Smart speaker users are concerned about privacy and hacking, but they trust the companies providing the technology, said a smart audio report from Edison Research and NPR. About 58 percent of smart speaker owners worry hackers could be using their smart speaker to get access to their home or personal information, but 54 percent trust the companies that make smart speakers to keep their personal information secure.
An apparently widespread AT&T outage Tuesday morning prevented some wireless users from being able to contact emergency services, according to AT&T and tweets from first responders in several states. “Earlier this morning some wireless customers may have been unable to connect to 911,” an AT&T spokesperson emailed. “This has been resolved and we apologize to anyone who was affected.” AT&T didn’t specify the precise locations and duration of the outage. Police departments in Minneapolis, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Dutchess County, New York and other far-flung localities tweeted about the outage and described it as “nationwide.” AT&T “is experiencing a nationwide network service outage impacting the ability to reach 9-1-1 on a cell phone if you have AT&T,” tweeted the Frisco, Texas, PD at 7:45 a.m CDT. Minneapolis PD reported service being restored in a matter of hours. The National Emergency Number Association didn’t comment.
A Los Angeles resident was found guilty of conspiring to illegally export semiconductor chips to China, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Department of Justice said in a July 2 press release. Yi-Chi Shih faces a maximum prison sentence of 219 years.
As the Commerce Department prepares to issue export controls on emerging technologies, U.S. industries are urging the agency to limit controls on artificial intelligence and 3D printing, according to industry comments gathered by Jessica Blum Sanchez, the trade compliance manager at Accenture Federal Services.
Emergency alert system participants are required to file Form 2 in the EAS test reporting system (ETRS) before 11:59 p.m. EDT Aug. 7 for the nationwide EAS test (see 1906030050), reminded a FCC Public Safety Bureau public notice Monday. Test participants are also required to file ETRS Form 3 by Sept. 23, the PN said. EAS alerts must be accessible and there are specific rules on where on a TV screen the visual message portion of an EAS message can be displayed, the PN said. The bureau also reminded EAS participants to coordinate with state emergency communication committees and to upgrade EAS equipment software and firmware, and the stakeholders to ensure they can receive and process the national periodic test code.
Tech and business groups hailed President Donald Trump’s decision postponing the fourth installment of tariffs as his administration tries to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal with China, though three existing rounds of tariffs stay as is. Bipartisan condemnation greeted Trump’s surprise announcement he will let U.S. companies resume shipments to Huawei, though the tech-equipment giant remains subject to Commerce Department export administration regulations and entity list restrictions (see 1905160081).
Tech and business groups hailed President Donald Trump’s decision postponing the fourth installment of tariffs as his administration tries to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal with China, though three existing rounds of tariffs stay as is. Bipartisan condemnation greeted Trump’s surprise announcement he will let U.S. companies resume shipments to Huawei, though the tech-equipment giant remains subject to Commerce Department export administration regulations and entity list restrictions (see 1905160081).
Tech and business groups hailed President Donald Trump’s decision postponing the List 4 Section 301 tariffs as his administration tries to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal with China, though three existing rounds of tariffs stay as is, and the threat remains that List 4 could be imposed any time if the talks go awry, as they did in May (see 1905060015). Bipartisan Capitol Hill condemnation greeted Trump’s surprise announcement he will let U.S. companies resume shipments to Huawei, though the tech-equipment giant remains subject to Commerce Department export administration regulations and entity list restrictions (see 1905160081).
Multiline telephone services (MLTS) and interconnected VoIP services aren't capable and not expected to become capable of providing location information down to the room or suite number for every single emergency call, Microsoft told the FCC in a filing posted Thursday in docket 18-261. Microsoft executives met with FCC officials to seek "clarification that MLTS providers are entitled to the same liability protections afforded wireless carriers, iVoIP services and text-to-911 services." The FCC is looking to adopt at a national level Kari's Law provisions that require building and campus MLTS systems to allow direct 911 calling (see 1902150036).
More than 25 industry associations are asking the Commerce Department to allow more time for public comments on Commerce’s next advance notice of proposed rulemaking for foundational technologies, which is expected in the coming weeks. The associations asked for a 90-day comment and review period in a June 27 letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.