The Senate Commerce Committee confirmed it will mark up the bipartisan spectrum bill from its leaders on March 3, as expected (see 1602230054), the committee said Wednesday. The markup will happen at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell. “Commerce Committee consideration of the MOBILE NOW Act is an opportunity to advance reforms that the full Senate could pass this year,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., in a statement on the S-2555 markup. “Once enacted, these reforms will accelerate the deployment of ultra-fast wireless connections that are critical for the next wave of Internet innovation.” Free State Foundation visiting fellow Gregory Vogt identified weaknesses in Mobile Now, despite lauding its bipartisan achievement. “But since there are no actual mandated measurable achievements, I fear that any bold move will not occur on the incentive issue,” he said in an essay released Wednesday about S-2555. “Providing a more material incentive, such as allowing an agency to share in auction proceeds like the broadcaster incentive auction or assign opportunity cost values to government spectrum and using other good management techniques, would better encourage government to use spectrum efficiently.” The bill’s language on millimeter-wave reallocation rules also “does not actually mandate reallocation within any specific timeframe,” Vogt said. “A firm deadline when the FCC must hold the auction and award licenses would substantially advance availability of 5G spectrum.” He criticized other changes to the legislation from the drafts circulated late last year. The text was pared down following negotiation with the Obama administration and other lawmakers. “MOBILE NOW also apparently eliminated a firm 90-day deadline for federal agencies to grant applications seeking infrastructure access to government lands,” Vogt noted. “Such a deadline would parallel existing FCC actions that enforce strict deadlines on local zoning authorities that review wireless infrastructure applications. It is regrettable that the federal government might receive favored treatment in accommodating wireless infrastructure applications over their local counterparts.” He didn’t worry about the balance with unlicensed spectrum provisions, saying that belonged in a “wait-and-see category” before judging. Vogt argued that overall, “the Senate may be settling for a weaker solution than is desirable, perhaps because of demands either from the Administration or congressional Democrats” and laid out possible improvements achievable through the amendment process: “(1) by imposing a deadline on actual reallocation of millimeter wave spectrum, (2) by establishing effective incentives for government to vacate unneeded spectrum and ensuring the use of modern technology, and (3) by imposing a firm deadline for federal agencies to grant infrastructure access to government lands.”
The Senate Commerce Committee confirmed it will mark up the bipartisan spectrum bill from its leaders on March 3, as expected (see 1602230054), the committee said Wednesday. The markup will happen at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell. “Commerce Committee consideration of the MOBILE NOW Act is an opportunity to advance reforms that the full Senate could pass this year,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., in a statement on the S-2555 markup. “Once enacted, these reforms will accelerate the deployment of ultra-fast wireless connections that are critical for the next wave of Internet innovation.” Free State Foundation visiting fellow Gregory Vogt identified weaknesses in Mobile Now, despite lauding its bipartisan achievement. “But since there are no actual mandated measurable achievements, I fear that any bold move will not occur on the incentive issue,” he said in an essay released Wednesday about S-2555. “Providing a more material incentive, such as allowing an agency to share in auction proceeds like the broadcaster incentive auction or assign opportunity cost values to government spectrum and using other good management techniques, would better encourage government to use spectrum efficiently.” The bill’s language on millimeter-wave reallocation rules also “does not actually mandate reallocation within any specific timeframe,” Vogt said. “A firm deadline when the FCC must hold the auction and award licenses would substantially advance availability of 5G spectrum.” He criticized other changes to the legislation from the drafts circulated late last year. The text was pared down following negotiation with the Obama administration and other lawmakers. “MOBILE NOW also apparently eliminated a firm 90-day deadline for federal agencies to grant applications seeking infrastructure access to government lands,” Vogt noted. “Such a deadline would parallel existing FCC actions that enforce strict deadlines on local zoning authorities that review wireless infrastructure applications. It is regrettable that the federal government might receive favored treatment in accommodating wireless infrastructure applications over their local counterparts.” He didn’t worry about the balance with unlicensed spectrum provisions, saying that belonged in a “wait-and-see category” before judging. Vogt argued that overall, “the Senate may be settling for a weaker solution than is desirable, perhaps because of demands either from the Administration or congressional Democrats” and laid out possible improvements achievable through the amendment process: “(1) by imposing a deadline on actual reallocation of millimeter wave spectrum, (2) by establishing effective incentives for government to vacate unneeded spectrum and ensuring the use of modern technology, and (3) by imposing a firm deadline for federal agencies to grant infrastructure access to government lands.”
Panasonic’s Eco Solutions division is showcasing its Green Tower energy infrastructure management solution for cellular, Wi-Fi and two-way land mobile communications sites at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Green Tower combines lithium-ion energy storage, solar energy generation, satellite communications and real-time monitoring and control in what Panasonic calls a “paradigm shift” from static power systems to a remotely managed intelligent infrastructure, offering cell sites dependent on the grid an alternative energy infrastructure. Green Tower uses remote and site-installed hardware and software to communicate with and intelligently operate on-site assets including battery, generator and HVAC systems from a centralized operations center, Panasonic said. Green Tower's intelligent site management can extend communications systems’ useful life and reduce operating costs by 10-15 percent, Panasonic said. Green Tower’s technology platform is deployed at critical safety sites in Northern Europe, weak grid sites in Southeast Asia and grid connected sites in North America and Europe, Panasonic said.
