New York state awarded $45 million in grants to counties and New York City to enhance emergency communications, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said Wednesday. Counties plan to use this year’s support to add national interoperability channels, build new towers and land mobile radio systems and move to P25 technology, her office said.
Perlisten Audio’s S7i in-wall speaker, “designed for the largest private theaters” of up to 6,500 cubic feet, is the first to land THX Dominus certification, said the audio specialist company Wednesday. The speaker debuts in November at $7,495 each. Dominus is the newest class of THX certification meant to bridge the gap between large home theater speakers and those used in commercial movie theaters, said Perlisten. The company distributes many of its products through the custom-integrator channel.
The FCC should "develop and implement methods for collecting and reporting accurate and complete data on broadband access, especially on tribal lands where service is known to be lacking," GAO recommended Tuesday. It said stakeholders identified limitations in location data for the broadband serviceable location fabric as a "key challenge" for the agency. Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Reps. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., sought the review. FCC officials told GAO it plans to award a one-year contract with the option for four additional years to update the location fabric with new data "at least twice a year." GAO interviewed officials from the FCC, Census Bureau, NTIA, Transportation Department and the Postal Service. It also spoke to AT&T, Lumen, NCTA, NTCA and USTelecom. The FCC "is pleased that GAO evaluated the approach being taken by the FCC to develop the broadband serviceable location fabric and accurately identified the challenges we face," emailed a spokesperson.
Lynk Global signed its first commercial agreements, with the Bahamas' Aliv and Central African Republic's Telecel Centrafrique, to provide satellite-based mobile phone connectivity, it said Wednesday. It said its commercial service is to launch in 2022.
The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) and other groups supported Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications' asking for a rulemaking on expanding use of air-ground radiotelephone service (AGRAS) channels between 454.675-454.975 MHz and 459.675-459.975 MHz for voice and data communications, including by drones (see 2108250035). “The Alliance has previously noted that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to spectrum suitable for UAS, so it is critical that the FCC enable a full range of suitable and available communications technology,” CDA said in a filing posted Thursday in RM-11912. Aura's proposal “can play a critical role in making possible” long-range vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle operation, said Elroy Air. The University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site said the spectrum is needed to meet its goal of establishing a drone network throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. “Transmission of critical data to UAS via a highly reliable and secure network, as described in the Petition, will be critical if U.S. citizens, businesses, safety agencies and communities -- particularly rural communities -- are to benefit from expanded UAS,” the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma said.
The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) and other groups supported Aura Network Systems and A2G Communications' asking for a rulemaking on expanding use of air-ground radiotelephone service (AGRAS) channels between 454.675-454.975 MHz and 459.675-459.975 MHz for voice and data communications, including by drones (see 2108250035). “The Alliance has previously noted that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to spectrum suitable for UAS, so it is critical that the FCC enable a full range of suitable and available communications technology,” CDA said in a filing posted Thursday in RM-11912. Aura's proposal “can play a critical role in making possible” long-range vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicle operation, said Elroy Air. The University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site said the spectrum is needed to meet its goal of establishing a drone network throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. “Transmission of critical data to UAS via a highly reliable and secure network, as described in the Petition, will be critical if U.S. citizens, businesses, safety agencies and communities -- particularly rural communities -- are to benefit from expanded UAS,” the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma said.
Universal Electronics began supplying its Bluetooth and infrared voice remote controls to Malaysia’s Astro for its Ultra set-top box, it said Thursday. Astro services 74% of the country’s homes, said Universal.
The FCC Wireline Bureau extended to Dec. 31 the deadline for Lifeline reverification, recertification, de-enrollment and income documentation requirements for subscribers in rural areas on tribal lands, said a docket 11-42 order listed in Thursday's Daily Digest. The bureau previously extended the deadline to Sept. 30 (see 2106280032).
Preferred scheduling, a commitment of over $75 million for existing hourly store employees, education benefits and paid back-up training are some of the ways Target hopes to ensure holiday season store shifts are covered in a tight labor market, said the retailer Thursday.
An FCC draft NPRM on expanding eligibility for E-rate to tribal libraries is expected to be unanimously approved during commissioners' Sept. 30 meeting, experts said in recent interviews. Library groups and tribal leaders welcomed the move, saying more libraries may be likely to consider applying.