Entertainment Software Association hires Tara Ryan from Association for Accessible Medicines as vice president-state government affairs; Karen Gravois Elliott, ex-Adtran, as vice president-communications and public affairs; David Thomas, ex-Sandler Travis, is senior counsel-global policy and international trade; and Annie Chavez, ex-Sandia National Laboratories, becomes senior director-federal government affairs.
Major County Sheriffs of America, AT&T and others asked the FCC to pull the 4.9 GHz order from the Sept. 30 commissioners’ meeting. Public safety agencies use the band for their mission critical communications, wrote Kimberly Wagner, executive director of the sheriffs group, posted Wednesday in docket 07-100. “Local public safety agencies have spent millions of dollars investing in networks on the 4.9 GHz band. These systems are particularly important now during our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, large scale wildfires, and hurricanes.” AT&T, which is building a network for FirstNet, said adoption “would be unlikely to lead to more efficient use” of the band, in calls with aides to Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel, Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks. “Saying the band has ‘fallen short of its potential’ is not an accurate statement,” said the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association. “The FCC did very little, if anything, to promote or ensure this frequency band was being utilized to its potential,” said the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association: “Public safety agencies nationwide are constantly faced with difficult financial decisions and a project this size takes a tremendous amount of time and planning.” Public safety groups raised similar objections Tuesday (see 2009220056); the agency hasn't been commenting. The Wireless ISP Association supported the draft. “Despite many attempts to maximize use of the band, it remains largely unused outside of metropolitan areas,” said Louis Peraertz, vice president-policy: “This leasing model will streamline use of the vastly underutilized band without compromising the ability of public safety users to access the spectrum.”
Opponents of states using 911 fees for unrelated purposes support an FCC notice of inquiry proposed for vote at Wednesday’s meeting. Some want earlier action and wonder what the future holds, since the item’s main FCC champion, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, is likely leaving. The agency would ask how to dissuade states from diverting 911 fees and the impact of the practice (see 2009090048).
Congress "should consider legislation to designate a leadership position in the White House with commensurate authority to implement and encourage action in support of the nation's cybersecurity," GAO reported Tuesday. The House-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-6395) includes language to establish a national cyber director within the executive office of the president (see 2007200067). The U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission also recommended that (see 2003110076). “In light of the elimination of the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator position” (see 1708030009), “it remains unclear which official ultimately maintains responsibility for not only coordinating execution” of President Donald Trump’s 2018 U.S. cyber strategy (see 1809200055) “but also holding federal agencies accountable once activities are implemented,” GAO said. “Without a clear central leader to coordinate activities, as well as a process for monitoring performance," the White House “cannot ensure that entities are effectively executing their assigned activities intended to support the nation’s cybersecurity strategy and ultimately overcome this urgent challenge.” GAO urged the National Security Council to "work with relevant federal entities to update cybersecurity strategy documents to include goals, performance measures, and resource information." NSC “neither agreed nor disagreed with GAO's recommendation,” the office said. GAO separately urged the State Department to “involve federal agencies that contribute to cyber diplomacy to obtain their views and identify any risks, such as unnecessary fragmentation, overlap, and duplication of these efforts, as it implements its plan to establish” a Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies (CSET) Bureau. It's "important for agencies to involve other agency stakeholders in developing proposed reforms to obtain their views,” the office said. “Without involving and communicating with agency partners on its reorganization plan, State lacks assurance that it will effectively achieve its goals for establishing CSET, and it increases the risk of negative effects from unnecessary fragmentation, overlap, and duplication of cyber diplomacy efforts.” State disagreed, saying "other agencies are not stakeholders in an internal State reform, and that it was [unaware] that these agencies had consulted with State before reorganizing their own cyberspace security organizations,” the auditor said.
