said it could go out of business due to Wyoming subsidizing overbuilding by Visionary Communications. The state said it relied on the commission’s Form 477 data to find the area unserved and lacked time for challenges, with the Dec. 30 deadline in March's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (Cares) Act. “There’s blame all around, but it can be correctly done,” said former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris announce transition spokesperson TJ Ducklo as incoming administration's deputy press secretary; before the Biden campaign, Ducklo was senior communications director at NBC News and ex-MPA; Biden also taps New York City Emergency Management Department Commissioner Deanne Criswell for Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator; and Biden picks Eric Lander as director, Office of Science and Technology Policy and presidential science adviser, who will be a Cabinet member for the first time; Lander is founding director, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and during Obama administration was external co-chair, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology; Kei Koizumi named OSTP chief of staff and Narda Jones, ex-Senate Commerce Committee and FCC before that, for OSTP legislative affairs director.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris announce transition spokesperson TJ Ducklo as incoming administration's deputy press secretary; before the Biden campaign, Ducklo was senior communications director at NBC News and ex-MPA; Biden also taps New York City Emergency Management Department Commissioner Deanne Criswell for Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator; and Biden picks Eric Lander as director, Office of Science and Technology Policy and presidential science adviser, who will be a Cabinet member for the first time; Lander is founding director, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and during Obama administration was external co-chair, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology; Kei Koizumi named OSTP chief of staff and Narda Jones, ex-Senate Commerce Committee and FCC before that, for OSTP legislative affairs director.
The National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Radio Frequencies asked the FCC to not allow aeronautical use of the 4.9 GHz band. “An aeronautical service transmitting down to Earth is the worst-case scenario in regard to potential interference problems for Radio Astronomy Service observatories,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 07-100. Observations in the band are “extremely useful in studying the brightness distributions of objects such as ionized hydrogen clouds surrounding young stars; remnants of supernovae, which mark the cataclysmic end of stars; and ejecta traveling at nearly the speed of light from black holes in the nuclei of galaxies,” the committee said. Grandfather in existing public safety licensees, asked the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: “Public safety use of the 4.9 GHz band is widespread and crucial in New York state.”
George Mason University Mercatus Center adds outgoing FTC General Counsel Alden Abbott as senior research fellow ... Public Knowledge names Montana Williams, ex-Evans & Associates, policy fellow ... President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris announce more National Security Council members, with new post of deputy national security adviser-cyber and emerging technology; Anne Neuberger, who led NSA election security, becomes director-cybersecurity ... Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Kevin Benacci says he's joining Targeted Victory, reportedly as vice president-corporate practice, working on cybersecurity.
George Mason University Mercatus Center adds outgoing FTC General Counsel Alden Abbott as senior research fellow ... Public Knowledge names Montana Williams, ex-Evans & Associates, policy fellow ... President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris announce more National Security Council members, with new post of deputy national security adviser-cyber and emerging technology; Anne Neuberger, who led NSA election security, becomes director-cybersecurity ... Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Kevin Benacci says he's joining Targeted Victory, reportedly as vice president-corporate practice, working on cybersecurity.
The U.S. charged three Iranian nationals for illegal smuggling activities, including a scheme to illegally export U.S. goods to Iran, the Justice Department said Jan. 12. The three people -- Arash Yousefi Jam, Amin Yousefi Jam and Abdollah Momeni Roustani -- were charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.