Top telecom issues set for discussion at NARUC’s annual meeting this week in San Francisco include states’ authority under Communications Act Section 706, 911 reliability, the USF contribution base and municipal broadband, NARUC members said in interviews.
Top telecom issues set for discussion at NARUC’s annual meeting this week in San Francisco include states’ authority under Communications Act Section 706, 911 reliability, the USF contribution base and municipal broadband, NARUC members said in interviews.
President Barack Obama extended for one year the national emergency that has provided the foundation for sanctions against Iran for decades (here). Executive Order 12170, declared by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979, identified Iran as a security threat to the U.S.
Recent incidents of illegal use of the emergency alert system tones warrant more industry focus on a fix to flag such messages, EAS experts said. The FCC Public Safety Bureau released public notices Friday on the impact of false EAS alerts, and how broadcasters, cable systems, DBS systems and others are faring with recommendations for EAS system security. False EAS tones aren’t very common, but their occurrence points to flaws in the system and equipment that must be addressed ahead of the next nationwide EAS test, EAS professionals said.
Recent incidents of illegal use of the emergency alert system tones warrant more industry focus on a fix to flag such messages, EAS experts said. The FCC Public Safety Bureau released public notices Friday on the impact of false EAS alerts, and how broadcasters, cable systems, DBS systems and others are faring with recommendations for EAS system security. False EAS tones aren’t very common, but their occurrence points to flaws in the system and equipment that must be addressed ahead of the next nationwide EAS test, EAS professionals said.
Several rural carriers associations are “frustrated” rural call completion record-keeping and reporting rules still aren’t in effect, more than a year after they were approved in an FCC order, representatives from NTCA, the National Exchange Carrier Association and WTA told an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Thursday, said an ex parte filing posted Friday. “The record is replete with data and anecdotal information describing the extent of the problem and the serious public safety and financial ramifications of call failure,” the groups said. “Family members have been unable to contact loved ones, rural businesses have lost opportunities and customers, doctors have been unable to reach patients, hospitals have been unable to reach on-call emergency surgeons and there is a reported instance in which a 911 call center was unable to make emergency call backs.” The aide said Rosenworcel is committed to addressing the issue, said the filing, in docket 13-39. The agency said last month it’s awaiting the approval of a circulating order on the Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance and USTelecom's petition to reconsider parts of the order, before sending necessary paperwork to the Office of Management and Budget (see 1409260039). The commission is expected to release the order "very soon," which would clear the way for seeking OMB approval, an FCC spokesman said. Representing the groups, according to the filing, were Jill Canfield, NTCA vice president-legal and industry; Colin Sandy, NECA senior regulatory attorney; and Derrick Owens, WTA vice president-government affairs.
The current version of text-to-911, which is based on SMS, has to be viewed as only a “down payment” on what is possible, David Furth, deputy chief of the FCC Public Safety Bureau, said Friday at the agency's Accessible Wireless Emergency Communications Forum at FCC headquarters. A National Emergency Number Association official said public safety answering points still need a push to make PSAP systems text ready.
The current version of text-to-911, which is based on SMS, has to be viewed as only a “down payment” on what is possible, David Furth, deputy chief of the FCC Public Safety Bureau, said Friday at the agency's Accessible Wireless Emergency Communications Forum at FCC headquarters. A National Emergency Number Association official said public safety answering points still need a push to make PSAP systems text ready.
Europe's latest cybersecurity exercise appears to have been successful, said European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) Head of Operations Steve Purser in an interview Friday. Thursday's Cyber Europe 2014 test was the second part of a three-phase project to gauge cyber-readiness, ENISA said. It looked at the operational side of dealing with cyberincidents, including standard operating procedures, contact points, tools and best practices for managing multinational cyber-crises, it said. The third part of the exercise will take place in early 2015 and will focus on strategic objectives, it said.
Europe's latest cybersecurity exercise appears to have been successful, said European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) Head of Operations Steve Purser in an interview Friday. Thursday's Cyber Europe 2014 test was the second part of a three-phase project to gauge cyber-readiness, ENISA said. It looked at the operational side of dealing with cyberincidents, including standard operating procedures, contact points, tools and best practices for managing multinational cyber-crises, it said. The third part of the exercise will take place in early 2015 and will focus on strategic objectives, it said.