The U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim nations said they reached a final deal on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which would affect a range of e-commerce, IP and other areas of trade law. The deal will now go through a technical review before going to the U.S. Congress and other national legislatures for consideration. Although a range of industry stakeholders expressed optimism Monday about TPP, many reserved judgment until they're able to review the final text of the agreement. Members of Congress also raised skepticism Monday about TPP’s final contours. It’s unclear the extent to which TPP’s IP provisions will factor into Congress’ consideration of the deal, stakeholders told us.
The U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim nations said they reached a final deal on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which would affect a range of e-commerce, IP and other areas of trade law. The deal will now go through a technical review before going to the U.S. Congress and other national legislatures for consideration. Although a range of industry stakeholders expressed optimism Monday about TPP, many reserved judgment until they're able to review the final text of the agreement. Members of Congress also raised skepticism Monday about TPP’s final contours. It’s unclear the extent to which TPP’s IP provisions will factor into Congress’ consideration of the deal, stakeholders told us.
The U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim nations said they reached a final deal on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which would affect a range of e-commerce, IP and other areas of trade law. The deal will now go through a technical review before going to the U.S. Congress and other national legislatures for consideration. Although a range of industry stakeholders expressed optimism Monday about TPP, many reserved judgment until they're able to review the final text of the agreement. Members of Congress also raised skepticism Monday about TPP’s final contours. It’s unclear the extent to which TPP’s IP provisions will factor into Congress’ consideration of the deal, stakeholders told us.
The leaders of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship introduced the Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act Thursday. S-2116 “comes on the heels of the recent Broadband Opportunity Council report by modernizing SBA’s approach to broadband issues, connecting businesses with financing programs and advising on broadband acquisition by small businesses and startups,” said a summary of the legislation provided by a spokesman for committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. “The bill answers the call for agencies to address the push for broadband nationwide.” Shaheen is backing the 10-page bill with Chairman David Vitter, R-La. The Senate Committee on Small Business plans to mark up the legislation at 11 a.m. Wednesday in 428A Russell, Shaheen's spokesman told us. That markup session wasn't listed on the committee website by our deadline Friday. The legislation text explicitly mentions the FCC’s National Broadband Plan and the White House’s Broadband Opportunity Council recommendations. The bill would compel Small Business Administration training for small businesses “on how to maximize investment and external reach through broadband, while advising businesses lacking access on locating Wi-Fi access points and financing for broadband purchase,” and appoint a bureau staffer to be broadband coordinator working with the Broadband Opportunity Council, the summary said. “SBA will regularly report to the Congressional small business committees on the coordinator’s activities related to broadband and emerging technologies,” it said. “The SBA Office of Advocacy will collect data for a report on small business usage and ability to adopt broadband technology, in light of pricing and availability concerns.” Shaheen’s office cited support from the Competitive Carriers Association, Comptel, CompTIA, CTIA, NTCA, Public Knowledge and USTelecom. The office’s summary reports that an initial Congressional Budget Office estimate says there would be no effect on direct spending from this legislation. The bill has been referred to the committee run by Vitter and Shaheen.
The leaders of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship introduced the Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act Thursday. S-2116 “comes on the heels of the recent Broadband Opportunity Council report by modernizing SBA’s approach to broadband issues, connecting businesses with financing programs and advising on broadband acquisition by small businesses and startups,” said a summary of the legislation provided by a spokesman for committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. “The bill answers the call for agencies to address the push for broadband nationwide.” Shaheen is backing the 10-page bill with Chairman David Vitter, R-La. The Senate Committee on Small Business plans to mark up the legislation at 11 a.m. Wednesday in 428A Russell, Shaheen's spokesman told us. That markup session wasn't listed on the committee website by our deadline Friday. The legislation text explicitly mentions the FCC’s National Broadband Plan and the White House’s Broadband Opportunity Council recommendations. The bill would compel Small Business Administration training for small businesses “on how to maximize investment and external reach through broadband, while advising businesses lacking access on locating Wi-Fi access points and financing for broadband purchase,” and appoint a bureau staffer to be broadband coordinator working with the Broadband Opportunity Council, the summary said. “SBA will regularly report to the Congressional small business committees on the coordinator’s activities related to broadband and emerging technologies,” it said. “The SBA Office of Advocacy will collect data for a report on small business usage and ability to adopt broadband technology, in light of pricing and availability concerns.” Shaheen’s office cited support from the Competitive Carriers Association, Comptel, CompTIA, CTIA, NTCA, Public Knowledge and USTelecom. The office’s summary reports that an initial Congressional Budget Office estimate says there would be no effect on direct spending from this legislation. The bill has been referred to the committee run by Vitter and Shaheen.
FirstNet moved several more steps toward the launch of a public safety network for first responders, with the board approving elements of its request for proposal (RFP) and 64 final interpretations from the first and second public notices on its network. FirstNet's CEO Mike Poth said after its Friday meeting that it will have room to negotiate deals with industry.
Reaction from Capitol Hill on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement ranged from defiant to laudatory, though most said further review is needed ahead of any conclusion. Notably, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., were among the lawmakers that were quick to voice concerns with the deal. Any trade deal would need final approval from Congress before implementation and the likelihood of such approval remains an open question (see 1509160068). Industry trade associations also withheld judgment until the final text is released but were generally supportive of the deal.
AT&T is preparing for Hurricane Joaquin by readying its disaster response equipment and putting personnel on standby for expected outages in North Carolina, it said in a news release. The carrier tested and topped off fuel for cell site generators, installed and tested high-capacity back up batteries and installed generator plugs, it said. It also staged other emergency response equipment in strategic locations. Its national reliability center is monitoring outages 24/7 for quick action, it said.
The House Judiciary Committee approved the Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act (HR-3490), sending the bill to the House floor by voice vote during a markup Wednesday. The bill authorizes the Secret Service to train state and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges through the Alabama-based National Computer Forensics Institute how to investigate cybercrimes and electronic crimes, do computer and mobile device forensic exams, and respond to network intrusion investigations, a committee news release said.
The House Judiciary Committee approved the Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act (HR-3490), sending the bill to the House floor by voice vote during a markup Wednesday. The bill authorizes the Secret Service to train state and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges through the Alabama-based National Computer Forensics Institute how to investigate cybercrimes and electronic crimes, do computer and mobile device forensic exams, and respond to network intrusion investigations, a committee news release said.