The FCC asked Wednesday how it could lower barriers to bringing broadband to tribal lands. “An initial problem in addressing these issues is the current lack of data on the extent of broadband deployment and adoption on Tribal lands,” the commission said in its latest notice seeking comment for the national broadband plan. The FCC wants quantitative data, studies or analyses about the tribal deployment, “focused comment” on how to promote broadband in Indian Country, and suggestions of how to include tribal lands better in broadband mapping. The commission also wants to know how to spur adoption by tribes and whether it should use pilot programs or other ways to encourage broadband providers to enter tribal markets. Comments are due Nov. 9, replies Dec. 9.
The FCC asked Wednesday how it could lower barriers to getting broadband to tribal lands. “An initial problem in addressing these issues is the current lack of data on the extent of broadband deployment and adoption on Tribal lands,” the commission said in its latest notice seeking comment for the national broadband plan. The FCC wants quantitative data, studies or analyses about the tribal deployment, “focused comment” on how to promote broadband in Indian Country, and suggestions of how to include tribal lands better in broadband mapping. The commission also wants to know how to spur adoption by tribes and whether it should use pilot programs or other ways to encourage broadband providers to enter tribal markets. Comments are due Nov. 9, replies Dec. 9.
Before the Trade North America Conference in Detroit, Commerce Deputy Secretary Hightower listed four key trade priorities of the Commerce Department as visa reform, export controls review, intellectual property protection, and intergovernmental cooperation and trade promotion. Also emphasized at the September 9, 2009 event was the need for enforcement of existing trade agreements to ensure free and fair trade, and to resist any impulses toward protectionism. (Remarks, dated 09/09/09, available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/DeputySecretarySpeeches/PROD01_008395)
A successful national broadband policy needs to address affordability, access, funding, demand and supply issues in rural areas, speakers said during a Pike & Fischer webinar Wednesday. They warned that definitions and application process issues in the broadband stimulus program and some Universal Service Fund rules could hurt the outcome of these programs.
Nearly 2,200 entities filed applications requesting about $28 billion in the first round of broadband stimulus grants and loans, NTIA and RUS said Thursday. About 1,490 applications were filed for infrastructure grant and loan requests for $23.2 billion in proposed projects. A smaller pool of applicants, 680, filed proposals for $4.4 billion to be spent on programs to stimulate demand and support public computer centers. Administration officials said they were pleased with the level of interest. Last filings for this first of three grant rounds were due Monday.
The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs awarded $1.98 million in grants to state, local and tribal authorities for criminal intellectual property enforcement. The money will be used for investigation, prosecution, prevention, training and technical assistance, DoJ said. Law enforcement-related grants went to the Mississippi attorney general’s office, Bronx County, N.Y., district attorney, Chesterfield County, Va., the city of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, New York City and the North Carolina secretary of state. Training and assistance grants went to the National Association of Attorneys General and the National White Collar Crime Center.
The FCC needs to develop a reliable method for measuring wireless broadband connections, Chris Guttman-McCabe, vice-president of regulatory affairs at CTIA said on Wednesday during an FCC workshop on building a “fact base” on the state of broadband use and adoption. In a second panel, representatives for tribal, minority and other underserved demographics identified factors keeping many Americans from buying broadband.
The FCC needs to develop a reliable method for measuring wireless broadband connections, Chris Guttman-McCabe, vice-president of regulatory affairs at CTIA said on Wednesday during an FCC workshop on building a “fact base” on the state of broadband use and adoption. In a second panel, representatives for tribal, minority and other underserved demographics identified factors keeping many Americans from buying broadband.
The FCC needs to develop a reliable method for measuring wireless broadband connections, Chris Guttman-McCabe, vice-president of regulatory affairs at CTIA said on Wednesday during an FCC workshop on building a “fact base” on the state of broadband use and adoption. In a second panel, representatives for tribal, minority and other underserved demographics identified factors keeping many Americans from buying broadband.
Note that Daily Update on Capitol Hill Trade Actions does not appear in today's issue of International Trade Today. Publication of this feature will resume as new information becomes available.