Using public TV spectrum to datacast important information to first responders will allow navigation of increasingly complex emergency situations for agencies that have become more dependent on connected devices, datacasting advocates said during a public safety webinar. Such backers said the fact they were invited to speak about it at the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) event is a step toward getting wider traction for the technology.
If there are to be new export controls on position, navigation and timing technology, they should come after detailed talks between the government and commercial enterprises doing R&D, manufacture and distribution of PNT technologies, the GPS Innovation Alliance commented last week in a Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security proceeding on identifying and proposing controls on emerging technologies essential to national security. Those talks need to cover such ground as the extent to which emerging PNT technologies might become public information, the extent to which the PNT industry is doing R&D activities outside the U.S. and whether foreign firms might have developed PNT technologies to the point U.S. export controls would be ineffectual, GPSIA said.
If there are to be new export controls on position, navigation and timing technology, they should come after detailed talks between the government and commercial enterprises doing R&D, manufacture and distribution of PNT technologies, the GPS Innovation Alliance commented last week in a Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security proceeding on identifying and proposing controls on emerging technologies essential to national security. Those talks need to cover such ground as the extent to which emerging PNT technologies might become public information, the extent to which the PNT industry is doing R&D activities outside the U.S. and whether foreign firms might have developed PNT technologies to the point U.S. export controls would be ineffectual, GPSIA said.
If there are to be new export controls on position, navigation and timing technology, they should come after detailed talks between the government and commercial enterprises doing R&D, manufacture and distribution of PNT technologies, the GPS Innovation Alliance commented last week in a Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security proceeding on identifying and proposing controls on emerging technologies essential to national security. Those talks need to cover such ground as the extent to which emerging PNT technologies might become public information, the extent to which the PNT industry is doing R&D activities outside the U.S. and whether foreign firms might have developed PNT technologies to the point U.S. export controls would be ineffectual, GPSIA said.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., blasted FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Monday for not conducting an emergency briefing for committee staff that day on why the commission hasn't ended top wireless carriers' unauthorized location data disclosures (see 1901100046). Pallone sought the briefing Friday, arguing it was needed immediately because of national security and public interest matters (see 1901110042). "In a phone conversation today, [Pai's] staff asserted that these egregious actions are not a threat to the safety of human life or property that the FCC will address during" the shutdown, Pallone said. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel "was available for a briefing but, as a minority member of the FCC, she does not have the authority to direct resources," Pallone said. "There’s nothing in the law that should stop the Chairman personally from meeting about this serious threat." FCC officials told House Commerce staff the agency "has been investigating wireless carriers' handling of location information," emailed a commission spokesperson. "Unfortunately, we were required to suspend that investigation earlier this month because of the lapse in funding, and pursuant to guidance from our expert attorneys, the career staff that is working on this issue are currently on furlough. Of course, when the Commission is able to resume normal operations, the investigation will continue."
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., blasted FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Monday for not conducting an emergency briefing for committee staff that day on why the commission hasn't ended top wireless carriers' unauthorized location data disclosures (see 1901100046). Pallone sought the briefing Friday, arguing it was needed immediately because of national security and public interest matters (see 1901110042). "In a phone conversation today, [Pai's] staff asserted that these egregious actions are not a threat to the safety of human life or property that the FCC will address during" the shutdown, Pallone said. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel "was available for a briefing but, as a minority member of the FCC, she does not have the authority to direct resources," Pallone said. "There’s nothing in the law that should stop the Chairman personally from meeting about this serious threat." FCC officials told House Commerce staff the agency "has been investigating wireless carriers' handling of location information," emailed a commission spokesperson. "Unfortunately, we were required to suspend that investigation earlier this month because of the lapse in funding, and pursuant to guidance from our expert attorneys, the career staff that is working on this issue are currently on furlough. Of course, when the Commission is able to resume normal operations, the investigation will continue."
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., wrote FCC Chairman Ajit Pai seeking an emergency Monday briefing for committee staff on why the commission hasn't ended top wireless carriers' unauthorized location data disclosures (see 1901100046). The briefing “cannot wait” until the end of the partial government shutdown (see 1901100020), which has put most FCC activities on hiatus, because it's “in the interest of public safety and national security,” Pallone said. The agency “once again appears to have dragged its feet in protecting consumers,” he said. “While some carriers have now recommitted to stopping such unauthorized disclosure, the public can no longer rely on their voluntary promises to protect this extremely sensitive information.” The FCC “must take immediate action to ensure no wireless carrier is allowing the rampant disclosure of real-time location data and take enforcement action against carriers that violated the Commission’s rules and the trust of their customers,” Pallone said. Verizon is joining AT&T in ending location aggregation agreements, a practice criticized over claims carriers sold customers' real-time location that bounty hunters accessed, a spokesperson said Friday. Verizon noted it wasn’t among companies -- AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile -- included in the Motherboard report. Verizon and the other three major carriers agreed to end such arrangements in the summer in response to a report on data brokers enabling misuse of customer data. “We have followed through on our commitment to terminate aggregation arrangements and provide location information only with the express consent of our customers,” Verizon said. The company ended deals with data broker Zumigo and by March will end agreements with roadside assistance companies, Verizon said. T-Mobile and Sprint didn't comment.
