A U.S. Forest Service proposal to charge communications facilities on National Forest System (NFS) lands an annual administrative fee could be an existential threat to smaller broadcasters but is seen by wireless groups as a route to faster approvals, according to interviews. The deadline for comments is Tuesday, but docket 2021-27681 already listed 591 submissions Friday. “I get that they have to cover the administrative costs of what they do, but some of these stations have been there for 30 years,” said National Translator Association President Jack Mills.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel appointed members to the Precision Ag Task Force working groups, said a public notice Thursday in docket 19-329 (see 2201130056). Sreekala Bajwa, Montana State University College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station vice president-dean and director, will chair the mapping working group. Heather Hampton+Knodle, Knodle Farms vice president-secretary, will chair the examining current and future connectivity demand working group. Paige Wireless President Julie Bushell will chair the encouraging adoption and availability of high-quality jobs working group. Hughes Network Systems Senior Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Jennifer Manner will chair the accelerating broadband deployment on unserved agricultural lands working group.
Harman’s Digital Transformation Solutions business was certified for EN 9100:2018/AS9100D, the company’s first avionics certification, it said Thursday. The certification is the international standard for quality management systems for the aviation, space and defense industry, said the Samsung subsidiary.
An Arizona House panel cleared an app store bill to allow developers to deal directly with customers and avoid app store fees from Apple and Google. The Arizona House Commerce Committee voted 5-3 Tuesday for HB-2200 with an amendment that converted the land mapping bill into an app store bill like HB-2662, which had last week failed in the Judiciary Committee. “We hope the full Arizona House swiftly approves the bill, and that similar bills that have been introduced in other states such as Illinois, Florida, and New York are passed into law,” said Pat Garofalo, American Economic Liberties Project director-state and local policy. The same committee voted 8-0 for HB-2678 to establish a state broadband office.
An Arizona House panel cleared an app store bill to allow developers to deal directly with customers and avoid app store fees from Apple and Google. The Arizona House Commerce Committee voted 5-3 Tuesday for HB-2200 with an amendment that converted the land mapping bill into an app store bill like HB-2662, which had last week failed in the Judiciary Committee. “We hope the full Arizona House swiftly approves the bill, and that similar bills that have been introduced in other states such as Illinois, Florida, and New York are passed into law,” said Pat Garofalo, American Economic Liberties Project director-state and local policy. The same committee voted 8-0 for HB-2678 to establish a state broadband office.
The Federal Maritime Commission reminded traders this week about the various resources available to shippers seeking to file complaints. The guidance, released by Commissioner Rebecca Dye, explains the differences between a small claims complaint and a formal complaint and links to the FMC’s Filing a Shipping Act Complaint landing page. Dye said she supports “clarifying Commission procedures through a variety of means,” including holding a webinar.
The Federal Maritime Commission reminded traders this week about the various resources available to shippers seeking to file complaints. The guidance, released by Commissioner Rebecca Dye, explains the differences between a small claims complaint and a formal complaint and links to the FMC’s Filing a Shipping Act Complaint landing page. Dye said she supports “clarifying Commission procedures through a variety of means,” including holding a webinar.
The Ambassador Bridge reopened Feb. 14 just after midnight, after protesters blocked the main exit and entrance of the bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit for six days, Canadian press reported. A few hours earlier, the White House said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had spoken with their Canadian counterparts about the issue that day. Auto plants in Michigan shut down temporarily because of the disruption.
Vice President Kamala Harris and other Biden administration officials touted the FCC’s $14.2 billion affordable connectivity program Monday as an example of successful implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as the program hit a milestone of enrolling more than 10 million households. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., is holding out hope that Congress could appropriate additional money for the FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund and other broadband programs by passing it as part of a balkanized chunk of the scuttled Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation package (HR-5376) but told us he believes keeping the connectivity money isn't going to make or break his support.
The Ambassador Bridge reopened Feb. 14 just after midnight, after protesters blocked the main exit and entrance of the bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit for six days, Canadian press reported. A few hours earlier, the White House said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had spoken with their Canadian counterparts about the issue that day. Auto plants in Michigan shut down temporarily because of the disruption.