The cancellation of the 2020 emergency alert system test is the first such cancellation in nearly a decade, blogged Fletcher Heald Tuesday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the cancellation last week, pinning the move on the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA “is moving the next national test of the system to 2021 out of consideration for the unusual circumstances and working conditions for those in the broadcast and cable industry,” the agency said. “Systems remain in place for rapid automatic transmission of the test message by broadcast and cable operators,” but “follow-on reporting activities associated with a national test place additional burdens on technical staff that are already quite busy maintaining as close to normal operation as possible.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center (CTEC) urged Congress Tuesday to appropriate additional broadband funding in future COVID-19 legislation, including money to address the homework gap separate from the existing E-rate program. Lawmakers have been offering a range of broadband funding proposals, including a push by House Democrats to allocate $100 billion as part of the Moving Forward Act infrastructure legislative package (see 2006220054). Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., released a legislative framework last week (see 2006190062). CTEC wants Congress to ensure COVID-19 broadband funding is technology neutral and doesn’t duplicate money going to projects via other programs. The group also wants Congress to “establish funding without existing [Communications Act] Section 254 limitations, such as existing [eligible telecom carrier] requirements.” The legislation should allow funding to be used “for leasing tower space in addition to capital expenditures” and “should be distributed to those who can stand up” a broadband network “quickly,” CTEC said. COVID-19-specific homework gap funding shouldn’t come out of USF coffers, but the FCC can “borrow" from "E-rate rules” to administer it, the group said: It “should last for only the duration of the national emergency and be targeted to low-income households without a home broadband connection or in jeopardy of losing their broadband connection,” along with related equipment.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center (CTEC) urged Congress Tuesday to appropriate additional broadband funding in future COVID-19 legislation, including money to address the homework gap separate from the existing E-rate program. Lawmakers have been offering a range of broadband funding proposals, including a push by House Democrats to allocate $100 billion as part of the Moving Forward Act infrastructure legislative package (see 2006220054). Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., released a legislative framework last week (see 2006190062). CTEC wants Congress to ensure COVID-19 broadband funding is technology neutral and doesn’t duplicate money going to projects via other programs. The group also wants Congress to “establish funding without existing [Communications Act] Section 254 limitations, such as existing [eligible telecom carrier] requirements.” The legislation should allow funding to be used “for leasing tower space in addition to capital expenditures” and “should be distributed to those who can stand up” a broadband network “quickly,” CTEC said. COVID-19-specific homework gap funding shouldn’t come out of USF coffers, but the FCC can “borrow" from "E-rate rules” to administer it, the group said: It “should last for only the duration of the national emergency and be targeted to low-income households without a home broadband connection or in jeopardy of losing their broadband connection,” along with related equipment.
Two public safety associations canceled in-person conferences Tuesday. APCO canceled its Aug. 2-5 conference (see 2006230039) less than one week after saying it was moving forward with the Florida event, and after some public health experts raised concerns (see 2006190035). Since Thursday's statement, “several developments occurred,” including Orange County’s mayor requiring face masks, Florida reporting a record-high 4,049 new COVID-19 cases Saturday and the state health department recommending Saturday people don’t attend events with more than 50 people, wrote APCO CEO Derek Poarch in an email to members and on the event’s webpage. Full refunds will be issued, and the group is planning for APCO 2021, Aug. 15-18, in San Antonio. The National Emergency Number Association, which earlier postponed its June 13-18 conference to Sept. 24-29 in California, said the event will now be held virtually the week of Sept. 21. “Given the still-uncertain trajectory of the pandemic, and considering that conference participants would be coming from all over the country and around the world, NENA concluded that canceling the in-person meeting was the only safe and responsible action,” it said. NENA was in touch at least weekly with Long Beach "ever since the first date-change announcement was made," and Tuesday's announcement "reflects weeks of discussions and planning," a spokesperson added. APCO didn’t comment beyond the announcement. Florida’s health department didn’t comment.
Two public safety associations canceled in-person conferences Tuesday. APCO canceled its Aug. 2-5 conference (see 2006230039) less than one week after saying it was moving forward with the Florida event, and after some public health experts raised concerns (see 2006190035). Since Thursday's statement, “several developments occurred,” including Orange County’s mayor requiring face masks, Florida reporting a record-high 4,049 new COVID-19 cases Saturday and the state health department recommending Saturday people don’t attend events with more than 50 people, wrote APCO CEO Derek Poarch in an email to members and on the event’s webpage. Full refunds will be issued, and the group is planning for APCO 2021, Aug. 15-18, in San Antonio. The National Emergency Number Association, which earlier postponed its June 13-18 conference to Sept. 24-29 in California, said the event will now be held virtually the week of Sept. 21. “Given the still-uncertain trajectory of the pandemic, and considering that conference participants would be coming from all over the country and around the world, NENA concluded that canceling the in-person meeting was the only safe and responsible action,” it said. NENA was in touch at least weekly with Long Beach "ever since the first date-change announcement was made," and Tuesday's announcement "reflects weeks of discussions and planning," a spokesperson added. APCO didn’t comment beyond the announcement. Florida’s health department didn’t comment.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center (CTEC) urged Congress Tuesday to appropriate additional broadband funding in future COVID-19 legislation, including money to address the homework gap separate from the existing E-rate program. Lawmakers have been offering a range of broadband funding proposals, including a push by House Democrats to allocate $100 billion as part of the Moving Forward Act infrastructure legislative package (see 2006220054). Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and House Commerce Committee ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., released a legislative framework last week (see 2006190062). CTEC wants Congress to ensure COVID-19 broadband funding is technology neutral and doesn’t duplicate money going to projects via other programs. The group also wants Congress to “establish funding without existing [Communications Act] Section 254 limitations, such as existing [eligible telecom carrier] requirements.” The legislation should allow funding to be used “for leasing tower space in addition to capital expenditures” and “should be distributed to those who can stand up” a broadband network “quickly,” CTEC said. COVID-19-specific homework gap funding shouldn’t come out of USF coffers, but the FCC can “borrow" from "E-rate rules” to administer it, the group said: It “should last for only the duration of the national emergency and be targeted to low-income households without a home broadband connection or in jeopardy of losing their broadband connection,” along with related equipment.
The FCC is expected to consider vertical location accuracy for wireless calls to 911, and something on the digital opportunity data collection at the July 16 commissioners’ meeting, agency and industry officials said. Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to release a blog post on the meeting Wednesday, with drafts the following day.
Utilities Technology Council board promotes Sheryl Riggs to president-CEO, from interim since January; directors extend officers' terms for another year due to postponement of UTC’s annual conference, which will now be held virtually ... Lerman Senter promotes David Burns to member and hires Art Harding, ex-Foster Garvey, as counsel ... FeganScott adds Melissa Ryan Clark, ex-Tadler Law and a lawyer with experience with privacy and data breaches, as of counsel.
Utilities Technology Council board promotes Sheryl Riggs to president-CEO, from interim since January; directors extend officers' terms for another year due to postponement of UTC’s annual conference, which will now be held virtually ... Lerman Senter promotes David Burns to member and hires Art Harding, ex-Foster Garvey, as counsel ... FeganScott adds Melissa Ryan Clark, ex-Tadler Law and a lawyer with experience with privacy and data breaches, as of counsel.
An Italian national was sentenced to prison after trying to procure a U.S. power turbine without an export license, the Justice Department said June 18. Gabriele Villone, who was sentenced to 28 months in prison for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Control Reform Act, tried to procure the $17.3 million turbine for Russian companies, the agency said.