An FCC advisory committee voted unanimously in favor of reports on an updated emergency alert system handbook and enhanced coordination for submarine cables, at a meeting Wednesday of the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). The FCC meanwhile is to vote next month on an EAS order (see 1606220063).
A draft order that would allow broadcasters to use three new emergency alert system codes to communicate specific storm threats is expected to be unanimously approved by the FCC Friday, said industry and agency officials in interviews this week. The EAS item is seen as uncontroversial, and though some broadcasters may not possess equipment capable of transmitting the new codes, their use is expected to be voluntary, industry officials told us. Historically, the use of new EAS codes has been up to broadcasters, said Monroe Electronics Senior Director-Strategy and Government Affairs Ed Czarnecki.
Wilkinson Barker hires privacy and cybersecurity expert Aaron Burstein, ex-aide to then-FTC Commissioner Julie Brill, as partner ... Commerce Department names as director at National Technical Information Service (see 1606200012) Avi Bender, ex-Census Bureau ... Vubiq Networks promotes John Dilworth to CEO, succeeding Ed Snyder, pursuing other opportunities ... CBS moves Executive Vice President Julie McNamara to that post for original content, CBS All Access, and moves Senior Vice President Bryan Seabury to that position for drama development, broadcast and cable programming, CBS Television Studios ... Viamedia promotes David Solomon to chief revenue officer.
Weather and earth observation groups are raising red flags about Ligado's proposed terrestrial LTE network. Among those saying the spectrum is sacrosanct are the American Weather and Climate Industry Association (AWCIA), the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). AWCIA Monday in RM-11681 said the interference that could come from terrestrial downlinks sharing the same spectrum as signals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) "would have a devastating impact on our members" and it urged no commercial sharing with the 1675-1680 MHz band. GEO -- made up of numerous nations and organizations that share Earth observation data -- said GOES collects data that would be used by the Global Earth Observation System of Systems being developed that would tie together a number of earth observation systems. GEO also cited the World Radiocommunication Conference decision not to select 1675-1695 MHz for worldwide consideration to support international mobile telecom, saying domestic use of parts of that spectrum in the U.S. "may result in actions in other countries which could further destabilize the consistent access to the data that is critical to public safety, welfare and the economy at large" and opposing commercial sharing in that band. IAEM said it's "puzzled why the 1675-1680 MHz band is now being reconsidered for 'shared use' with a for-profit entity at the risk of public safety." It said the Ligado proposal first needs to be evaluated and tested by an outside third party, not one paid for by Ligado. IAEM said it's "concerned that if the decision is made for this band to be auctioned as 'shared use,' there will be no going back, no way to 'un-share' the spectrum and no accountability when interference does occur." Ligado in a statement said it "believes that technology can enable this spectrum to be shared for next-generation mobile services while protecting the vital mission of NOAA and the delivery of important weather data that public and private institutions use.”
California senators soon will consider a deregulatory bill to reduce local siting review for small-cell wireless infrastructure. The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee plans to consider the measure next Monday, a committee spokeswoman said. The bill has raised concerns from advocates for local government. The committee plans on Tuesday to consider a constitutional amendment to dissolve the California Public Utilities Commission and a bill to improve wireless 911 call routing. While the Assembly already passed the three measures, the small-cells bill had nothing to do with wireless until after it arrived in the Senate.
California senators soon will consider a deregulatory bill to reduce local siting review for small-cell wireless infrastructure. The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee plans to consider the measure next Monday, a committee spokeswoman said. The bill has raised concerns from advocates for local government. The committee plans on Tuesday to consider a constitutional amendment to dissolve the California Public Utilities Commission and a bill to improve wireless 911 call routing. While the Assembly already passed the three measures, the small-cells bill had nothing to do with wireless until after it arrived in the Senate.
A House Democratic leadership aide told us Democrats are likely to rebel against the FY 2017 FCC funding bill and stand-alone legislation to curb the Lifeline program, both being brought to the House floor this week. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., is attempting to get two different proposals addressing the Lifeline program through the floor, one as a Financial Services bill amendment (see 1606170060) and another as stand-alone legislation being considered Tuesday under suspension of the rules.
A House Democratic leadership aide told us Democrats are likely to rebel against the FY 2017 FCC funding bill and stand-alone legislation to curb the Lifeline program, both being brought to the House floor this week. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., is attempting to get two different proposals addressing the Lifeline program through the floor, one as a Financial Services bill amendment (see 1606170060) and another as stand-alone legislation being considered Tuesday under suspension of the rules.
Something legislatively needs to be done to help those bullied by lawsuits for posting critical reviews online, said several panelists during a Charles Koch Institute event. Congressional lawmakers are beginning to review legislation aimed at curbing such lawsuits.
Something legislatively needs to be done to help those bullied by lawsuits for posting critical reviews online, said several panelists during a Charles Koch Institute event. Congressional lawmakers are beginning to review legislation aimed at curbing such lawsuits.