The Commerce Department’s fall 2024 regulatory agenda for the Bureau of Industry and Security features a host of new rules that could soon update U.S. export controls, including restrictions on aircraft engines, biological equipment and reporting requirements for certain weapons sales, AI chips.
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
U.S. quantum technology companies and industry groups urged the Bureau of Industry and Security to maintain the set of deemed export control exclusions outlined in its September rule on certain advanced technologies (see 2409050028), saying that without them the American quantum industry could lose top talent and cede technological leadership to other countries.
Paramount Global agreed to a $244,952 civil penalty to resolve several enforcement proceedings against CBS over the broadcast of recorded or simulated emergency alert system tones on its programming, said an order and consent decree released Friday. The violations involved a May 2023 episode of the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon that ran on 227 stations, a CBS News radio report in June 2024 that had three seconds of EAS tones, and an Entertainment Tonight segment in October 2023 that included a one-second tone. The broadcaster self-reported the incidents, the consent decree said. Broadcasters are barred from transmitting EAS tones in circumstances other than a national or state emergency. Using simulated or actual EAS tones for non-authorized purposes can lead to alert fatigue in the public and result in false activation of the EAS that can spread false information, the consent decree said. Along with the penalty, the settlement requires Paramount to create procedures to ensure employees follow EAS rules, distribute a compliance manual to all employees, and file compliance reports with the agency for three years.
Pointing to its work with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on evaluating technological approaches to georouting text messages, the wireless industry is advising that the FCC wait to implement georouting rules. That view was contained in docket 18-36 comments Monday and last week. Meanwhile, mental health and related interests strongly supported a text georouting requirement. The commission's 988 georouting order approved unanimously at its October meeting included an NPRM about text georouting (see 2410170026).
Incarcerated people's communications service (IPCS) providers pushed back against FCC proposals for setting uniform service quality standards. While they also argued for redoing the reimbursement process adopted earlier this year, that argument is seeing opposition. Reply comments were filed this week in docket 12-375. The FCC's IPCS order, adopted in July, included a Further NPRM seeking comment on establishing video IPCS rates, updating the definition of jails and prisons, and addressing other service quality issues (see 2407180039).
Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.
The FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council’s working groups are making progress toward providing the agency with reports on AI security concerns, ensuring access to 911 as networks evolve and offering recommendations for 6G security, said the group leads during Wednesday’s CSRIC meeting. The groups are on pace to deliver several reports in 2025 and 2026, with the first -- on AI, machine learning and the specific security concerns they bring to communications networks -- due in March. “We believe this is a complex task,” said working group co-Chair Vijay Gurbani, Vail Systems' chief data scientist.
Backers of the revised AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-8449) signaled Wednesday they want to move swiftly on the proposal next year after congressional leaders didn't reach a deal to include it in a continuing resolution that extends federal appropriations through March 14. The CR released Tuesday night includes language from the NTIA Reauthorization Act (HR-4510) and several other telecom and tech bills. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 85-15 Wednesday to pass the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-5009) with language that would authorize the AWS-3 reauction to offset $3.08 billion in funding for the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (see 2412070001).
The U.S. this week arrested a dual U.S.-Iranian national living in Massachusetts and an Iranian national, charging both with conspiring to ship "sophisticated electronic components" from the U.S. to Iran in violation of U.S. export controls and sanctions.