The transition team for President-elect Donald Trump named five more individuals to the FTC landing team, most of whom have expertise in antitrust, competition and other financial issues. Several observers told us Tuesday they think the commission under the incoming administration will take a more harms-based approach. Meanwhile, former FTC Commissioner Joshua Wright met with Trump over the weekend in New York, spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on a conference call Tuesday. Spicer didn't specify the substance of the discussion and Wright declined to comment.
The FCC Public Safety Bureau gave the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA) a waiver so it could test wireless emergency alerts before the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration. The test, in cooperation with various federal agencies including the Secret Service, was to be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday on the National Mall, said the Friday order. The D.C. agency told the FCC it wanted to test the WEA message system and city official email list portion of the federal Integrated Public Alert and Warning System before the inauguration. DCHSEMA will broadcast a message that reads: “This is a test of the District of Columbia Emergency Alert System. No action is required.” The bureau said in an order it saw ample reason to grant a waiver. More than a million visitors are expected on or near the National Mall during the inauguration, the bureau said. “In the event of an emergency, DCHSEMA and its federal partners must be able to communicate quickly and effectively to the crowd. WEA offers this unique capability, and its use could be essential to ensure public safety in the event of an emergency. A live test would ensure that WEA can reach the entire National Mall yet be ‘geo-fenced’ to minimize any extension beyond this intended area.” Carriers undertook extensive preparations for the inauguration and accompanying protests (see 1701050059).
The FCC Public Safety Bureau gave the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA) a waiver so it could test wireless emergency alerts before the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration. The test, in cooperation with various federal agencies including the Secret Service, was to be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday on the National Mall, said the Friday order. The D.C. agency told the FCC it wanted to test the WEA message system and city official email list portion of the federal Integrated Public Alert and Warning System before the inauguration. DCHSEMA will broadcast a message that reads: “This is a test of the District of Columbia Emergency Alert System. No action is required.” The bureau said in an order it saw ample reason to grant a waiver. More than a million visitors are expected on or near the National Mall during the inauguration, the bureau said. “In the event of an emergency, DCHSEMA and its federal partners must be able to communicate quickly and effectively to the crowd. WEA offers this unique capability, and its use could be essential to ensure public safety in the event of an emergency. A live test would ensure that WEA can reach the entire National Mall yet be ‘geo-fenced’ to minimize any extension beyond this intended area.” Carriers undertook extensive preparations for the inauguration and accompanying protests (see 1701050059).
The federal government should take additional steps to encourage IoT growth, including creating a multistakeholder process to identify related policy challenges, NTIA said Thursday in a green paper. NTIA had been collecting stakeholders' feedback on IoT issues since April, though some critics suggested in comments the agency's investigation into those issues was a waste of time (see 1606060042). Stakeholders identified multiple challenges and barriers to IoT growth during a September event, suggesting the federal government employ only a light regulatory touch (see 1609010063). NTIA said it “heard a strong message from the submitted comments that coordination among U.S. government partners would be helpful, because of the complex, interdisciplinary, cross-sector nature of IoT. A federal coordination structure for these issues may also be helpful when working with international and private sector partners.” The Department of Commerce can promote IoT advancement through its own usage of the technology, and highlight its benefits to foreign partners, NTIA said. Commerce can encourage global development of technical standards on the IoT to ensure interoperability and advance tech development, NTIA said. The department should examine “removing barriers” to IoT innovation and promote norms that will protect the technology's users, NTIA said. Commerce also should enable the allocation of spectrum and other infrastructure developments to support IoT growth, NTIA said. The IoT “promises to revolutionize our world from increasing efficiency and convenience for industry, consumers, and government to improving safety,” said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in a news release. “Today’s report affirms the Department’s commitment to creating the conditions for emerging technologies to thrive, and it identifies future actions necessary to support the evolution and expansion of the IoT.” NTIA said it planned to publish a request for comment on the green paper in Friday's Federal Register. NTIA “has built a strong case for a proactive and coordinated effort throughout the federal government to support [IoT] on a national scale,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Center for Data Innovation Director Daniel Castro in a statement: “Because of the unique characteristics of [IoT], including its potential scale and scope, the United States will not be able to capture the full social and economic benefits of the technology without a concerted effort from policymakers throughout government to promote the development of the technology. We hope this report builds further momentum for Congress to move forward with establishing a national strategy” for IoT.
