Millions of shoppers were expected online Mon., fueling a shopping frenzy that began the day after Thanksgiving. Brick-and-mortar merchants celebrate Black Fri., but Web retailers genuflect to Cyber Mon., emerging as one of the year’s biggest Internet shopping days, analysts said. Roughly 59 million people were predicted to shop online Mon., the National Retail Federation (NRF) told us.
Spurred by 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the specter of future disasters, PBS and other broadcasters have applied for Govt. Emergency Telecom Service (GETS) status. A White House-directed emergency service run by the National Communications System (NCS), GETS cards provide emergency access and priority processing in public switched telephone network’s local and long distance segments. Individuals and institutions engaged in national security and emergency preparedness can get GETS.
VoIP providers began reporting to the FCC late last week on their efforts to meet a mandate that service territories be fully E-911 compliant by today (Mon.). The FCC has told VoIP firms they must stop pitching new customers if they can’t offer E-911 to all current customers by today. Dozens of VoIP companies are set to report by end of business today, giving a snapshot of how well providers are complying with the rule and the tools they're using to provide E-911. Some providers will miss the mark, due to trouble getting access to selective routers, reliance on 3rd-party vendors that can’t offer full compliance and other factors, sources say.
VoIP providers began reporting to the FCC late last week on their efforts to meet a mandate that service territories be fully E-911 compliant by today (Nov. 28). The FCC has told VoIP firms they must stop marketing to new customers if they can’t offer E-911 to all current customers by today. Dozens of VoIP companies are set to report by end of business today, giving a snapshot of how well providers are complying with the rule and the tools they're using to provide E-911. Some providers will miss the mark, due to trouble getting access to selective routers, reliance on 3rd-party vendors that can’t offer full compliance and other factors, sources say.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) which announces that it is reevaluating the current safety and security risks associated with the storage of explosives during transportation. PHMSA explains that it is soliciting comments concerning measures to reduce the risks posed by the storage of explosives while they are in transportation and whether regulatory action is warranted.
Ofcom wants to modify Premium Rate Services (PRS) regulation to protect consumers against rogue dialers who use software to transfer dial-up Internet connections from low-cost or free phone numbers to more expensive numbers. The agency proposed to extend the definition of Controlled PRS (CPRS) to include Internet dialer software, irrespective of the call cost or number. To prevent unintentionally capturing pay-as-you-go dial-up and unmetered dial-up services, Ofcom aims to exclude those services from the definition of Internet dialer software. The agency has also received comments that the exclusion of “mobile services” from the CPRS definition means Ofcom doesn’t regulate PRS accessible by mobile phones. The office proposes an amendment to the CPRS definition to avoid any doubt that mobile phone-based PRS is regulated. A policy review of the scope of PRS regulation will take place in 2006 to discuss how it should be applied to, or removed from, emerging commercial services coming out of the mobile and broadcast sectors, Ofcom said. The agency is also reviewing the regulatory framework for Number Translation Services (NTS). It published a consultation document in Sept. to address policy issues associated with the NTS regime as it applies to “08” number ranges rather than the “09” range, and makes revised proposals for changes to the regulatory system for “08” numbers. That consultation closes Dec. 6. In the NTS consultation, Ofcom proposed that adult services currently provided on “08” numbers should be brought within the regulatory framework for PRS regardless of the call cost, and that the National Telephone Numbering Plan should be amended to clarify that adult services should be provided only on the “0908” and “0909” ranges designated for adult services.
The FCC should allot additional spectrum for public safety services, “particularly for meeting expanding mobile broadband demands below 1 GHz,” said the National Public Safety Telecom Council (NPSTC). “The current 700 MHz allocation, no matter what its structure, is not adequate to meet these requirements,” NPSTC told the FCC in an ex parte filing. It also said the agency’s allocation of channels within 700 MHz for narrowband voice communications is “critical and should not be altered. Public safety agencies and manufacturers have already devoted significant time and expense to plan for the use of these channels, major systems have been procured and are under construction, and no consideration should be given to an changes within these channels.” NPSTC recommended the FCC “enhance” its record in the proceeding and examine “whether the wideband channels could be used more efficiently to address some of the broadband needs of public safety that cannot be satisfied at 4.9 GHz.” The agency should also “explore the potential for allowing current 700 MHz wideband channels to be aggregated into channels larger than 150 kHz to facilitate broadband,” it said. NPSTC said commenters proposing band realignment, should provide “a specific channel plan, the interference environment that would accompany it and the degree it would respond to the demand for broadband applications.” It said a revised band plan should address “how interoperability is best promoted, whether and what standard should be adopted and the question of whether all radios should be required to support this standard.” The FCC should complete such a review before deciding whether to adopt a wideband interoperability standard in 700 MHz. Meanwhile, Space Data told the FCC it has a simple, cost- effective solution that would allow first responders to extend their communications range by 10 times and let them communicate with other public safety providers using different equipment on different radio frequencies. No new equipment would be required for users on the ground, it said: “They keep the same radios that they have always used, but those radios would be significantly more effective.” As the FCC examines ways to promote more effective emergency communications in the U.S., it should ensure that “its rules do not unintentionally preclude Space Data and other innovative commercial companies from helping first responders dramatically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their systems, because they cannot get timely access to radio frequencies,” Space Data said.
Ofcom wants to modify Premium Rate Services (PRS) regulation to protect consumers against rogue dialers who use software to transfer dial-up Internet connections from low-cost or free phone numbers to more expensive numbers. The agency proposed to extend the definition of Controlled PRS (CPRS) to include Internet dialer software, irrespective of the call cost or number. To prevent unintentionally capturing pay-as-you-go dial-up and unmetered dial-up services, Ofcom aims to exclude those services from the definition of Internet dialer software. The agency has also received comments that the exclusion of “mobile services” from the CPRS definition means Ofcom doesn’t regulate PRS accessible by mobile phones. The office proposes an amendment to the CPRS definition to avoid any doubt that mobile phone-based PRS is regulated. A policy review of the scope of PRS regulation will take place in 2006 to discuss how it should be applied to, or removed from, emerging commercial services coming out of the mobile and broadcast sectors, Ofcom said. The agency is also reviewing the regulatory framework for Number Translation Services (NTS). It published a consultation document in Sept. to address policy issues associated with the NTS regime as it applies to “08” number ranges rather than the “09” range, and makes revised proposals for changes to the regulatory system for “08” numbers. That consultation closes Dec. 6. In the NTS consultation, Ofcom proposed that adult services currently provided on “08” numbers should be brought within the regulatory framework for PRS regardless of the call cost, and that the National Telephone Numbering Plan should be amended to clarify that adult services should be provided only on the “0908” and “0909” ranges designated for adult services.
LONDON -- Launch of the first set of standards for next generation networks (NGNs) shows the ITU can act efficiently and at low cost, the dir. of ITU’s telecom standardization bureau said Fri. The specifications were drawn up so quickly ITU no longer can be seen as slow, Houlin Zhao said. But, fearing industry will continue to refuse to work with the organization, Houlin pleaded for the telecom sector to “start with the ITU” on standardization. His comments came at an ITU-sponsored NGN conference here.
A National Emergency Number Assn. (NENA) reference guide offers service providers help in building VoIP E-911 call routing systems. The guide includes PSAP contact information and names, types and operators of selective routers across the U.S. It also tells which PSAPs the routers support.