FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler sought to reassure Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and other Capitol Hill Democrats of the agency’s attention to broadband access on tribal lands. Cantwell led a July 15 letter pressing for Wheeler’s completion of “comprehensive Tribal reforms” by year’s end. “To the extent that funds are available within the current universal service program, we urge you to repurpose them to accelerate investment in broadband on Tribal Lands,” the Democrats said. Wheeler discussed such tribal overhaul at his Sept. 15 Senate Commerce Committee hearing and pledged to Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., a signer of Cantwell’s letter, that he would complete such tribal-focused changes by the end of football season (see 1609150058). The FCC “has adopted initiatives to drive investment in mobile broadband on Tribal lands,” Wheeler told lawmakers in a letter released this week. “For example, in 2014 the FCC's Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I reverse auction made up to $50 million in one-time funding available to Tribal lands to accelerate mobile broadband availability. In addition, both the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I and the general Mobility Fund Phase I made a 25 percent bidding credit available for Tribally-owned or controlled providers seeking support. As a result, 72 different Tribal Lands will benefit from both the Mobility Fund Phase I and Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I auctions. In addition, staff is actively examining a mechanism to award ongoing support to Tribal lands through Mobility Fund Phase II.”
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler sought to reassure Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and other Capitol Hill Democrats of the agency’s attention to broadband access on tribal lands. Cantwell led a July 15 letter pressing for Wheeler’s completion of “comprehensive Tribal reforms” by year’s end. “To the extent that funds are available within the current universal service program, we urge you to repurpose them to accelerate investment in broadband on Tribal Lands,” the Democrats said. Wheeler discussed such tribal overhaul at his Sept. 15 Senate Commerce Committee hearing and pledged to Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., a signer of Cantwell’s letter, that he would complete such tribal-focused changes by the end of football season (see 1609150058). The FCC “has adopted initiatives to drive investment in mobile broadband on Tribal lands,” Wheeler told lawmakers in a letter released this week. “For example, in 2014 the FCC's Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I reverse auction made up to $50 million in one-time funding available to Tribal lands to accelerate mobile broadband availability. In addition, both the Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I and the general Mobility Fund Phase I made a 25 percent bidding credit available for Tribally-owned or controlled providers seeking support. As a result, 72 different Tribal Lands will benefit from both the Mobility Fund Phase I and Tribal Mobility Fund Phase I auctions. In addition, staff is actively examining a mechanism to award ongoing support to Tribal lands through Mobility Fund Phase II.”
Federal prosecutors filed a civil complaint against a garment importer, its executive and a clothing wholesaler for an alleged customs duty evasion scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said in a Sept. 23 news release (here). The importer, Yingshun Garments, "avoided paying millions of dollars in customs duties" by undervaluing garments on false invoices, the USAO said in the complaint (here). The complaint was the result of an investigation by CBP and ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, ICE said (here).
Motorola Solutions agreed to buy Spillman Technologies, a closely held provider of public safety software solutions for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records management systems (RMS), the acquirer said in a Monday news release. It “demonstrates our commitment to expand our smart public safety portfolio and provide agencies of all sizes with a full suite of solutions for the command center, from call processing equipment to CAD to RMS to land mobile radio and LTE dispatching,” said Bruce Brda, Motorola Solutions executive vice president-products and services.
Motorola Solutions agreed to buy Spillman Technologies, a closely held provider of public safety software solutions for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and records management systems (RMS), the acquirer said in a Monday news release. It “demonstrates our commitment to expand our smart public safety portfolio and provide agencies of all sizes with a full suite of solutions for the command center, from call processing equipment to CAD to RMS to land mobile radio and LTE dispatching,” said Bruce Brda, Motorola Solutions executive vice president-products and services.
The Rural Utilities Service “will aim to double its annual investment in telecom broadband loans in Indian Country -- to $50 million in FY17 -- and dedicate staff to providing tribes with technical assistance to help unlock existing resources,” the White House said in its fact sheet for Monday’s Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, saying the administration is "prioritizing tribal connectivity." The White House-proposed budget also “proposed significant investments in education information IT to enhance broadband and digital access for students at [Bureau of Indian Education]-funded schools,” the fact sheet said. It said the administration already has, “as part of ConnectED, an initiative designed to connect schools and libraries to the digital age, the [FCC] E-rate program provided broadband, Wi-Fi, and telecommunications funding to 245 tribal schools serving over 60,000 students and 31 tribal libraries last funding year." Starting Dec. 1, it said, "the enhanced Lifeline program subsidy, which is available to low-income people living on Tribal lands, can be used to help cover the cost of broadband service.”
The Rural Utilities Service “will aim to double its annual investment in telecom broadband loans in Indian Country -- to $50 million in FY17 -- and dedicate staff to providing tribes with technical assistance to help unlock existing resources,” the White House said in its fact sheet for Monday’s Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, saying the administration is "prioritizing tribal connectivity." The White House-proposed budget also “proposed significant investments in education information IT to enhance broadband and digital access for students at [Bureau of Indian Education]-funded schools,” the fact sheet said. It said the administration already has, “as part of ConnectED, an initiative designed to connect schools and libraries to the digital age, the [FCC] E-rate program provided broadband, Wi-Fi, and telecommunications funding to 245 tribal schools serving over 60,000 students and 31 tribal libraries last funding year." Starting Dec. 1, it said, "the enhanced Lifeline program subsidy, which is available to low-income people living on Tribal lands, can be used to help cover the cost of broadband service.”
The FCC released the latest version of its annual mobile competition report, a 127-page snapshot of competition in the industry at the end of 2015, concluding the mobile industry remains uncompetitive. Since 2010 and the first wireless competition report of the Obama presidency, the FCC has declined to draw the conclusion that mobile is competitive, in the required annual report to Congress (see 1005210135). But the FCC did find signs that coverage and speeds are increasing. The annual report is the 19th prepared by the FCC.
The FCC released the latest version of its annual mobile competition report, a 127-page snapshot of competition in the industry at the end of 2015, concluding the mobile industry remains uncompetitive. Since 2010 and the first wireless competition report of the Obama presidency, the FCC has declined to draw the conclusion that mobile is competitive, in the required annual report to Congress (see 1005210135). But the FCC did find signs that coverage and speeds are increasing. The annual report is the 19th prepared by the FCC.
Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., introduced HR-6099 Wednesday to “support the establishment and improvement of communications sites on or adjacent to Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture through the retention and use of rental fees associated with such sites,” its description said. His co-sponsor is Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. The bill was referred to the Agriculture and Natural Resources committees. A Huffman spokeswoman didn’t comment Thursday when asked for the bill text.