The federal government should take additional steps to encourage IoT growth, including creating a multistakeholder process to identify related policy challenges, NTIA said Thursday in a green paper. NTIA had been collecting stakeholders' feedback on IoT issues since April, though some critics suggested in comments the agency's investigation into those issues was a waste of time (see 1606060042). Stakeholders identified multiple challenges and barriers to IoT growth during a September event, suggesting the federal government employ only a light regulatory touch (see 1609010063). NTIA said it “heard a strong message from the submitted comments that coordination among U.S. government partners would be helpful, because of the complex, interdisciplinary, cross-sector nature of IoT. A federal coordination structure for these issues may also be helpful when working with international and private sector partners.” The Department of Commerce can promote IoT advancement through its own usage of the technology, and highlight its benefits to foreign partners, NTIA said. Commerce can encourage global development of technical standards on the IoT to ensure interoperability and advance tech development, NTIA said. The department should examine “removing barriers” to IoT innovation and promote norms that will protect the technology's users, NTIA said. Commerce also should enable the allocation of spectrum and other infrastructure developments to support IoT growth, NTIA said. The IoT “promises to revolutionize our world from increasing efficiency and convenience for industry, consumers, and government to improving safety,” said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in a news release. “Today’s report affirms the Department’s commitment to creating the conditions for emerging technologies to thrive, and it identifies future actions necessary to support the evolution and expansion of the IoT.” NTIA said it planned to publish a request for comment on the green paper in Friday's Federal Register. NTIA “has built a strong case for a proactive and coordinated effort throughout the federal government to support [IoT] on a national scale,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Center for Data Innovation Director Daniel Castro in a statement: “Because of the unique characteristics of [IoT], including its potential scale and scope, the United States will not be able to capture the full social and economic benefits of the technology without a concerted effort from policymakers throughout government to promote the development of the technology. We hope this report builds further momentum for Congress to move forward with establishing a national strategy” for IoT.
President Barack Obama on Jan. 13 issued an executive order (here) directing the removal of sanctions on property and interests of the Sudanese government, and the removal of prohibitions on imports from and exports to the country, to take overall effect July 12, as outlined in a letter from Obama to Congress (here). "The 180-day delay period of the order's effective date with respect to removing these provisions is intended to encourage the Government of Sudan to sustain its efforts in these areas." Obama's order would also rescind Executive Order 13412, which continues blocking the Sudanese government and specifies prohibitions relating to Sudan's petroleum industry. However, the national emergency regarding Sudan will remain in place, Obama said. Obama tasked the Secretary of State and interagency partners to review Sudanese government actions annually after his order takes effect.
The federal government should take additional steps to encourage IoT growth, including creating a multistakeholder process to identify related policy challenges, NTIA said Thursday in a green paper. NTIA had been collecting stakeholders' feedback on IoT issues since April, though some critics suggested in comments the agency's investigation into those issues was a waste of time (see 1606060042). Stakeholders identified multiple challenges and barriers to IoT growth during a September event, suggesting the federal government employ only a light regulatory touch (see 1609010063). NTIA said it “heard a strong message from the submitted comments that coordination among U.S. government partners would be helpful, because of the complex, interdisciplinary, cross-sector nature of IoT. A federal coordination structure for these issues may also be helpful when working with international and private sector partners.” The Department of Commerce can promote IoT advancement through its own usage of the technology, and highlight its benefits to foreign partners, NTIA said. Commerce can encourage global development of technical standards on the IoT to ensure interoperability and advance tech development, NTIA said. The department should examine “removing barriers” to IoT innovation and promote norms that will protect the technology's users, NTIA said. Commerce also should enable the allocation of spectrum and other infrastructure developments to support IoT growth, NTIA said. The IoT “promises to revolutionize our world from increasing efficiency and convenience for industry, consumers, and government to improving safety,” said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in a news release. “Today’s report affirms the Department’s commitment to creating the conditions for emerging technologies to thrive, and it identifies future actions necessary to support the evolution and expansion of the IoT.” NTIA said it planned to publish a request for comment on the green paper in Friday's Federal Register. NTIA “has built a strong case for a proactive and coordinated effort throughout the federal government to support [IoT] on a national scale,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation Center for Data Innovation Director Daniel Castro in a statement: “Because of the unique characteristics of [IoT], including its potential scale and scope, the United States will not be able to capture the full social and economic benefits of the technology without a concerted effort from policymakers throughout government to promote the development of the technology. We hope this report builds further momentum for Congress to move forward with establishing a national strategy” for IoT.
