CTIA said a 4G/LTE database was created to help prevent smartphone theft. The deadline, as set by a coalition of CTIA, police chiefs and the FCC in April 2012, for the creation of the database was Saturday. “We encourage consumers to use currently available apps and features that would remotely wipe, track and lock their devices in case they are lost or stolen, and our members are continuing to explore and offer new technologies,” said CTIA President Steve Largent in a statement Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1cDV48A). “We also strongly support and need Senator [Chuck] Schumer’s legislation to pass that would impose tough penalties on those who steal devices or modify them illegally since it would help dry up the market for those who traffic in stolen devices.” Schumer, a New York Democrat, reintroduced in May the Mobile Device Theft Deterrence Act of 2013. S-1070 has three Democratic co-sponsors and was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The database is a “global, multi-carrier, common database” that “has been finalized and implemented,” Largent said. He also asked “more foreign countries and carriers to participate in the global stolen phone database to prevent criminals from selling stolen devices internationally."
The FCC’s repacking plan doesn’t do enough to preserve the coverage areas of existing broadcast licensees, said NAB in an ex parte filing (http://bit.ly/1exLR38) Wednesday. The FCC’s TVStudy software -- which will be used to oversee the repacking -- determines coverage areas using “proxy channels” as broad stand-ins for actual channel assignments, NAB said. “The use of proxy channels leads to considerable inaccuracies,” said the filing. TVStudy also makes assumptions about interference from Canadian and Mexican stations rather than using actual data, NAB said. “Reducing the coverage and population of an existing U.S. station based on ‘imaginary’ interference ... does not comply with the Spectrum Act,” NAB said. The software also makes assumptions about the coverage areas of Class A analog stations that aren’t accurate, said the filing. The assumptions used by the software should be corrected to match the actual circumstances, NAB said. The FCC should also finish developing new coordination agreements with Canada and Mexico before the auction begins, the ex parte said. “Otherwise, TV stations will be stranded on spectrum identified for broadband or leave broadband use of recovered spectrum impaired indefinitely,” said the filing.
Intelsat requested a modification of its authorization for Intelsat 701. Intelsat wants to specify the satellite’s operations at 29.5 degrees west in inclined orbit mode instead of at its current location at 157 degrees east, the FCC International Bureau said in a public notice (http://bit.ly/1gpxVJQ). The satellite company wants to provide fixed satellite service at 29.5 degrees west in the 3700-4200 MHz, 5925-6425 MHz, 10.95-11.2 GHz and other bands, it said.
The FCC Wireline Bureau ordered an allocation method for the 844 toll-free area code Wednesday. The overseeing entity can provide only up to 100 numbers from the new code each day for its first 30 days. The code is expected to open Dec. 7. “In so doing, we temporarily waive the Commission’s rule that toll free numbers must be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to the extent necessary to accommodate this direction,” the order said (http://bit.ly/1c1tQXU). This method is expected to distribute the numbers “more equitably and efficiently” than the alternatives, the order said, citing concerns that larger so-called “responsible organizations” could scoop up vanity numbers if the codes are not allocated as the order lays out.
The rule establishing a fee schedule for filing cable and satellite statement-of-account fees will be effective Jan. 1. The fees are $15 to process an SA1 form, $20 for SA2 forms and $725 for SA3 forms, the Copyright Office said in a Federal Register notice (http://1.usa.gov/1b4bJTo). The office also set a Dec. 30 effective date for the 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment in royalty rates for colleges, universities and other educational institutions, it said in a separate notice (http://1.usa.gov/Iwg33G). The rates pertain to the institutions’ use of published nondramatic musical compositions in the Society of European Stage Authors repertory “for the statutory license under the Copyright Act for noncommercial broadcasting,” it said. The rate was adjusted by 2 percent to $143 per station, it said.
Life Wireless is now offering Lifeline service to eligible low-income residents in Colorado, it said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1cOOPyF). Eligible customers can receive a basic mobile handset with voicemail, text messaging, call waiting and other features, and calling plans offer up to 250 minutes a month, said Life Wireless. Customers must participate in a federal assistance program or earn up to 135 percent of the federal poverty level to be eligible, it said.
Grove City, Ohio, Mayor Richard Sage said the city will offer a Smart911 service to benefit citizens and first responders, said Rave Mobile Safety, a public safety software partner, in a news release (http://yhoo.it/1gpkI3u). Smart911 allows households to create a safety profile with information for 911 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency, said Rave. Users of the service will have their information automatically displayed to the 911 call taker when they make emergency calls, said the company. Smart911 information is made available to 911 operators only when the resident dials 911 from a number associated with their profile, it said. Smart911 has been adopted in 32 states and more than 400 municipalities since it was introduced nearly three years ago, said Rave.
The Senate will again consider S-1197, the National Defense Authorization Act, when it resumes Dec. 9, according to the Senate floor schedule. The session will allow Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and ranking member James Inhofe, R-Okla., to provide updates. Senators tried to peg hundreds of amendments to the bill in November -- more than 500, including a handful pressing the government for more transparency on surveillance and other changes. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., attached her FISA Improvements Act legislation. On Nov. 21, Levin called for passage of the bill this year and complained of being “thwarted” in a battle over amendments. “So over and over again, we got objections to considering amendments based on the accusation that we were not considering enough amendments,” Levin said in a floor speech then (http://1.usa.gov/IwbiqD). “Already we have been blocked in our effort to clear a package of managers’ amendments.”
South Korea intends to hold preliminary talks with Trans-Pacific Partnership countries aimed at joining the TPP negotiations, said the U.S. Trade Representative in a Friday written statement. The U.S. has targeted year’s end for conclusion of TPP negotiations among the current 12 participant nations. “Korea plays an important role in the regional economy, and its interest in the TPP demonstrates the significant importance of this initiative to the region,” said USTR Michael Froman. President Barack Obama, the other TPP leaders “and their teams are currently working actively to complete the negotiations,” said Froman. “Given that prior to entry any new member needs to complete bilateral consultations with current TPP members and those members need to complete domestic processes, as appropriate, the possible entry of any new country would be expected to occur after the negotiations among the current members are concluded."
The company that changed its name to Graham Holdings (CD Nov 19 p21) agreed to sell its headquarters in downtown Washington and land on the same block to Carr Properties for about $159 million. The deal is expected to be completed at the end of March, said the TV station and cable system owner in a news release after U.S. markets closed Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1gpcjwY). The company was called the Washington Post Co. and changed its name with the sale of The Washington Post and publishing assets to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Graham Holdings will lease its offices from Carr until Graham moves, a date for which hasn’t been set, a spokeswoman for the media company told us by email Friday.