CTA fears “unilateral” export controls over emerging technologies “can seriously undercut U.S. technological leadership,” it told the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security Thursday in docket BIS-2018-0024. CTA’s comments put it squarely in agreement with other tech groups that told BIS that overly strict export controls on new technology like artificial intelligence could harm tech innovation and bolster bad actors like China (see 1901100032). If the American tech industry is “locked out,” whether by “law or perception,” from pursuing “high growth markets” for “cutting-edge technologies,” U.S. companies “will lose the jobs and research investments that grow from our ability to compete for business in these fields,” said CTA. BIS should stick to the “principles” based in the 2018 Export Control Reform Act “as it considers whether or which technologies to propose for control,” it said. In deciding which emerging technologies should be targeted for controls, identify only those “not now controlled and that are essential to the national security” of the U.S., it said. It said any proposed controls should “be limited to addressing national security concerns, not trade policy issues.” CTA also urged the Trump administration to “give great weight to industry statements regarding how a proposed unilateral control would help or harm their U.S. business.” Don't "propose or impose new emerging technology controls unless it has fully considered the impact such controls would have on the U.S. economy,” CTA urged BIS. The Computer & Communications Industry Association suggested patented and patent-pending technology be excluded from export administration regulations. “A poorly executed export control regime can hinder innovation” and next-generation tech, CCIA said.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., wrote FCC Chairman Ajit Pai seeking an emergency Monday briefing for committee staff on why the commission hasn't ended top wireless carriers' unauthorized location data disclosures (see 1901100046). The briefing “cannot wait” until the end of the partial government shutdown (see 1901100020), which has put most FCC activities on hiatus, because it's “in the interest of public safety and national security,” Pallone said. The agency “once again appears to have dragged its feet in protecting consumers,” he said. “While some carriers have now recommitted to stopping such unauthorized disclosure, the public can no longer rely on their voluntary promises to protect this extremely sensitive information.” The FCC “must take immediate action to ensure no wireless carrier is allowing the rampant disclosure of real-time location data and take enforcement action against carriers that violated the Commission’s rules and the trust of their customers,” Pallone said. Verizon is joining AT&T in ending location aggregation agreements, a practice criticized over claims carriers sold customers' real-time location that bounty hunters accessed, a spokesperson said Friday. Verizon noted it wasn’t among companies -- AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile -- included in the Motherboard report. Verizon and the other three major carriers agreed to end such arrangements in the summer in response to a report on data brokers enabling misuse of customer data. “We have followed through on our commitment to terminate aggregation arrangements and provide location information only with the express consent of our customers,” Verizon said. The company ended deals with data broker Zumigo and by March will end agreements with roadside assistance companies, Verizon said. T-Mobile and Sprint didn't comment.
CTA fears “unilateral” export controls over emerging technologies “can seriously undercut U.S. technological leadership,” it told the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security Thursday in docket BIS-2018-0024. CTA’s comments put it squarely in agreement with other tech groups that told BIS that overly strict export controls on new technology like artificial intelligence could harm tech innovation and bolster bad actors like China (see 1901100032). If the American tech industry is “locked out,” whether by “law or perception,” from pursuing “high growth markets” for “cutting-edge technologies,” U.S. companies “will lose the jobs and research investments that grow from our ability to compete for business in these fields,” said CTA. BIS should stick to the “principles” based in the 2018 Export Control Reform Act “as it considers whether or which technologies to propose for control,” it said. In deciding which emerging technologies should be targeted for controls, identify only those “not now controlled and that are essential to the national security” of the U.S., it said. It said any proposed controls should “be limited to addressing national security concerns, not trade policy issues.” CTA also urged the Trump administration to “give great weight to industry statements regarding how a proposed unilateral control would help or harm their U.S. business.” Don't "propose or impose new emerging technology controls unless it has fully considered the impact such controls would have on the U.S. economy,” CTA urged BIS. The Computer & Communications Industry Association suggested patented and patent-pending technology be excluded from export administration regulations. “A poorly executed export control regime can hinder innovation” and next-generation tech, CCIA said.