The North American Submarine Cable Association supports an FCC proposal to create a "clearinghouse" for information about submarine cable system landings in the U.S. and discussed potential benefits with International Bureau officials, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 15-206. Representatives of Alaska Communications, AT&T, Tata Communications, Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications and Verizon and other undersea cable operators attended the meeting, and NASCA Counsel Kent Bressie said in the filing that the group "emphasized the need for a centralized system of submarine cable deployment and contact information." An NPRM also would allow the creation of an outage reporting system for submarine cable systems (see 1511030019). In its initial filing with the commission about the outage reporting proposal, NASCA called the reporting requirements "needlessly burdensome" but lauded the FCC's focus on submarine cable protection (see 1512040037). During its meeting with the bureau, NASCA cited "overlapping -- and sometimes conflicting" licensing and permitting requirements that "burden" the industry, Bressie said. "The federal permitting process ... overlaps significantly with the state and local reviews." Permitting and licensing requirements tend to be burdensome due to the "logistical challenges inherent to submarine cable installation," the group said. Challenges include "the limited availability of cable ships globally, the expense and difficulty of storing cable when installation is delayed, the need to work around inclement weather and the need to work around seasonal environmental protections for protected species," it said. NASCA also discussed the "importance of coordination and information sharing in order to enhance protection of submarine cable infrastructure during its operational phase." The lack of a central federal government resource for information about installed undersea cable systems, plus a lack of no single point of government contact for undersea cable issues, "often results in agency actions that increase the risk of damage to submarine cable systems," NASCA said.
The North American Submarine Cable Association supports an FCC proposal to create a "clearinghouse" for information about submarine cable system landings in the U.S. and discussed potential benefits with International Bureau officials, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 15-206. Representatives of Alaska Communications, AT&T, Tata Communications, Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications and Verizon and other undersea cable operators attended the meeting, and NASCA Counsel Kent Bressie said in the filing that the group "emphasized the need for a centralized system of submarine cable deployment and contact information." An NPRM also would allow the creation of an outage reporting system for submarine cable systems (see 1511030019). In its initial filing with the commission about the outage reporting proposal, NASCA called the reporting requirements "needlessly burdensome" but lauded the FCC's focus on submarine cable protection (see 1512040037). During its meeting with the bureau, NASCA cited "overlapping -- and sometimes conflicting" licensing and permitting requirements that "burden" the industry, Bressie said. "The federal permitting process ... overlaps significantly with the state and local reviews." Permitting and licensing requirements tend to be burdensome due to the "logistical challenges inherent to submarine cable installation," the group said. Challenges include "the limited availability of cable ships globally, the expense and difficulty of storing cable when installation is delayed, the need to work around inclement weather and the need to work around seasonal environmental protections for protected species," it said. NASCA also discussed the "importance of coordination and information sharing in order to enhance protection of submarine cable infrastructure during its operational phase." The lack of a central federal government resource for information about installed undersea cable systems, plus a lack of no single point of government contact for undersea cable issues, "often results in agency actions that increase the risk of damage to submarine cable systems," NASCA said.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, and the General Services Administration on Feb. 19 announced $26.8 million in improvements to the Gateway of the Americas International Bridge, which spans across the Rio Grande from Laredo, Texas, to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico (here). The funding is part of an $88.8 million project which will also see the renovation of International Bridge 2 in Laredo. Work on the 70-year-old Gateway bridge, known as “International Bridge 1,” will include added cameras to monitor customs processing, and a reconfiguration of the main car inspection lanes, Cuellar said in a statement. Gateway renovations will take place between April 2016 and August 2017. Mexico-bound traffic is not expected to be affected.
CTA sides with Apple in its refusal to comply with a court order requiring the company to help the FBI unlock an iPhone 5c used by one of the attackers in the Dec. 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California (see 1602170068), CTA said in a Thursday statement, making it the second major tech association to weigh in on the controversy. On Wednesday, the Information Technology Industry Council released a statement expressing "worry about the broader implications both here and abroad of requiring technology companies to cooperate with governments to disable security features, or introduce security vulnerabilities into technologies.”
The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to launch a rulemaking (see 1602160072) seeking comment on numerous changes to set-top box rules intended to make it easier for third parties to build and sell retail set tops that can access pay-TV content. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly as expected (see 1601280066) opposed the proposal, which they said was “slanted” and an unnecessary regulatory intrusion. “I’m confident that most consumers would rather eliminate the set-top box altogether,” Pai said.
CTA sides with Apple in its refusal to comply with a court order requiring the company to help the FBI unlock an iPhone 5c used by one of the attackers in the Dec. 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California (see 1602170068), CTA said in a Thursday statement, making it the second major tech association to weigh in on the controversy. On Wednesday, the Information Technology Industry Council released a statement expressing "worry about the broader implications both here and abroad of requiring technology companies to cooperate with governments to disable security features, or introduce security vulnerabilities into technologies.”
The FCC voted 3-2 Thursday to launch a rulemaking (see 1602160072) seeking comment on numerous changes to set-top box rules intended to make it easier for third parties to build and sell retail set tops that can access pay-TV content. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Mike O’Rielly as expected (see 1601280066) opposed the proposal, which they said was “slanted” and an unnecessary regulatory intrusion. “I’m confident that most consumers would rather eliminate the set-top box altogether,” Pai said.