Mozilla faulted the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday for not including a broader discussion of cybersecurity issues during Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearings. Sessions committed during a hearing Tuesday to follow the USA Freedom Act, which restricts NSA from the bulk collection of Americans' phone records, despite his voting against the bill in 2015 (see 1701090038). Surveillance continued to occasionally emerge as an issue during Sessions' hearing Wednesday (see 1701110069). Senate Judiciary almost exclusively mentioned cybersecurity in the context of government-sponsored cyberattacks like Russia’s hacking of IT systems associated with the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said Mozilla Chief Legal and Business Officer Denelle Dixon-Thayer in a blog post. “Discussion about robust cybersecurity for everyday Internet users -- through practices like strong encryption -- was largely absent,” she said. “It would have been helpful if the Senate asked Sessions to clarify his position, and even better if they asked him to clarify that privacy and security are important for all Americans and a healthy Internet.”
Mozilla faulted the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday for not including a broader discussion of cybersecurity issues during Attorney General nominee Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearings. Sessions committed during a hearing Tuesday to follow the USA Freedom Act, which restricts NSA from the bulk collection of Americans' phone records, despite his voting against the bill in 2015 (see 1701090038). Surveillance continued to occasionally emerge as an issue during Sessions' hearing Wednesday (see 1701110069). Senate Judiciary almost exclusively mentioned cybersecurity in the context of government-sponsored cyberattacks like Russia’s hacking of IT systems associated with the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said Mozilla Chief Legal and Business Officer Denelle Dixon-Thayer in a blog post. “Discussion about robust cybersecurity for everyday Internet users -- through practices like strong encryption -- was largely absent,” she said. “It would have been helpful if the Senate asked Sessions to clarify his position, and even better if they asked him to clarify that privacy and security are important for all Americans and a healthy Internet.”
Transportation Secretary nominee Elaine Chao told Senate Commerce Committee members at her Wednesday confirmation hearing she would work with Congress to get the government positioned "as a catalyst ... not as an impediment" to safely and efficiently integrate drones, self-driving cars and other new technologies into the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Transportation faced friendly questioning from Democrats and Republicans about a wide range of transportation issues, with little focus on emerging technologies and she offered few specifics. Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., asked her how DOT under her leadership will keep pace with evolving technology. She said the benefits of technologies like artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and drones are known, but "there are also concerns about how they will continue to develop and I will work with this committee and the Congress to address many of these concerns. But we need to do so in a way that will not dampen the basic creativity and innovation of our country." Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., asked whether Chao has specific ideas about how federal policy can keep up with technology while maintaining safety of self-driving vehicles. He said accidents "will have a tremendous public blowback" but innovation needs to be allowed to continue. Chao replied "it behooves all of us as a country, as a society, to bring greater familiarity and greater comfort for those who are passengers and other stakeholders who will be eventual users of this technology to understand the benefits, the limitations and also what it means going forward in the future. So it requires a national discussion." DOT has 57,000 full-time employees with an operating budget of $75 billion. Chao, whose husband is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., held cabinet positions in the George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush administrations (see 1701040063). Chao is “perfectly suited” to be the next secretary of transportation, said the National Retail Federation in a Wednesday letter to the Senate Commerce Committee backing her confirmation. NRF’s members “are among the nation’s largest shippers, moving hundreds of billions of dollars worth of merchandise through the nation’s ports, rail lines, and highways,” it said. “The condition of this interconnected supply chain and its ability to move freight quickly, efficiently and safely are vital to retailers’ businesses, as well as those of American manufacturers, agricultural producers and the millions of workers they employ.” With Chao’s previous experience at DOT, including as deputy secretary under President George H.W. Bush, she has “the background and experience to address some of the key supply chain issues facing our nation and our global competitiveness,” NRF said.