Congress "should consider legislation to designate a leadership position in the White House with commensurate authority to implement and encourage action in support of the nation's cybersecurity," GAO reported Tuesday. The House-passed FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-6395) includes language to establish a national cyber director within the executive office of the president (see 2007200067). The U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission also recommended that (see 2003110076). “In light of the elimination of the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator position” (see 1708030009), “it remains unclear which official ultimately maintains responsibility for not only coordinating execution” of President Donald Trump’s 2018 U.S. cyber strategy (see 1809200055) “but also holding federal agencies accountable once activities are implemented,” GAO said. “Without a clear central leader to coordinate activities, as well as a process for monitoring performance," the White House “cannot ensure that entities are effectively executing their assigned activities intended to support the nation’s cybersecurity strategy and ultimately overcome this urgent challenge.” GAO urged the National Security Council to "work with relevant federal entities to update cybersecurity strategy documents to include goals, performance measures, and resource information." NSC “neither agreed nor disagreed with GAO's recommendation,” the office said. GAO separately urged the State Department to “involve federal agencies that contribute to cyber diplomacy to obtain their views and identify any risks, such as unnecessary fragmentation, overlap, and duplication of these efforts, as it implements its plan to establish” a Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies (CSET) Bureau. It's "important for agencies to involve other agency stakeholders in developing proposed reforms to obtain their views,” the office said. “Without involving and communicating with agency partners on its reorganization plan, State lacks assurance that it will effectively achieve its goals for establishing CSET, and it increases the risk of negative effects from unnecessary fragmentation, overlap, and duplication of cyber diplomacy efforts.” State disagreed, saying "other agencies are not stakeholders in an internal State reform, and that it was [unaware] that these agencies had consulted with State before reorganizing their own cyberspace security organizations,” the auditor said.
Fred Moorefield, deputy chief information officer for command, control and communications, defended DOD’s recent request for information on spectrum sharing, which industry and FCC officials say raised questions as the commission moves toward a vote on the 3.45-3.55 GHz band. Moorefield spoke at NTIA’s virtual spectrum policy symposium. At a similar summit a year ago, officials promised the administration would soon release a national spectrum policy; it hasn't been unveiled.
The House passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S-2661), Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era (HR-5546) and Promoting Secure 5G Act (HR-5698 and see 2001310059) Monday on voice votes. The chamber was expected to advance five other telecom and tech bills late Monday on voice votes, including the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451) and Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act (HR-6096). Also up for consideration: the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act (HR-4564), Measuring the Economics Driving Investments and Access for Diversity Act (HR-5567), and Emergency Reporting Act (HR-5918). The House is expected to vote Tuesday on the VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act (HR-3228). The chamber is also expected to vote later this week (see 2009210058) on a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through Dec. 11 (HR-8319).
The House passed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (S-2661), Effective Assistance of Counsel in the Digital Era (HR-5546) and Promoting Secure 5G Act (HR-5698 and see 2001310059) Monday on voice votes. The chamber was expected to advance five other telecom and tech bills late Monday on voice votes, including the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451) and Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act (HR-6096). Also up for consideration: the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act (HR-4564), Measuring the Economics Driving Investments and Access for Diversity Act (HR-5567), and Emergency Reporting Act (HR-5918). The House is expected to vote Tuesday on the VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act (HR-3228). The chamber is also expected to vote later this week (see 2009210058) on a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through Dec. 11 (HR-8319).
The FCC sought comment by Sept. 25, replies Oct. 2 on the National Association of Chain Drug Stores petitioning for clarification that drugstore communications about COVID-19 vaccines, “once available, and flu vaccines during the pandemic” fall under Telephone Consumer Protection Act “emergency purposes” exception, said a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice Friday on docket 02-278.
The FCC sought comment by Sept. 25, replies Oct. 2 on the National Association of Chain Drug Stores petitioning for clarification that drugstore communications about COVID-19 vaccines, “once available, and flu vaccines during the pandemic” fall under Telephone Consumer Protection Act “emergency purposes” exception, said a Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau public notice Friday on docket 02-278.