CTIA went on the attack, in a filing about telework, against FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s call to extend net- neutrality rules to wireless. The commission had sought comment about telework for its national broadband plan. CTIA’s filing is in line with predictions by FCC and industry officials that the network-neutrality proposal will dominate many discussions on the plan -- even though the nondiscrimination proposal probably will be handled in a separate proceeding before the commission considers the broadband plan early next year (CD Sept 22 p1).
Momentum is building toward identity management solutions, but it will be at least four years before they really become prominent for the general public, said panelists at a TechAmerica briefing Tuesday. One of the first things that might be done is to stop talking about “identity management,” which rubs Americans the wrong way, and start talking about “authentication,” said Bruce McConnell, cybersecurity counselor to the Department of Homeland Security’s National Protection & Programs Directorate deputy under secretary. Selling “identity management” won’t work, said Guy Copeland, vice president of CSC. Instead, there should be emphasis that having strong identity protects citizens and allows them to ensure their personal health data, financial data and other information are protected from prying eyes, he said. There also need to be identifiable metrics, McConnell said, so decisions can be made based on fact rather than on today’s hodgepodge of anecdote, myth and lore.
Customs and Border Protection is advising the public of the quarterly Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties. For the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2009, the interest rates for overpayments will be 3 percent for corporations and 4 percent for non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 4 percent. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/17/09 news, 09081720, for earlier BP summary.)(FR Pub 09/21/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-22614.pdf)
GENEVA -- Meteorologists will press the 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference for more tools to protect their work from short-range device interference and for greater recognition of their needs in national rules, speakers said on Friday at a seminar on radio spectrum use. Satellite interests will press for greater ITU-R involvement, but some intergovernmental organizations are opposing changes to the Radio Regulations. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the ITU held the seminar.
Net neutrality and wireless competition regulation emerged during a cordial House FCC oversight hearing Thursday as two potentially divisive issues facing policymakers. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski responded cautiously to questions on a range of telecom policy matters at the Communications Subcommittee hearing. He told members he’s committed to upgrading the FCC regulatory processes, modernizing operations and delivering the broadband plan on time. Genachowski expressed his longstanding commitment to preserving an open Internet, and also said he has no plans to reinstate the fairness doctrine, a concern raised by several members.
Carrier wireless networks are growing rapidly and technological advances are not a substitute for allocating more spectrum for commercial use, Rajiv Laroia, Qualcomm senior vice president of technology, warned at an FCC workshop on spectrum Thursday. FCC staff heard the same message from other panelists as they explored what’s expected to be a key focus of the FCC over the next year, especially with no major spectrum auctions on the FCC horizon.
Net neutrality emerged during a cordial House FCC oversight hearing Thursday as a potentially divisive issue facing policymakers. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski responded cautiously to questions on a range of telecom policy matters at the Communications Subcommittee hearing. He told members he’s committed to upgrading the FCC regulatory processes, modernizing operations and delivering the broadband plan on time. Genachowski expressed his longstanding commitment to preserving an open Internet, and also said he has no plans to reinstate the fairness doctrine, a concern raised by several members.
U.S. Trade Representative Kirk announced that USTR has received more than five hundred responses to requests for public comment on the pending free trade agreements that have been negotiated with Colombia and the Republic of Korea. (Press release, dated 09/15/09, available at http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2009/september/ustr-receives-public-comments-concerning-pending)
The FCC Enforcement Bureau should vacate a $9,600 fine against Bethune-Cookman University because its student training station is a low-power FM outlet, said a Tuesday letter to acting bureau Chief Suzanne Tetrault from five groups. The college’s WRWS(FM) Daytona Beach, Fla., was fined by the bureau in April for running an unlicensed radio station and not installing required emergency alert system gear. LPFM stations usually get “dramatically reduced” fines, the groups said. The bureau disregarded that policy by not penalizing the station “at most a few hundred dollars,” said the Black College Communication Association, Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and others.
Federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra told an FCC broadband workshop on telemedicine Tuesday that better use of broadband is critical to President Barrack Obama’s focus on universal health care and health care reform. “We cannot move forward in advancing our nation’s healthcare reform goals without the appropriate use of technology in health care and telemedicine is a key component,” Chopra said. “I say that as the president’s senior advisor on technology matters. I say it because I've seen it first hand.”