Results of a survey released Tuesday by Poll Position show that Americans support the National Transportation Safety Board recommendation that vehicle drivers be banned from using cellphones and other personal electronic devices except in emergency situations -- but only by a narrow margin. Not quite half, 49 percent, of Americans support the ban and 44 percent oppose it, according to the poll of 1,133 registered voters nationwide that was conducted on Dec. 15. Broken out by demographics, those aged 65 and above showed the most support, at 60 percent, and those in younger age groups, starting at 18, showed support in the 45-48 percent range, according to the poll. Along political affiliation lines, Democrats support the recommended ban 55 percent to 40 percent against, while Republicans oppose it 50 percent to 46 percent in favor. Independents support the ban 48 percent to 41 percent against, it said.
AT&T pulled the plug on its proposed buy of T-Mobile on Monday. AT&T said in a statement that, after “a thorough review of options it has agreed with Deutsche Telekom … to end its bid to acquire T-Mobile.” The announcement brings to an end the fight over AT&T’s dramatic announcement in March that it would buy one of the remaining three national carriers. The topic has dominated industry discussions since. AT&T did not comment on the size of the break up fee it ultimately will have to pay DT.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued its Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2011, which provides detailed financial information relative to DHS' mission and stewardship of resources entrusted to the department. As part of the report, DHS outlines ways in which it has overcome specific challenges related to CBP's oversight of the Importer Self Assessment (ISA) and cargo security that were identified in a November 2011 report by the Office of Inspector General (OIG).
On December 16-17, 2011, the House and Senate agreed to the conference report on H.R. 2055, a bill to provide appropriations for most federal government agencies1 for the remainder of fiscal year 2012, including the DHS (which includes CBP, ICE, and TSA). Although H.R. 2055 contains $11.7 billion for CBP, an increase of $362 million over the FY 2011 level, FY 2012 funding would be reduced for automation modernization, international cargo screening, C-TPAT, etc. (Note that some press reports suggest that the President wants an agreement on the payroll tax cut before he will sign H.R. 2055 into law.)
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., hopes to pass his Cybersecurity and Internet Freedom Act, S-413, before he leaves office in 2012, the Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman said in a speech Thursday evening to the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council (HSDBC). The legislation gained attention for its so-called “kill switch” provision, which critics claimed would give the President the authority to shut down the Internet in a national emergency -- Lieberman ended up changing it to explicitly forbid the president or “any other officer or employee of the federal government” from doing so (WID Feb 22 p9). In his speech Lieberman reaffirmed his belief that the Department of Homeland Security is the best organization to lead the government’s cybersecurity efforts to secure civilian domains. But he said the agency should do so by “leveraging -- not replicating -- the expertise that already exists in the federal government, and particularly in the National Security Agency.” The NSA’s role in the U.S. cybersecurity effort has become a divisive issue for digital rights groups who said they are wary of giving the agency broad access to consumers’ Internet histories. Lieberman also urged federal agencies to lead by example and use their purchasing power to “prod technology companies to produce more secure products, which would then be available to businesses and consumers.”
The National Emergency Number Association, APCO and CTIA jointly asked for a 30-day extension of the filing deadline (http://xrl.us/bmk4y5) for reply comments on an FCC notice of proposed rulemaking on short- and long-term options for enabling consumers to send text messages to 911. Initial comments were due this week (CD Dec 15 p5). Replies would be due Jan. 10 without the extension. “The very recent release of two crucial reports and recommendations by the Emergency Access Advisory Committee and the ATIS Interim Non-Voice Emergency Services Incubator require additional time for full evaluation and consideration,” the groups said. “Given this, and given the intervening Holiday Season, a modest 30-day extension is in the public interest.”
It seems unlikely spectrum negotiations are finished between the House and Senate Commerce committees, despite frustrations voiced by each side, multiple telecom industry lobbyists said Thursday. But governance of the public safety network continues to divide the chambers, they said. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., complained Wednesday that the House had halted talks on a spectrum deal (CD Dec 15 p1). House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., responded that he’s waiting for the Senate to pass its own spectrum legislation. Congressional leaders said Thursday they were moving closer to agreement on a payroll tax cut bill, which has been used as a vehicle for spectrum legislation.
A protocol for standardizing rules for security interests in space assets such as satellites will go ahead despite industry concerns, International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Unidroit) Deputy Secretary-General Martin Stanford told us Wednesday. Satellite operators, spacecraft manufacturers, launch service providers, insurance and financial companies and satellite and space-related associations said in a Dec. 9 letter to Stanford that the instrument is being foisted on them despite strong opposition. The current draft will introduce new and unneeded regulations for satellite financing and is inconsistent with market practices, more than 90 companies and trade groups said. Moreover, they said, it will deter potential investors and boost insurance premiums and transactional costs. But Unidroit intends to proceed because the protocol will benefit developing and emerging economies, Stanford told us.
The National Emergency Number Association and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials agreed with wireless carriers that the FCC must move with care as it moves toward a solution that will allow consumers to send text messages to 911 call centers. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has repeatedly stressed that he sees texting to 911 as an important component of a next-generation 911 network (CD Aug 11 p1). The issue is of special significance to deaf people who otherwise have difficulty making 911 calls. Comments were due this week on a notice of proposed rulemaking approved by the FCC at its September meeting (CD Sept 23 p6).
In the November 3, 2011 Federal Register, the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade announced the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness and solicited nominations for Committee membership. The ITA is amending its earlier notice to (i) clarify the scope of the Committee's work and the nominations being sought and (ii) to extend the deadline for nominations to January 6, 2012. The Committee will consist of 40 private sector members appointed by the Secretary.