The FCC said a regional workshop on public safety and homeland security on Indian lands has been reset to Oct. 24- 25 from Sept. 26-27. The meeting will be in Polson, Mont. “The purpose of this event is to give the tribes tools to plan for the protection of critical communications infrastructure on, or serving, tribal lands,” the Commission said.
The FCC sought industry advice on the need to revise rules for the 700 MHz auction, scheduled to begin by early 2008, offering 90 MHz of highly coveted spectrum. The NPRM doesn’t ask about a proposal by Nextel founder Morgan O'Brien, chmn. of Cyren Call, to dedicate 30 MHz of the spectrum (CD June 28 p3) to a nationwide wireless network for public safety rather than sell it at auction, sources said.
The Department of Homeland Security has completed and issued the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), which it describes as a comprehensive risk management framework that defines critical infrastructure protection roles and responsibilities for all levels of government, private industry, nongovernmental agencies and tribal partners.
An FCC order on Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) may be off the table for the summer after President Bush signed an executive order last week instructing the Dept. of Homeland Security to submit a plan for reorganizing EAS to the White House within 90 days. Meanwhile, telecom and satellite interests continue outreach at the FCC on EAS, based on ex parte filings made at the Commission in recent days.
The President's Homeland Security Council has issued a document entitled Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, which according to a White House fact sheet, provides direction to Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, communities, and the private sector on the actions that must be taken to prepare for a possible pandemic across six functional areas, one of which is transportation and borders.
FCC officials will discuss broadband deployment issues with tribal representatives at an Indian Telecom Initiatives workshop July 27-28 in San Diego. Participants will talk about wireless broadband delivery, including how to create partnerships, aggregate demand and acquire spectrum through auctions or secondary market processes. Other sessions will offer updates on legislative and regulatory developments and an afternoon will be devoted to broadcast radio in Indian country -- 1-888-CALL-FCC or iti-info@fcc.gov.
FCC officials will discuss broadband deployment issues with tribal representatives at an Indian Telecom Initiatives workshop July 27-28 in San Diego. Participants will talk about wireless broadband delivery, including how to create partnerships, aggregate demand and acquire spectrum through auctions or secondary market processes. Other sessions will offer updates on legislative and regulatory developments and an afternoon will be devoted to broadcast radio in Indian country -- 1-888-CALL-FCC or iti-info@fcc.gov.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a proposed rule to revise and update its regulations in 50 CFR Parts 10, 13, 17, and 23 that implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The satellite industry hailed language deep in a telecom bill by Sen. Stevens (R-Alaska) that would strengthen the satellite industry’s hand in 2 arenas where it claims unique utility: disaster communication and rural broadband deployment. If the bill’s satellite provisions survive conference, “it’s a big win for the satellite industry,” Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA) Exec. Dir. David Cavossa.
FCC hires Shana Barehand, ex-EPA, as tribal liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs… Bryce Harlow, ex- Hill aide, FTC and NAB, becomes vp-govt. relations, CBS… Verizon promotes Kathleen Zanowic to chief privacy officer… WildBlue names Mike Casullo, ex-On Command Corp. and Qwest Cyber.Solutions, CIO… Daniel Bragg ex-Bragg Creative, joins Discovery as vp-creative… Here Networks promotes Stephen Macias to senior vp-corporate & mktg. communications… Moves at CW: Eric Cardinal to senior vp- research… Rick Mater to senior vp-bcst. standards… Sameer Deen, ex-NBC Universal, becomes Scripps interactive vp- corporate development.