Iridium’s next-generation constellation completed the preliminary design review phase in preparation for the planned 2015 launch of the first group of satellites, the company said. It said Iridium and partners will next begin to build engineering model units of the constellation, Iridium Next, before construction begins in 2013.
Wavestream began selling an 80 Watt X-band solid state power amplifier for military and government users, said Wavestream, a subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks. The amplifier allows for higher power output in smaller products for antenna systems, Wavestream said.
Intelsat gave approval for use of NovelSat’s NS1000 and NS2000 demodulators on Intelsat transponders, said NovelSat. The NovelSat services are “appropriate” for use by Intelsat customers based on a review of NovelSat equipment, said Robert Vogel, Intelsat vice president of network engineering. NovelSat said the NS3 technology should replace the DVB-S2 modulation standard.
T-Mobile agreed with TracFone that rules on cutting off service to Lifeline customers “should be based on uniform requirements and should follow uniform procedures.” Last month, TracFone filed a petition asking the commission to reject a decision by the Puerto Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Board to deny Lifeline support for at least a year to all subscribers there found to have received support from multiple eligible telecommunications carriers (CD Feb 24 p 13). Like TracFone, T-Mobile has subscribers in Puerto Rico. “Lifeline can make the difference in whether low-income consumers can access vital economic and educational opportunities and crucial emergency services,” T-Mobile said (http://xrl.us/bmxusk). “As TracFone points out, with the knowledge that an issue existed with duplicate enrollment in a number of states, the Commission began a dialogue that culminated in the Industry Dispute Resolution Process (IDRP), which effectively has been codified in the new rules. ... T-Mobile believes it is possible to eliminate duplicative and fraudulent payments without denying the benefits of Lifeline to eligible subscribers. Sprint Nextel also filed in support of TracFone. “Sprint agrees that Commission guidance will help to ensure that eligible end users in Puerto Rico receive federal Lifeline benefits to which they are entitled, while simultaneously reducing program inefficiencies and promoting an environment in which carriers can continue to provide much-needed telecommunications services to residential customers in Puerto Rico efficiently and effectively,” Sprint said (http://xrl.us/bmxuty). The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates said the steps taken by the Puerto Rican board are contrary to federal universal service policy” and should be addressed by the FCC. “In particular, the Puerto Rico Board’s approach denies otherwise eligible Lifeline consumers the federal benefit of one Lifeline service per household by barring the consumer all Lifeline support, contrary to the FCC’s new regulatory framework established by the [January] Lifeline Reform Order,” NASUCA said (http://xrl.us/bmxuzo). The Puerto Rico board fired back that “nothing in the Commission’s Lifeline Reform Order requires the Board to adopt the IDRP.” The steps it takes are consistent with FCC rules, the board said (http://xrl.us/bmxus3). “Consistent with its authority under Commonwealth law, and within the framework set forth by the Commission, the Board is taking steps to reform the Lifeline program in Puerto Rico. Although the Commission’s Lifeline Reform Order explained how the IDRP program had been successful, it did not mandate that this was the only process for eliminating waste and fraud.”
Timeframes for implementation of the FCC Lifeline order are “unrealistic and could harm the very consumers the program is intended to benefit,” said a petition by USTelecom, the Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance, NTCA, OPASTCO, Western Telecommunications Alliance and Eastern Rural Telecom Association (http://xrl.us/bmxmxs). They asked the commission to postpone until October the effective date for establishment of the interim flat-rate reimbursement amount of $9.25, for elimination of Link Up in non-tribal lands for eligible telecom carriers and for calculation of the Link Up discount for residents of tribal lands. “These tasks cannot realistically be completed within the relatively short time period (less than 60 days) contemplated under the Order,” the petition said. Petitioners sought clarification of several aspects of new certification requirements under Section 54.407(d) of the rules.
A union representing some TV station workers said it reached an agreement with NBCUniversal for assigning union members to some broadcasts on the NBC Sports Network, which had been known as Versus. The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communications Workers of America (NABET-CWA) said it expects its members will be assigned to some cable-only broadcasts such as some NHL playoff games, horse races and other sports programming. “This new agreement will provide the full benefit of our national contract for these cable television broadcasts and represents a marked step forward in the business relationship between the union and the company,” said James Joyce, president of NABET-CWA.
Chinese capabilities in computer network operations pose a genuine risk to U.S. military operations, said a report released Thursday by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (http://xrl.us/bmxmvf). China has given priority to the modernization of its infrastructure for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the infrastructure “has in turn been a catalyst for the development of an integrated information warfare capability capable of defending military and civilian networks while seizing control of an adversary’s information systems during a conflict,” said the report, prepared by Northrop Grumman. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) commanders will “almost certainly attempt to target” U.S. infrastructure “with both electronic countermeasures weapons and network attack and exploitation tools, likely in advance of actual combat to delay U.S. entry or degrade capabilities in a conflict,” the report said. The report also warns of the potential for disruption of the U.S. telecom supply chain: Without “strict control” of the upstream channel of integrated circuit production, the PLA could deliberately modify semiconductors to gain covert access and monitoring of sensitive systems, the report said. Downstream distribution channels are even more at risk, because a foreign intelligence service could release counterfeit hardware that “already contains the Trojanized access built into the firmware or software."
TIA and CTIA jointly urged the federal Architectural and Transportation Barriers and Compliance Board not to impose mandatory rules as its moves forward on accessibility standards and guidelines for information and communications technology (ICT) manufacturers and vendors. “The Board faces both a challenge and an opportunity because of the explosion of ICT-related devices and products in the marketplace,” the groups said. “In this diverse and dynamic market, the Board’s task is not to propose regulations covering each and every offering made available, but to recognize and promote providers’ own efforts to develop accessible offerings that provide Americans with disabilities the same ICT capabilities as other Americans.” The standards should reflect “the profound effect of the exploding marketplace for accessible ICT equipment by accommodating diverse accessibility solutions,” they said.
The FCC’s Feb. 3 order clarifying and revising some rules promulgated in the Universal Service Fund/Intercarrier Compensation order will take effect April 9, said a notice in the Federal Register (http://xrl.us/bmxmjg). The order clarified the extent of certain support reductions, and rules regarding intrastate tariffs that deal with carrier access rates for VoIP traffic (CD Feb 7 p10).
The FCC released rulemaking notice seeking comment on a Sprint Nextel petition, which asked the agency to clarify its rules permit larger than 25 kHz bandwidth operations in the enhanced specialized mobile radio (ESMR) portion of the 800 MHz band. Sprint, the dominant player in the space, filed the petition in June (http://xrl.us/bky38d). “Subject to certain protections to safeguard 800 MHz public safety licensees, elimination of the legacy channel spacing and bandwidth limitation should provide greater flexibility to ... 800 MHz SMR licensees to deploy competitive wireless services over contiguous channels,” the rulemaking notice said (http://xrl.us/bmxkzk). “The record suggests that eliminating these limitations may serve the public interest by allowing licensees to deploy more advanced wireless technologies, to consumers’ benefit, while continuing to ensure such operations do not increase interference to 800 MHz public safety licensees through the conditions proposed below.” Sprint is “pleased that the FCC has moved forward in modernizing its rules to provide greater flexibility in spectrum usage in the 800 MHz ESMR band,” said Larry Krevor, vice president for government affairs. “Sprint believes this step will allow license holders to use spectrum more efficiently and improve service to customers while continuing to protect 800 MHz public safety communications systems from interference."