The FCC didn't budge on an implementation deadline that telecom interests said couldn't be met. The commission's 988 suicide prevention hotline order approved unanimously Thursday tried to mitigate some problems they face, Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said. No change to the two-year deadline was expected (see 2007150058) Telecoms argued universal implementation by that deadline is impossible (see 2006230022). Some commissioners disagreed.
The FCC approved updated rules for finding the vertical location of wireless callers to 911 over partial dissent by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and concerns by Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. The concerns were expected, with the FCC getting contradictory advice about the order (see 2007100045), which updates rules commissioners approved in November (see 1911220034). The first mandates kick in next April.
A United Arab Emirates manufacturer will pay about $660,000 as part of a settlement agreement for violating U.S. sanctions against North Korea, the Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a July 16 notice. Essentra FZE Company Limited, a cigarette filter and tear tape manufacturer, illegally exported cigarette filters to North Korea through a network of front companies, including companies in China, OFAC said. Essentra FZE was paid for the shipments through a bank account belonging to a foreign branch of a U.S. bank.
Update public safety service prioritization rules to adapt to changing technology and usage, while proceeding with caution on an NPRM up for a vote at Thursday's FCC meeting, TechFreedom General Counsel Jim Dunstan said in an interview last week. "We need a national dialogue for the points of the network not designed to carry emergency communications," he said. Dunstan wants the FCC to beware of unintended consequences, such as cost considerations for smaller carriers, and whether noncarrier networks such as fiber backhauls will be swept up in new regulations. “This week’s vote is an important step toward ensuring that our national security and emergency preparedness communications are keeping pace with an evolving communications landscape,” an NTIA spokesperson emailed Wednesday. NTIA petitioned for changes to the wireless service priority and telecom service priority rules (see 1907170042). Industry has been quiet since the meeting item was released last month (see 2006250062). CTIA, NCTA and the Fiber Broadband Association declined comment. USTelecom, Incompas, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile didn't comment. "We would anticipate discussing this with members once the NPRM is released for comment to determine what positions we will take, if any, on the proposals," NTCA emailed us Wednesday.
The House Commerce Committee approved 10 telecom bills Wednesday, including the Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecom Act (HR-6624), as expected (see 2007140062). Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., emphasized that the measures up for votes Wednesday were "all consensus bills, which are truly bipartisan, and the details of which have been worked out with myself and" ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore. The committee is known to have excluded (see 2007130054) some high-profile bills the House Communications Subcommittee advanced in March that had drawn Republican criticism, including the Clearing Broad Airwaves for New Deployment (C-Band) Act (HR-4855) and Reinforcing and Evaluating Service Integrity, Local Infrastructure and Emergency Notification for Today’s (Resilient) Networks Act (HR-5926).
House Republicans are offering dueling amendments to that chamber’s FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-6395) that respectively try to advance and stop efforts to hinder Ligado’s L-band plan. HR-6395 and Senate NDAA version S-4049 have anti-Ligado language (see 2007010070). The three new amendments are among several proposals to tack on 5G security and other tech and telecom-related language to HR-6395 once it reaches the House floor next week. The House Rules Committee will consider proposed amendments Friday. The videoconference meeting begins at 11 a.m. EDT.
The House Commerce Committee will vote on the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451) and National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (HR-4194) during a planned Wednesday markup, as expected (see 2007130054). The markup will begin at 11 a.m. EDT via a Cisco WebEx video conference, Commerce said. The committee said it will also vote on eight other communications bills, including the Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecom Act. HR-6624 aims to fund creation of an NTIA-managed open radio access network R&D fund (see 2001140067). The Senate version of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (S-4049) includes modified USA Telecom Act language that would repurpose $75 million from the FCC DTV and public safety fund for R&D (see 2007020053). Also on the docket: House Resolution 549, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act (HR-4564), Telemental Health Expansion Act (HR-5201), Measuring the Economics Driving Investments and Access for Diversity Act (HR-5567), Emergency Reporting Act (HR-5918), Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act (HR-6096) and Spectrum IT Modernization Act (HR-7310). HR-7310 and Senate version S-3717 would require NTIA to develop a plan for modernizing its IT systems. It would make NTIA develop “a time-based automated mechanism” to “share Federal spectrum between covered agencies” (see 2005140057). Language from HR-7310/S-3717 is included in S-4049 and the House’s FY21 NDAA (HR-6395).
The House Commerce Committee will vote on the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (HR-451) and National Suicide Hotline Designation Act (HR-4194) during a planned Wednesday markup, as expected (see 2007130054). The markup will begin at 11 a.m. EDT via a Cisco WebEx video conference, Commerce said. The committee said it will also vote on eight other communications bills, including the Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecom Act. HR-6624 aims to fund creation of an NTIA-managed open radio access network R&D fund (see 2001140067). The Senate version of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (S-4049) includes modified USA Telecom Act language that would repurpose $75 million from the FCC DTV and public safety fund for R&D (see 2007020053). Also on the docket: House Resolution 549, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act (HR-4564), Telemental Health Expansion Act (HR-5201), Measuring the Economics Driving Investments and Access for Diversity Act (HR-5567), Emergency Reporting Act (HR-5918), Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act (HR-6096) and Spectrum IT Modernization Act (HR-7310). HR-7310 and Senate version S-3717 would require NTIA to develop a plan for modernizing its IT systems. It would make NTIA develop “a time-based automated mechanism” to “share Federal spectrum between covered agencies” (see 2005140057). Language from HR-7310/S-3717 is included in S-4049 and the House’s FY21 NDAA (HR-6395).
The Commerce Department published its spring 2020 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security. The agenda includes a new mention of a rule to control “software” for the operation of “automated nucleic acid assemblers and synthesizers” capable of designing and building “functional genetic elements from digital sequence data.” BIS said the software can be used in the production of pathogens and toxins, with the potential for those to make their way into biological weapons if export controls on the software are lacking. The notice of proposed rulemaking, part of BIS’ effort to control emerging and foundational technologies (see 2005190052), will request industry comments about how the controls might affect “legitimate commercial or scientific applications.” BIS said it aims to issue the proposed rule this month.
Frontier Communications’ reorganization is facing state scrutiny where the carrier sought speedy reviews. Some commissions seek more information in their proceedings and at U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Unions and consumers groups are prodding states to look closely. “States are collectively bringing forward the perspective of the average ratepayer,” which can get lost in bankruptcy court, said Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Chair Marissa Gillett in an interview.