The Food and Drug Administration should harness blockchain, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to address food safety issues in quickly evolving supply chains, and customs brokers will play a central role in facilitating adoption and the correct use of these new technologies by smaller and medium-sized operations, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in comments recently submitted to FDA.
The FCC approved over a dissent by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel rules requiring carriers to provide height above ellipsoid (HAE) data from wireless calls to 911, within 3 meters accuracy for 80 percent of calls, starting in the largest markets in April 2021. APCO and some others in public safety are concerned the mandate will mean an FCC retreat from dispatchable location. Such more specific location is a concept endorsed by commissioners 5-0 in January 2015 under former Chairman Tom Wheeler (see 1501290066).
The Department of Commerce published its fall 2019 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security. The agenda includes a new mention of its intent to potentially control certain additive manufacturing equipment, or 3D printing, used in “energetic materials” as part of BIS’s effort to restrict sales of emerging technologies (see 1911210051). The notice of proposed rulemaking aims to gather feedback from industries while “discussions are ongoing” at the Wassenaar Arrangement. BIS said it aims to issue the proposed rule in November.
U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios names Winter Casey and Lynne Parker, both ex-White House Office of Science and Technology, deputy U.S. CTOs and Eric Burger, ex-FCC, assistant director-telecom and cybersecurity ... Bronwyn Flores leaving CTA to become Metrc communications manager.
U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios names Winter Casey and Lynne Parker, both ex-White House Office of Science and Technology, deputy U.S. CTOs and Eric Burger, ex-FCC, assistant director-telecom and cybersecurity ... Bronwyn Flores leaving CTA to become Metrc communications manager.
The FCC’s draft NPRM on the 5.9 GHz band says segmenting the band, with 45 MHz allocated for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed and 30 MHz for intelligent transportation systems, is the best approach to the long underutilized band. ITS “remains a critical priority” but times have changed since the FCC allocated spectrum for dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) 20 years ago, the draft says. The agency released items set for a vote at commissioners' Dec. 12 meeting. They include media and suicide prevention hotline actions and an NPRM on clearing the 3.3-3.55 GHz band.
The U.S. is continuing sanctions on Burundi, the White House said in a Nov. 19 notice. The situation in Burundi -- marked by “violence” and “political repression” -- continues to “pose an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security, the White House said. The sanctions are being renewed for one year from Nov. 22. The national emergency with regard to Burundi was originally declared Nov. 22, 2015.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will seek a vote at the Dec. 12 FCC commissioners' meeting proposing to take most of the 5.9 GHz band away from dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), reallocating it for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use. The Wednesday announcement was expected (see 1911190066). The NPRM follows months of discussions with the Department of Transportation and was changed in reaction to DOT questions, a senior official said on a background call with reporters. DOT remains concerned.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will seek a vote at the Dec. 12 FCC commissioners' meeting proposing to take most of the 5.9 GHz band away from dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), reallocating it for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed use. The Wednesday announcement was expected (see 1911190066). The NPRM follows months of discussions with the Department of Transportation and was changed in reaction to DOT questions, a senior official said on a background call with reporters. DOT remains concerned.
FirstNet Executive Director Ed Parkinson and others from the authority told the FCC it should reject a request that the agency impose interoperability rules on the national first responder network (see 1909270054). The FCC earlier commented on Colorado's Boulder Regional Emergency Telephone Service Authority (BRETSA) petitions for declaratory ruling or rulemaking. The petitions seek measures “inconsistent with and not actionable under the FirstNet Authority’s enabling statute, and which would damage the FirstNet program fought for by public safety and prescribed by Congress,” FirstNet said in a meeting with Public Safety Bureau staff: The FirstNet network “is interoperable as required under the 2012 Act.” The FCC has already “fulfilled all of its duties and responsibilities” in that act, said the filing posted Monday in docket 19-254.