A federal capital-area wireless emergency alert test starts 10 a.m. Thursday, the FCC reminded in a Wednesday note to media. Governments in the National Capital Region are using social media and doing a flurry of local media interviews before Thursday’s WEA test by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (see 1803300026).
A federal capital-area wireless emergency alert test starts 10 a.m. Thursday, the FCC reminded in a Wednesday note to media. Governments in the National Capital Region are using social media and doing a flurry of local media interviews before Thursday’s WEA test by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (see 1803300026).
Momentum could be growing for transparency bills that would require public notice and comment before using new surveillance technologies, privacy advocates said in interviews. Several California localities passed or are close to passing measures, and local politicians in other states also are promising measures. A California Senate panel plans to take up a bill Tuesday. Advocates said the state bill could be stronger, but law enforcement remains opposed to what it says could guide criminals.
Momentum could be growing for transparency bills that would require public notice and comment before using new surveillance technologies, privacy advocates said in interviews. Several California localities passed or are close to passing measures, and local politicians in other states also are promising measures. A California Senate panel plans to take up a bill Tuesday. Advocates said the state bill could be stronger, but law enforcement remains opposed to what it says could guide criminals.
The National Capital Region is “blanketing social media” and doing a flurry of local media interviews before Thursday’s regional test of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Rodriguez, said in a Friday interview. The District will join 19 other nearby jurisdictions in a test from 10 to 11 a.m. (see 1803280055). “Our job as homeland security professionals is to provide lifesaving information to the public in an actual emergency,” he said. “We take that responsibility and that duty very seriously, and we need to practice that capability, because the last thing we want to do is in a real emergency be using this capability for the first time.” Users in the District will get an alert saying it’s a WEA test and no further action is required, he said. “We’re not going to do the Hawaii thing,” said Rodriguez, referring to the false alarm about a missile headed for the Pacific island state (see 1803160042). The District has about six or seven layers of review before a message is sent, he said. “No one person can send out a wireless emergency alert,” but the process still takes under a minute, he said. “We want to make sure that when the public hears from us, the public knows that it’s an emergency.” While HSEMA tests WEA every month internally, Thursday will be “the first coordinated regional test” of WEA to the general public, Rodriguez said. Success will be to “very quickly disseminate wireless emergency alerts to the public,” he said. Alerts will go out in phases over a half-hour period, with each jurisdiction taking turns hitting "send" about every 15 seconds, Rodriguez said. Alerts will go to anyone with a phone in the area, including out-of-town visitors, because WEA is based on proximity rather than area code, he said. HSEMA is coordinating with Destination D.C. to help get word out about the upcoming test through hotels and tourism organizations, a HSEMA spokeswoman added. Some users may get multiple alerts because the 20 jurisdictions overlap in some places, the director said. After the test, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments will gauge public reaction with an online survey, he said.
BTIG sees signs that wireless network investments are on the upswing in the U.S., analyst Walter Piecyk blogged Monday. “We believe the tower industry is poised for accelerating revenue growth based on our recent discussions with industry participants,” Piecyk said. “The timing and pace of that acceleration will be impacted by the approvals necessary to add new tenants to existing towers, but the drivers of organic growth acceleration are clear.” One sign of growth is that AT&T’s build of FirstNet is ramping up this year into 2019. Piecyk also said more competition appears on the way. “We also believe that the likelihood of a 5th national wireless network emerging within the next five years is greater than 50 percent,” he said. “Cable and tech are actively testing ... 3.5 GHz technology and lobbying for mid-band spectrum to be used on small cells. Ultimately, we believe a proper wireless network will require a macro layer with licensed spectrum on towers. The wireless industry has not foreclosed on the valuable spectrum opportunity that Dish [Networks] offers these new entrants.”
BTIG sees signs that wireless network investments are on the upswing in the U.S., analyst Walter Piecyk blogged Monday. “We believe the tower industry is poised for accelerating revenue growth based on our recent discussions with industry participants,” Piecyk said. “The timing and pace of that acceleration will be impacted by the approvals necessary to add new tenants to existing towers, but the drivers of organic growth acceleration are clear.” One sign of growth is that AT&T’s build of FirstNet is ramping up this year into 2019. Piecyk also said more competition appears on the way. “We also believe that the likelihood of a 5th national wireless network emerging within the next five years is greater than 50 percent,” he said. “Cable and tech are actively testing ... 3.5 GHz technology and lobbying for mid-band spectrum to be used on small cells. Ultimately, we believe a proper wireless network will require a macro layer with licensed spectrum on towers. The wireless industry has not foreclosed on the valuable spectrum opportunity that Dish [Networks] offers these new entrants.”
The FCC deactivated the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) for areas affected by Hurricane Maria, said a Public Safety Bureau public notice Friday. “Effective today, no further reports to DIRS are requested in connection with the status of communications infrastructure in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.” DIRS has been active for Maria since Sept. 20, “an unprecedented 183 days,” the agency said. The FCC will instead “commence periodic individual conference calls with relevant communications providers” to discuss restoration efforts and preparations for the upcoming 2018 hurricane season, which starts June 1, the PN said. With DIRS no longer active, Network Outage Reporting System reporting obligations are again in effect for new network outages in that region, the notice said. “The FCC continues to be available to address emergency communications needs related to Hurricane Maria 24 hours per day, seven days per week through our 24-hour operations center.” The deactivation was coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security’s National Coordinating Center for Communications, the PN said.
The FCC approved changes to wireless infrastructure rules, aimed at speeding deployment of small cells to pave the way for 5G, 3-2 Thursday over dissents by Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, as expected (see 1803070044). Both said the order had problems that need to be fixed and a vote should have been postponed. Tribes and groups representing local and state governments raised repeated objections. Security removed a protester complaining about RF issues after the vote at what was a lightly attended meeting. A robocalling FNPRM also drew some concerns (see 1803220028), while some other items were less controversial (see 1803220037).
Trump administration officials' repeated citations of the national security implications of maintaining U.S. leadership in 5G innovation are a sign Congress needs to act on broader telecom policy issues that would help sustain that dominance, lawmakers and industry officials told us. The administration mentioned 5G deployment in its December national security strategy (see 1712180071 and 1712270032).