The Food and Drug Administration should keep as optional in ACE several data elements that can be difficult for import filers to obtain, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in comments to the agency dated Aug. 22 (here). Though importers know submission of certain data elements, like active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and intended use, can speed FDA processing of their entries, some filers, particularly in land and air environments, don’t have the information at the time their entries are filed, the NCBFAA said. The trade group’s comments, which also include calls to revise definitions and the way value data is submitted, come in response to FDA’s July 1 proposed rule to codify its ACE requirements (see 1606300020).
FirstNet will be critical to enhancing public safety situational awareness in an increasingly dangerous world, said chief technology officers from major equipment vendors last week at the APCO 2016 conference in Orlando (see 1608160050). A key capability enabled by the dedicated LTE network is live-streaming video, expected to be a major part of body-worn IoT and virtual reality interfaces envisioned by companies including Motorola Solutions and Harris, the CTOs said.
FirstNet will be critical to enhancing public safety situational awareness in an increasingly dangerous world, said chief technology officers from major equipment vendors last week at the APCO 2016 conference in Orlando (see 1608160050). A key capability enabled by the dedicated LTE network is live-streaming video, expected to be a major part of body-worn IoT and virtual reality interfaces envisioned by companies including Motorola Solutions and Harris, the CTOs said.
FirstNet will be critical to enhancing public safety situational awareness in an increasingly dangerous world, said chief technology officers from major equipment vendors last week at the APCO 2016 conference in Orlando (see 1608160050). A key capability enabled by the dedicated LTE network is live-streaming video, expected to be a major part of body-worn IoT and virtual reality interfaces envisioned by companies including Motorola Solutions and Harris, the CTOs said.
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command signed a $48 million contract with ViaSat for engineering, technical services, and hardware and software to support the Navy's joint ultra high frequency (UHF) military satellite communications system, ViaSat said in a news release Monday. It said it will help modernize the satcom network integrated control system, UHF satcom channel controllers and user terminals and in crypto design for next-generation UHF terminals
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command signed a $48 million contract with ViaSat for engineering, technical services, and hardware and software to support the Navy's joint ultra high frequency (UHF) military satellite communications system, ViaSat said in a news release Monday. It said it will help modernize the satcom network integrated control system, UHF satcom channel controllers and user terminals and in crypto design for next-generation UHF terminals
The Competitive Carriers Association stressed the need for the FCC to get the definitions right for served and underserved as it takes up USF “reform” and potentially a second mobility fund, said a filing about a CCA meeting with an aide to Commissioner Mike O’Rielly. O’Rielly recently suggested the FCC use “population” as a metric for identifying areas in need of support, CCA said. “CCA encouraged the Commission to include road miles, farm land, and Federal lands as mobility is essential for next generation technology including 5G and the Internet of Things to flourish throughout the country,” said the filing in docket 10-208. “It is imperative that any methodology portray an accurate picture of the rural landscape, measuring which areas are served and which are not.”
In an era of what some say is creeping spectrum scarcity, the FCC released an NPRM Thursday designed to expand access to private land mobile radio (PLMR) spectrum. Among the key questions raised is whether the agency should amend its rules to allow 806-824/851-869 MHz band incumbents in a market a six-month period to apply for expansion band and guard band frequencies before the frequencies are made available to applicants for new systems. The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) proposed the change, the FCC said. The commission also asked whether it should extend conditional licensing authority to applicants for site-based licenses in the 800 MHz frequencies and the 896-901/935-940 MHz bands. The FCC sought comment on whether to make available for PLMR use frequencies on the band edge between the industrial/business pool and either general mobile radio service or broadcast auxiliary service spectrum. “Traditionally, the PLMR services have provided for the private, internal communications needs of public safety entities, state and local government entities, large and small businesses, transportation providers, the medical community, and other diverse users of two-way radio systems,” the NPRM said. “PLMR licensees generally do not provide for-profit communications services. The Commission is committed to bringing about more efficient use of PLMR frequencies in order to alleviate congestion in this crowded spectrum, the demand for which continues to grow.” Comments deadlines are to be set by a pending notice in the Federal Register. “We are glad to see the FCC release this item as it proposes a number of productive spectrum policies,” said Mark Crosby, president of the Enterprise Wireless Alliance and an LMCC board member. “We also look forward to a healthy dialogue on the merits of providing spectrum priority to incumbent 800 MHz licensees, in particular business enterprise entities. The FCC has noted that expansion band spectrum is designated primarily for [Specialized Mobile Radio] stations. EWA will need to determine whether limiting business enterprise incumbents to B/ILT spectrum in the expansion band, without access to guard band spectrum, provides any meaningful opportunity for system expansion.” EWA is also concerned that “without an effective construction verification process, and reliance exclusively on self-certification, it is exceedingly difficult to distinguish parties with the intention and ability to actually provide service from those hoping to flip spectrum for monetary gain,” Crosby said. “The PLMR community has precious few spectrum resources. It is imperative that the rules promote its intensive utilization and deter speculation.”
Cairnstack Software announced a service for inventory-management tracking designed to help AV manufacturers and integrators track products throughout the lifecycle, cut down on transshipping and locate the sources of gray-market goods. The TRXio software allows manufacturers to track products from warehouses to retail to end customers, President Reid Hanson told us.
Google delayed fiber builds in multiple California cities while it explores alternative technologies, said a staff report by the city of Palo Alto. It could be six months or more before Google resumes its fiber network build in the Bay Area, the report said: “Google indicated that they are exploring more innovative ways of deployment that overcome some of the challenges they are facing in their current builds. It is the City’s understanding that the cities of Mountain View, San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale are also being delayed.” A Google representative notified the Palo Alto staff about the delay July 18, the report said. “The fiber ball is entirely in Google’s court,” emailed a San Jose spokesman. “We’ve taken care of all the environmental, permitting, and land use procedural issues needed for them to move ahead whenever they’re ready to.” He said the city and Google Fiber have had “a strong, productive working relationship” over the past two years, and the city remains optimistic Google will move forward with its plans to extend fiber into San Jose, “even if their original schedule gets modified so they can take advantage of technology advances that might be potentially less disruptive.” The delay follows Google Fiber’s acquisition of Webpass, a California CLEC specializing in point-to-point wireless broadband that could be combined with fiber to spread high-speed Internet to more homes (see 1606230046). Google Fiber last month opened shop in Charlotte (see 1607120030), and in June said it’s eyeing Dallas for further expansion (see 1606140047). Google continues "to work with city leaders to explore the possibility of bringing Google Fiber to the South Bay area," a company spokeswoman said. "This means deploying the latest technologies in alignment with our product roadmap, while understanding local considerations and challenges, which takes time."