Pending and approved U.K. telecom mergers are heightening attention on EU and national competition regulatory approaches, lawyers and consultants told us. With the approval without conditions last month by the U.K. Competition and Market Authority (CMA) of the BT/EE merger, all eyes are now on what the European Commission will do about the proposed link-up of Hutchison's Three and Telefónica's O2. These and other tie-ins continue to raise questions about how many mobile players are needed for a competitive market and whether consolidation boosts network investment. "It is very interesting times," said Hogan Lovells (London) technology and telecom attorney Don McGown.
FirstNet is “moving with urgency” toward launch of a national network for first responders, said President TJ Kennedy at the Spectrum Management Conference Tuesday, after testifying before the House Communications Subcommittee earlier in the day (see 1602020064). FirstNet released its request for proposals Jan. 13 and applications are due April 29 (see 1601130046). Questions are due on the RFP Feb. 12.
AT&T received nearly 143,000 demands for customer information from federal, state and local criminal and civil government agencies for the second half of 2015, about 2,000 fewer requests than during the first half, it said in a transparency report Tuesday. During the period, the company said, it acquired DirecTV, which has been included in the report but accounts for less 1 percent of total demands received by AT&T. Of the demands for the second half, more than 105,000 were subpoenas, more than 18,700 were general court orders and more than 19,000 were search warrants or probable cause court orders. AT&T said it rejected or challenged nearly 2,500 demands while providing partial or no information on more than 35,000. The company also said it provided more than 38,000 "location demands," nearly 63,000 emergency requests, and a range of 500 to 999 requests for national security letters. Due to a required six-month delay in reporting Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act information order requests, AT&T said it received between 0 and 499 FISA orders for both content and noncontent during the first half of 2015.
AT&T received nearly 143,000 demands for customer information from federal, state and local criminal and civil government agencies for the second half of 2015, about 2,000 fewer requests than during the first half, it said in a transparency report Tuesday. During the period, the company said, it acquired DirecTV, which has been included in the report but accounts for less 1 percent of total demands received by AT&T. Of the demands for the second half, more than 105,000 were subpoenas, more than 18,700 were general court orders and more than 19,000 were search warrants or probable cause court orders. AT&T said it rejected or challenged nearly 2,500 demands while providing partial or no information on more than 35,000. The company also said it provided more than 38,000 "location demands," nearly 63,000 emergency requests, and a range of 500 to 999 requests for national security letters. Due to a required six-month delay in reporting Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act information order requests, AT&T said it received between 0 and 499 FISA orders for both content and noncontent during the first half of 2015.
The U.S. is still attempting to develop more-modern early warning systems for natural disasters -- such as earthquakes -- that use new technologies to reach mobile devices and connected devices within the IoT, experts said Tuesday during a White House summit on earthquake resilience. Panelists were optimistic about the pace of innovation on early warning, and said it's important to rethink the warning process to reach more individuals through mobile technologies, as opposed to traditional radio and TV early alerts.
House Communications Subcommittee lawmakers zeroed in on practical details of getting FirstNet up and running Tuesday, peppering President TJ Kennedy with questions during an oversight hearing. They scrutinized the recent release of FirstNet’s request for proposals and wanted details on the state opt-out process, monetization and ultimately the affordability for those who want to use the public safety broadband network.
The U.S. is still attempting to develop more-modern early warning systems for natural disasters -- such as earthquakes -- that use new technologies to reach mobile devices and connected devices within the IoT, experts said Tuesday during a White House summit on earthquake resilience. Panelists were optimistic about the pace of innovation on early warning, and said it's important to rethink the warning process to reach more individuals through mobile technologies, as opposed to traditional radio and TV early alerts.
House Communications Subcommittee lawmakers zeroed in on practical details of getting FirstNet up and running Tuesday, peppering President TJ Kennedy with questions during an oversight hearing. They scrutinized the recent release of FirstNet’s request for proposals and wanted details on the state opt-out process, monetization and ultimately the affordability for those who want to use the public safety broadband network.
Any regulatory approval of Charter Communications' buying Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable should come with conditions regarding broadband adoption and deployment, including expansion of eligibility for Charter's $14.99 per month broadband offering, the California Emerging Technology Fund said in an ex parte filing Friday in FCC docket 15-149. CETF said it neither opposes nor backs regulatory approval for the deals, but it does support broadband-related conditions if the FCC gives approval. New Charter should have a goal of broadband adoption by 696,000 to 960,000 low-income California households as a public benefit of the acquisitions, it said. CETF also listed a variety of suggested broadband conditions, including setting of performance goals for New Charter's low-income broadband service with its adoption rate being at 45 percent of eligible households within two years, with the eventual goal of 80 percent adoption. Conditions also should include establishment of an independent fund to aid community-based organizations in increasing broadband adoption, and infrastructure-building plans for 10 unserved and underserved broadband areas "with a particular focus on the Inland Empire, San Joaquin Valley, Salinas Valley (Monterey County) and Modoc County," CETF said. Charter pledged to start a low-income broadband offering open to families with students taking part in the National School Lunch Program and/or senior citizens who receive Supplemental Security Income program benefits (see 1512170070), but eligibility for the $14.99 per month service should "include all low-income households (particularly people with disabilities and veterans)," CETF said, and a wireless router should be included with the program's modem. Charter didn't comment. The filing recapped a meeting between CETF and Commissioner Michael O’Rielly.
Any regulatory approval of Charter Communications' buying Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable should come with conditions regarding broadband adoption and deployment, including expansion of eligibility for Charter's $14.99 per month broadband offering, the California Emerging Technology Fund said in an ex parte filing Friday in FCC docket 15-149. CETF said it neither opposes nor backs regulatory approval for the deals, but it does support broadband-related conditions if the FCC gives approval. New Charter should have a goal of broadband adoption by 696,000 to 960,000 low-income California households as a public benefit of the acquisitions, it said. CETF also listed a variety of suggested broadband conditions, including setting of performance goals for New Charter's low-income broadband service with its adoption rate being at 45 percent of eligible households within two years, with the eventual goal of 80 percent adoption. Conditions also should include establishment of an independent fund to aid community-based organizations in increasing broadband adoption, and infrastructure-building plans for 10 unserved and underserved broadband areas "with a particular focus on the Inland Empire, San Joaquin Valley, Salinas Valley (Monterey County) and Modoc County," CETF said. Charter pledged to start a low-income broadband offering open to families with students taking part in the National School Lunch Program and/or senior citizens who receive Supplemental Security Income program benefits (see 1512170070), but eligibility for the $14.99 per month service should "include all low-income households (particularly people with disabilities and veterans)," CETF said, and a wireless router should be included with the program's modem. Charter didn't comment. The filing recapped a meeting between CETF and Commissioner Michael O’Rielly.