Senators see legislative potential in easing the deployment of wireless broadband, they agreed during a Wednesday Commerce Committee hearing. “The recent Broadband Opportunity Council report includes a number of recommendations on ways to speed broadband deployment on federal lands,” said committee ranking member Bill Nelson, D-Fla. “And just last week, the General Services Administration, under guidance from Congress in our last major spectrum policy bill, took significant steps to improve the processes for seeking access to federal lands and buildings for the placement of wireless infrastructure.”
House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., immediately drilled down on what specific bands of spectrum Congress could target in legislation, pressing witnesses during a Wednesday subcommittee hearing on the topic. ”We have limited time and resource, too,” Walden told them. “Can you give us some suggestions?”
Sprint’s decision not to participate in the TV incentive auction raises big questions about the FCC’s decision to restrict bidding on parts of the spectrum to just competitive carriers, said Charles Golvin of Abelian Research on a webinar Monday sponsored by Recon Analytics. Golvin and other analysts discussed big recent trends in the wireless sector, including the changing nature of AT&T, as it becomes more than a traditional carrier.
Sprint’s decision not to participate in the TV incentive auction raises big questions about the FCC’s decision to restrict bidding on parts of the spectrum to just competitive carriers, said Charles Golvin of Abelian Research on a webinar Monday sponsored by Recon Analytics. Golvin and other analysts discussed big recent trends in the wireless sector, including the changing nature of AT&T, as it becomes more than a traditional carrier.
Industry parties and others continued to support FCC proposals to Lifeline USF subsidies to broadband service and revamp administrative oversight, but divisions remain over specifics. In reply comments filed in docket 11-42 responding to initial comments on the FCC’s NPRM (see 1509010073 and 1509040045), parties generally backed giving low-income consumers expanded choice and shifting responsibility for verifying Lifeline subscriber eligibility from telecom carriers to a third party. But there was disagreement over whether the FCC should establish minimum Lifeline standards for broadband/voice service. Numerous tribal groups also filed reply comments urging the FCC to retain and even increase enhanced Lifeline tribal support.
Industry parties and others continued to support FCC proposals to Lifeline USF subsidies to broadband service and revamp administrative oversight, but divisions remain over specifics. In reply comments filed in docket 11-42 responding to initial comments on the FCC’s NPRM (see 1509010073 and 1509040045), parties generally backed giving low-income consumers expanded choice and shifting responsibility for verifying Lifeline subscriber eligibility from telecom carriers to a third party. But there was disagreement over whether the FCC should establish minimum Lifeline standards for broadband/voice service. Numerous tribal groups also filed reply comments urging the FCC to retain and even increase enhanced Lifeline tribal support.
Leaders of the House Transportation Committee introduced legislation (HR-3651) Wednesday to postpone the deadline for positive train control implementation from Dec. 31 of this year to the end of 2018. The technology involves railroads’ acquisition of spectrum and FCC siting approval, both of which had caused delays, and many railroads can't meet this year’s congressionally mandated deadline. Extension “is essential to preventing significant disruptions of both passenger and freight rail service across the country,” said committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., in a statement. The legislation text said exceptions to the new deadline could be made for some railroads and called for progress reports. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., lauded the bill, in a statement: “Our country’s economy cannot afford the significant disruptions that will occur if we don’t act soon. Reaching an agreement and passing legislation in the coming weeks is the only way to avert a rail service shutdown.” Thune said "there have been some unexpected delays in implementing the technology,” in a floor speech Wednesday. “The [FCC] halted the construction of necessary communication towers for over a year in 2013 over concerns about historic preservation and potential impacts on tribal lands. There have also been delays in regulatory approvals, problems in obtaining necessary communications spectrum, and many difficulties that come with building a new technology.” Association of American Railroads President Edward Hamberger praised the House legislation. “The committee leadership clearly recognizes the need for immediate action to forestall the looming economic crisis that would result from widespread freight and passenger rail service disruption,” he said.
With its sights trained on market leader GoPro, action-camera supplier Activeon “sits and competes on all the specs and qualities that you would expect from a premium-quality piece of equipment,” said Jonathan Zupnik, Activeon executive vice president-sales, marketing and new business development, in a Wednesday interview.
The Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) for CBP will next meet Oct. 29 in Washington, CBP said in a notice (here).
The House moved to pass legislation on Sept. 28 to require CBP to report on the number of high-risk rail shipments that annually enter the U.S., as well as the status of radiation detection at rail crossings. The legislation, HR-2786 (here), will be considered under suspended rules, said the office of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in a Sept. 25 memo. That legislative tactic indicates the bill's passage is nearly guaranteed. The bill, introduced by Reps. Candice Miller, R-Mich., and Filemon Vela, D-Texas, requires CBP to submit the report to Congress on the following: