By failing to pass orphan works legislation in previous sessions, Congress practically guaranteed a messy settlement would result from Google’s scanning and display of millions of out-of-print works found only in libraries, several lawmakers said at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday. But some, including Democratic Silicon Valley Rep. Zoe Lofgren, argued against injecting themselves into the ongoing court review of the Google Book Search settlement, for which the Justice Department will file its analysis with U.S. District Judge Denny Chin by Friday of next week.
There have been some changes in China’s media and information control system, but access is still difficult and more changes are needed, witnesses said during a hearing by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Thursday. The Chinese government is worried about the increasing use of online tools like Twitter and is expected to monitor content even more closely, they said. Established in 2000, the commission has twelve members appointed by Congressional leaders from both parties.
The FCC should approve eligible telecommunications carrier status for prepaid wireless carriers Conexions and Consumer Cellular only if they meet the same 911/E911 provisions imposed on TracFone and Virgin Mobile, the National Emergency Number Association said in separate filings. Both seek to offer Lifeline service though the Universal Service Fund program. They should be required to certify “full compliance with any applicable [state] 911/E911 obligations, including obligations relating to the provision, and support, of 911 and E911 service,” NENA said. That requirement was not mentioned by the FCC when it sought comment on petitions from Conexions and Consumer Cellular, NENA said.
The FCC will move forward “quickly” on an order concerning a national wireless broadband network for first responders, Public Safety Bureau Chief Jamie Barnett said Tuesday. He said the timing of an order on the future of the 700 MHz D-block probably will be tied to the commission’s development of a national broadband plan, due Feb. 17 to Congress. Barnett’s comments came as the FCC released part of a bureau report on the commission’s preparedness for a major disaster. He gave Chairman Julius Genachowski the report July 30.
EU states can bar foreign operators from offering Internet gambling if the ban is in order to combat fraud and crime, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) said on Tuesday. The preliminary ruling, in a the case of a challenge by Gibraltar-based gambling company Bwin to fines imposed under Portuguese law, acknowledged that the measure restricts the freedom to provide services across Europe’s internal market granted by EU treaty, but said public interest considerations can override restrictions. The case is about government control and taxation, said Global Betting & Gaming Consultants founder Warwick Bartlett. The ruling is based on unfounded assertions about online gambling, said Remote Gambling Association (RGA) CEO Clive Hawkswood.
The U.S. has made “substantial” progress on interoperable communications in the eight years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but much work remains to be done, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a speech Thursday at the National Press Club. Next Friday marks the eighth anniversary of the attacks, which led to the creation of DHS.
Chairman Harlin McEwen and others from the Public Safety Spectrum Trust gave FCC Public Safety Bureau Chief Jamie Barnett an update on the 700 MHz D-block, the trust said in a filing. The trust said its representatives discussed “developments in recent months, including the consensus reached among eight public safety organizations regarding the desire of some states, cities and urban areas to gain early access to the 700 MHz broadband spectrum currently licensed to the PSST so that they can begin build out of local broadband systems.” The trust said it also discussed the objections of public safety organizations “to other flawed D Block proposals,” including one by the National Emergency Number Association.
August has been an unusually busy month at the FCC, at least for staff involved in the series of broadband workshops, which wrap up Sept. 15. One thing unclear after the first 13 workshops is how the FCC will use the huge amount of data gathered as it prepares its broadband plan. Field workshops get under way in September. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski indicated last week the full commission likely will be asked to approve the final plan (CD Aug 21 p1).
Public safety officials disagreed Tuesday on how first responders will use newfound broadband connectivity if the FCC succeeds in its goal of launching single national or multiple regional public safety wireless broadband networks. Many questions remain about who would pay the costs and how much spectrum public safety needs, officials said at an FCC workshop.
Network connectivity is crucial to building a smart grid that enables more efficient electric power use in the U.S., government and electric industry officials said at an FCC broadband workshop Tuesday afternoon. However, panelists disagreed about whether the public wireless network is robust enough to support applications that go beyond basic metering.