Emergency 911 apps for smartphones may not be safe, cautioned public safety, phone companies and others, in comments last week in FCC docket RM-11780 about a National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) request for a proceeding on how smartphone 911 apps may interface with 911 systems (see 1612190055). Mobile apps are “not ready to replace traditional voice calls and SMS messages to 9-1-1, APCO commented. Apps could one day enhance 911, but critical issues must first be addressed, it said. The National Emergency Number Association supported an FCC proceeding, agreeing the apps are an opportunity but also a challenge for public safety. The apps must be held to the same standards as other parts of 911 systems, NENA said. AT&T said mobile 911 apps hold promise, but it has seen that certain apps can interfere with the normal operations of 911 calling provided by mobile service providers. “Wireless carriers cannot be the gate keepers for these third-party emergency services apps over which the carrier has no control,” AT&T commented. But it said there’s no legal basis for the FCC to assert authority over 911 apps, and it would be better to develop industry standards. NTCA also raised concerns about FCC legal authority, saying the FTC may be better positioned to act. ACT|The App Association agreed the FTC is a more appropriate venue. It commented that FCC actions could stunt growth of the app industry: “Emergency communications are no exception to the app revolution, and the Commission should ensure that its policies enhance, rather than disrupt, the benefits that this innovative ecosystem can bring to 911 communications.”
The consensus among trade policy analysts speaking during a Feb. 3 panel discussion on Capitol Hill was that the Trump administration will be an unpredictable force in shaping international commerce. During a session hosted by Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, Peterson Institute for International Economics Senior Fellow Gary Hufbauer posited that the status quo of U.S. trade policy will continue. European Centre for International Political Economy Director Hosuk Lee-Makiyama said the EU is monitoring the cited unpredictable trade diplomacy of the White House akin, “in a sense,” to how it follows the behavior of North Korea.
Entercom will buy CBS Radio in an all-stock transaction and become one of the nation's largest radio broadcasters, they announced. The deal could help make radio a more viable target for advertising dollars and investment, radio industry officials told us. To comply with FCC rules, the proposed deal will include the divestiture of about 15 stations, Entercom CEO David Field said during an investor call. Industry officials said they don't expect federal regulators to block the deal.
When CTA, NAB and others petitioned the FCC for a rulemaking April 13 to allow broadcasters to begin using the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard (see 1604130065), they urged the commission not to require ATSC 3.0 tuners in receivers because the evolution to the next-generation TV standard “should be market-driven and based upon voluntary standards,” their petition said. But in the draft notice of proposed rulemaking on ATSC 3.0 that the FCC released Thursday under a "pilot program" launched by new Chairman Ajit Pai to promote public transparency (see 1702020016), the commission said it will seek comment on whether a tuner mandate or a market-driven approach to receivers would make better ATSC 3.0 policy.
Intel board said it promoted three corporate officers: Steven Rodgers to executive vice president, and he is general counsel and leads Intel’s Law and Policy Group; Aicha Evans to senior vice president, and she is general manager, Communication and Devices group; and Leslie Culbertson to senior vice president/director-human resources ... Joining Ifrah Law as partner is James Trusty, ex-DOJ Criminal Division, who works on cybersecurity and other issues ... JDA Software Group said it hired Girish Rishi, ex-Tyco, as CEO, succeeding Chairman-CEO Bal Dail; Dail is stepping down and remains at JDA through Q1 and continues as a senior adviser to New Mountain Capital; and directors Michael Capellas, Capellas Partners, becomes chairman and Buzz Waterhouse, who also has been a New Mountain Capital senior adviser, is named vice chairman.
Intel board said it promoted three corporate officers: Steven Rodgers to executive vice president, and he is general counsel and leads Intel’s Law and Policy Group; Aicha Evans to senior vice president, and she is general manager, Communication and Devices group; and Leslie Culbertson to senior vice president/director-human resources ... Joining Ifrah Law as partner is James Trusty, ex-DOJ Criminal Division, who works on cybersecurity and other issues ... JDA Software Group said it hired Girish Rishi, ex-Tyco, as CEO, succeeding Chairman-CEO Bal Dail; Dail is stepping down and remains at JDA through Q1 and continues as a senior adviser to New Mountain Capital; and directors Michael Capellas, Capellas Partners, becomes chairman and Buzz Waterhouse, who also has been a New Mountain Capital senior adviser, is named vice chairman.
Verizon received nearly 130,000 U.S. law enforcement demands for customer data in the second half of 2016, it reported Friday. The figure is about 6,500 less than the first six months of 2016 and more than 10,000 less than the same period in 2015. Of the nearly 130,000 demands, more than 60,000 were subpoenas, more than 28,000 were orders, more than 10,000 were warrants and about 27,000 were emergency requests. General Counsel Craig Silliman said in a blog post that protecting its customers' privacy is a "bedrock commitment" and the company scrutinizes each law enforcement demand it gets. The company said it received 0-499 national security letters (NSLs) in the second half of 2016 from the FBI. The agency sought between 1,000-1,499 selectors or identifiers that typically refer to a phone number specifying a customer. The number of selectors is usually higher than the number of customer accounts, it said. Silliman said the company "received three NSLs over the past few years for which the non-disclosure requirements have been lifted."
Verizon received nearly 130,000 U.S. law enforcement demands for customer data in the second half of 2016, it reported Friday. The figure is about 6,500 less than the first six months of 2016 and more than 10,000 less than the same period in 2015. Of the nearly 130,000 demands, more than 60,000 were subpoenas, more than 28,000 were orders, more than 10,000 were warrants and about 27,000 were emergency requests. General Counsel Craig Silliman said in a blog post that protecting its customers' privacy is a "bedrock commitment" and the company scrutinizes each law enforcement demand it gets. The company said it received 0-499 national security letters (NSLs) in the second half of 2016 from the FBI. The agency sought between 1,000-1,499 selectors or identifiers that typically refer to a phone number specifying a customer. The number of selectors is usually higher than the number of customer accounts, it said. Silliman said the company "received three NSLs over the past few years for which the non-disclosure requirements have been lifted."
The Federal Aviation Administration's delay in releasing proposed regulations for drone flights over people, which was expected at the end of December, now is seen as caught up in President Donald Trump's sweeping order to suspend new federal regulations. Some in the commercial drone community are worried any further postponement could adversely affect the industry's growth.
Ajit Pai -- in his first public speech as FCC head -- highlighted robocalls and closing the digital divide as his top consumer issues. “The focus of this committee really is where the rubber meets the road in terms of the FCC’s mission,” he said at the opening of an Consumer Advisory Committee meeting Friday. As he did in recent meetings with commission stakeholders and to the agency's staff, he talked of his plan mentioned also in a September speech to help close the digital divide (see 1701230058). Also at the CAC meeting, NAB General Counsel Patrick McFadden repeated the promises of the next TV transition to ATSC 3.0.