At a November 17, 2009 hearing to explore the international aspects of global climate change, the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee heard testimony on various countries' emission and climate change goals and trade-related aspects of climate change.
The National Emergency Numbers Association urged the FCC to establish a subsidy mechanism for public safety that follows the model of the Universal Service Fund E-rate program. In comments on a National Broadband Plan public notice on public safety broadband issues, NENA and other public safety groups said adequate broadband service isn’t available in rural and tribal areas. Meanwhile, disabilities-rights advocates backed upgrades to the 911 system to support relay services for the deaf.
Philip Jones of Washington state named to National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ executive committee and board of directors, replacing Marsha Smith of Idaho, whose term expired … Playboy Enterprises promotes Jimmy Jellinek to chief content officer, overseeing print, online and video …David Sternberg steps down as Fox Cable Networks chief operating officer, emerging networks.
Interest in aerial fiber backhaul is rising as wireless carriers look to reduce costs of upgrading networks for 3G and 4G broadband, but some fear stringing fiber from poles may leave cellphone networks more susceptible to outages. Aerial fiber is cheaper to install than buried plant but is more vulnerable to ice storms, hurricanes and other forces of nature, said industry officials. However, some said aerial fiber outages can be dealt with quickly if companies are prepared.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and Canada Public Safety Minister Van Loan recent met for the second of their formal biannual meetings, where they discussed initiatives between the U.S. and Canada. The initiatives build on their shared commitment to tackle common threats like terrorism and organized crime while ensuring the lawful flow of travel and trade across the border.
T-Mobile, the Rural Cellular Association and the Rural Telecommunications Group said an AT&T proposal for revised E- 911 location accuracy rules for GSM-based systems doesn’t deal with smaller carriers’s problems. More than a year ago, AT&T submitted its proposal to the commission, with the support of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association. For smaller carriers, “continued experience confirms” they “will be able to improve accuracy performance in ‘hard-to-estimate’ outdoor areas only by transitioning to A-GPS technology,” the letter said. “A-GPS technology provides a better accuracy solution than existing network- based technologies.” The problem is that few A-GPS handsets are available for current networks, the filing said. “Fortunately, the market is driving carriers to deploy 3G as rapidly as possible, which means that 3G adoption will power the transition to A-GPS,” it said. “Rather than attempting implicitly or explicitly to prescribe A-GPS-capable handset penetration benchmarks … the Commission should consider a simpler and more easily enforced means of effectuating that transition -- requiring that all 3G handsets manufactured in or imported into the United States be A-GPS capable after a date certain.” This A-GPS handset requirement “could be accompanied by a directive that carriers, after an appropriate transition period, enable their entire network to be able to handle and to provide to [public safety answering points], GPS-based location data from an A-GPS-capable handset,” the filing said. It said requiring carriers other than AT&T to comply with the AT&T proposal would be “arbitrary and capricious” and a violation of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) said Monday a letter that the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) sent last week (CD Nov 19 p11) reflects the council’s change of position to support reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block to public safety. “NPSTC shares NENA’s concern that adequate funding be obtained for the deployment and operation of the nationwide wireless broadband network,” the council said. “NPSTC will continue working with NENA and other organizations, including the Public Safety Spectrum Trust, to examine funding options.”
GENEVA -- Countries are at odds over what’s needed to protect critical networks and stem cyberthreats, they said in preparations for U.N. meetings this week and next year on information security. The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council meet this week with 10 other countries for the first time on the issue. The organizational meeting through Thursday will set the stage for future talks on strengthening security in the global information and telecommunications systems, documents said.
T-Mobile, the Rural Cellular Association and the Rural Telecommunications Group said an AT&T proposal for revised E- 911 location accuracy rules for GSM-based systems doesn’t deal with smaller carriers’s problems. More than a year ago, AT&T submitted its proposal to the commission, with the support of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association. For smaller carriers, “continued experience confirms” they “will be able to improve accuracy performance in ‘hard-to-estimate’ outdoor areas only by transitioning to A-GPS technology,” the letter said. “A-GPS technology provides a better accuracy solution than existing network- based technologies.” The problem is that few A-GPS handsets are available for current networks, the filing said. “Fortunately, the market is driving carriers to deploy 3G as rapidly as possible, which means that 3G adoption will power the transition to A-GPS,” it said. “Rather than attempting implicitly or explicitly to prescribe A-GPS-capable handset penetration benchmarks … the Commission should consider a simpler and more easily enforced means of effectuating that transition -- requiring that all 3G handsets manufactured in or imported into the United States be A-GPS capable after a date certain.” This A-GPS handset requirement “could be accompanied by a directive that carriers, after an appropriate transition period, enable their entire network to be able to handle and to provide to [public safety answering points], GPS-based location data from an A-GPS-capable handset,” the filing said. It said requiring carriers other than AT&T to comply with the AT&T proposal would be “arbitrary and capricious” and a violation of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) said Monday a letter that the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) sent last week (CD Nov 19 p11) reflects the council’s change of position to support reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block to public safety. “NPSTC shares NENA’s concern that adequate funding be obtained for the deployment and operation of the nationwide wireless broadband network,” the council said. “NPSTC will continue working with NENA and other organizations, including the Public Safety Spectrum Trust, to examine funding options.”