The Senate Commerce Committee Thurs. voted 19-3 to report out a DTV bill that includes $3 billion in converter box subsidies and $1.2 billion for an emergency communications program. The bill, which fulfills the committee’s budgetary responsibility to raise $4.8 billion, goes to the Senate Budget Committee, where it will be included in an overall reconciliation bill scheduled for markup Oct. 26.
The number of broadband subscriptions worldwide grew to 137 million for the first 6 months of 2005, according to a new report issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) Thurs. The report, which OECD releases every 6 months to cover the growth and changes in the broadband industry, also found that penetration grew 15% to about 11.8 subscribers per 100 inhabitants. The report found that not only are raw penetration numbers growing but, unsurprisingly, providers are increasingly offering voice and video over broadband services, and speeds are increasing at a rapid clip.
As Deutsche Telekom (DT) prepares to spend billions on new optical fiber lines in Germany, competitors fear being squeezed out. A question that seems largely settled in the U.S. the extent to which and price at which incumbent telcos must give rivals access to local fiber loops -- is still unresolved in the European Union (EU). The murk has prompted one telecom expert to urge the European Commission (EC) to revisit the issue in next year’s major review of European e-communications laws.
Real harm has followed attacks on critical infrastructure in the U.S. and the problem worsening, SANS Institute Research Dir. Alan Paller told lawmakers Tues. He cited examples of govt. breaches, warning that Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system defenses “can no longer be counted on to stop the attacks.” Terrorists, ever more skilled at hacking for profit, can be expected to add cyber extortion to their crimes, he told the House Homeland Security Committee infrastructure protection panel.
Ovation'S filing for Ch. 11 protection marks the latest blow dealt CE specialty chains as they try to parry sorties onto their turf by Best Buy, Circuit City, Target, Wal-Mart and other chains. Once repositories of high-end CE gear, specialty chains now must compete with sales of flat-panel TVs at every level of distribution. CE specialty outlets also face shoppers well schooled on specs via the Internet and so less dependent on commissioned sales staffs for advice.
A draft Senate DTV bill would set April 7, 2009, as the hard transition date for requiring broadcasters to return analog spectrum to the govt., according to a copy of the bill circulated Fri. on Capitol Hill. The bill would put the Dept. of Commerce in charge of subsidies for consumer purchases of converter boxes to allow analog TVs to display digital signals. Commerce also would oversee conversion of low-power TV stations and TV translator stations from analog to digital, follow-through on the Enhance 911 Act of 2004, promotion of emergency communications and aid to coastal states affected by hurricanes. The bill sets Jan. 28, 2008, for the start of licenses of recovered spectrum.
A draft Senate DTV bill would set April 7, 2009, as the hard transition date for requiring broadcasters to return analog spectrum to the govt., according to a copy of the bill circulated Fri. on Capitol Hill.
The world copyright levy system needs drastic change, an alliance of technology policy leaders said Thurs. Assessing the global copyright levy mechanism for high- tech and consumer electronics products, alliance members urged industry-driven, voluntary efforts to dovetail with emerging and improving content protection technologies like digital rights management applications (DRM). Signatories CEA, the European Information & Communications Technology Industry Assn. (EICTA) and the Japan Electronics & Information Technology Industries Assn. (JEITA) issued the statement at a Brussels summit on DRM.
European national justice ministers Wed. failed agree on requiring retention of Internet and telecom traffic data, instead raising the possibility they'd consider approving a compromise measure floated this week by the European Union (EU) Presidency. After meeting in Brussels, the EU Justice & Home Affairs (JHA) Council said the original framework decision will remain under consideration as an option some nations favor. But, it said, “a majority of delegations were also open to the idea of adopting a directive” if it contains the scope, retention period, costs and review provisions the Presidency suggested.
European national justice ministers Wed. failed agree on requiring retention of Internet and telecom traffic data, instead raising the possibility they'd consider approving a compromise measure floated this week by the European Union (EU) Presidency. After meeting in Brussels, the EU Justice & Home Affairs (JHA) Council said the original framework decision will remain under consideration as an option some nations favor. But, it said, “a majority of delegations were also open to the idea of adopting a directive” if it contains the scope, retention period, costs and review provisions the Presidency suggested.