AT&T got some political cover from House Democrats last week, in the form of a letter signed by 76 of them who said the transaction will create “good paying union jobs” and expand broadband to unserved areas (WID June 23 p9). The letter doesn’t specifically endorse the deal. Foes of the transaction were quick to question the significance of the letter and whether it will resonate at the FCC or elsewhere in the administration.
AT&T got some political cover from House Democrats last week, in the form of a letter signed by 76 of them who said the transaction will create “good paying union jobs” and expand broadband to unserved areas (CD June 23 p13) . The letter doesn’t specifically endorse the deal. Foes of the transaction were quick to question the significance of the letter and whether it will resonate at the FCC or elsewhere in the administration.
Cybersecurity experts took aim at the president’s cybersecurity plan and asked lawmakers at a House Homeland Cybersecurity Subcommittee hearing Friday to deviate from several of its key provisions. Witnesses were specifically critical of the proposal’s data breach reporting requirements and what they called overly broad regulatory power it gives to the Department of Homeland Security. Cybersecurity legislation should instead update existing laws, boost penalties, and create new incentives to encourage private sector adoption of best practices, they told lawmakers.
On June 24, 2011, President Obama launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a national effort bringing together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in the emerging technologies that will create manufacturing jobs and enhance global competitiveness. To launch the AMP, the President announced a number of key steps for the federal government, including building domestic manufacturing capabilities in critical national security industries; reducing the time to develop and deploy advanced materials; investing in next-generation robotics; and developing innovative energy-efficient manufacturing processes.
The President has issued a notice that he is continuing for one year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13466, expanded in scope in Executive Order 13551, and addressed further in Executive Order 13570, which, among other things, prohibit transferring, paying, exporting, withdrawing or otherwise dealing in the property and interests in property of blocked North Korea persons; ban the import of goods of North Korean origin either directly or through third countries without a license; prohibit registering vessels in North Korea; and prohibit exporting goods to blocked North Korean parties. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/21/11 news, 11042128, for recent BP summary on North Korea sanctions.)
The President has issued a notice that he is continuing for one year the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans declared in Executive Order 13129, "Blocking Property of Persons Who Threaten International Stabilization Efforts in the Western Balkans."
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council established a working group to look at video use by first responders. Streaming video is expected to be a major use of the proposed national public safety broadband network. “The public safety community uses video applications in transportation, crime solving, and public works efforts,” NPSTC said. “With emergency responders increasingly relying on closed circuit TV technology and systems, they have needed to increase their attention to video quality issues so that they can use and share images across disparate video systems.” The new Video Technical Advisory Group will provide advice to the Department of Homeland Security for its Video Quality in Public Safety Initiative, NPSTC said.
Wireless broadband subscriptions exceeded half a billion in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries on Dec. 31, a 10 percent rise from June 30, OECD reported Thursday. The increase was driven by the growing popularity of smartphones and tablet PCs, it said. Fixed broadband subscriptions reached 300 million for the first time, with growth continuing to slow as broadband penetration and market saturation grow in some countries, it said. The Netherlands and Switzerland have 38.1 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, followed by Denmark (37.7) and Norway (34.6), OECD said. Fiber now accounts for over 12 percent of all fixed broadband connections, but DSL is still the most widely used technology, followed by cable, it said. Leading fiber countries include Japan, Korea, Slovak Republic and Sweden, it said. Korea is the top nation in wireless broadband subscriptions, with Finland, Sweden and Norway just behind, it said. Mobile broadband growth is being fueled by cheap, flat-rate mobile data plans, OECD said. The communications sector has emerged from the financial crisis with an underlying strength that “reflects its critical role” in the world economy, it said. Key factors in its resiliency include the long contract terms of mobile operators, growing enthusiasm for bundled TV, mobile and fixed telephony offers that reinforce customer loyalty and reduce churn, and that communication services are increasingly seen as non-discretionary spending items, it said. But some bundled services are so complex they make it difficult for consumers to compare prices and make informed decisions, the OECD said. Bundling may also make it harder for customers to switch to other providers, it said.
Wireless broadband subscriptions exceeded half a billion in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries on Dec. 31, a 10 percent rise from June 30, OECD reported Thursday. The increase was driven by the growing popularity of smartphones and tablet PCs, it said. Fixed broadband subscriptions reached 300 million for the first time, with growth continuing to slow as broadband penetration and market saturation grow in some countries, it said. The Netherlands and Switzerland have 38.1 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, followed by Denmark (37.7) and Norway (34.6), OECD said. Fiber now accounts for over 12 percent of all fixed broadband connections, but DSL is still the most widely used technology, followed by cable, it said. Leading fiber countries include Japan, Korea, Slovak Republic and Sweden, it said. Korea is the top nation in wireless broadband subscriptions, with Finland, Sweden and Norway just behind, it said. Mobile broadband growth is being fueled by cheap, flat-rate mobile data plans, OECD said. The communications sector has emerged from the financial crisis with an underlying strength that “reflects its critical role” in the world economy, it said. Key factors in its resiliency include the long contract terms of mobile operators, growing enthusiasm for bundled TV, mobile and fixed telephony offers that reinforce customer loyalty and reduce churn, and that communication services are increasingly seen as non-discretionary spending items, it said. But some bundled services are so complex they make it difficult for consumers to compare prices and make informed decisions, the OECD said. Bundling may also make it harder for customers to switch to other providers, it said.
The International Trade Administration is reopening the comment period on its previous request for comments on areas of cooperation between the U.S. and the European Union to reduce or eliminate divergences in regulatory measures that impede trade in goods in the transatlantic marketplace. ITA also seeks information on any existing or emerging sectors that may benefit from further transatlantic regulatory cooperation.