The FCC made two changes to a 2013 order specifying how trunking may be accomplished in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz private land mobile radio bands. The amendments came at the request of the Public Safety Communications Council (PSCC), in an order released Wednesday. A trunked radio system is a computer-controlled two-way radio system that allows sharing of relatively few frequency channels among a large group of users. The FCC dropped a requirement that applicants who operate trunked stations on Public Safety Pool channels be required to demonstrate that the proposed station's service contour will not be overlapped by any incumbent station's interference contour. “We agree with PSCC that the reverse contour requirement is not necessary for the Public Safety Pool channels, and should apply only to Industrial/Business Pool channels,” the FCC said. The FCC also amended its rules on the treatment of mobile stations to clarify how to protect 150-174 MHz band mobile stations associated with a base station. The PSCC suggested that these units should be treated “analogously to unassociated mobile units by using the associated base station’s service contour as both the associated mobile unit’s service contour and interference contour,” the commission said in the order. The FCC agreed.
The FCC called on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reject a request for summary reversal from Lawrence Behr, who won an FCC private land mobile radio service license in a 1993 lottery and then saw the FCC cancel the license when he failed to meet agency build-out requirements. “Appellant Behr has failed to demonstrate that this case is the rare circumstance in which summary reversal of an agency action is appropriate,” the FCC said in a brief in the case, posted by the FCC Monday. The principal issue in dispute is the FCC’s interpretation of a rule that allows a license applicant to demand a hearing in certain cases in which the FCC has partially or conditionally granted a radio license application, the FCC said. “The FCC’s determination that this rule did not apply in appellant’s case because it had fully granted his application to modify his license warrants deference, is consistent with agency and judicial precedent, and is plainly reasonable,” the brief said. The case is Lawrence Behr v. FCC.
U.S. free trade agreements are boosting jobs, increasing U.S. exports and manufacturing production, and slashing trade deficits, said the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah in a March 9 press release that draws economic analysis from various industry sources (here). The U.S. landed its current FTAs through Trade Promotion Authority, said the release. Congressional staffers and observers say Hatch wanted to introduce TPA over recent weeks, but a disagreement with Finance ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has prevented that (see 1503040015). The release also points to a new Gallup poll that suggests most American “view trade as an opportunity to strengthen the American economy through increased U.S. exports,” said the Finance release. Compared to polling over the past two decades, more Americans now see trade as a way to boost the economy, said the poll analysis (here). “Opinion among the two party groups converged in 2014, but this year, Republicans' optimism about foreign trade is flat at 51 percent, while Democrats' has increased slightly, to 61 percent,” said the poll findings. “As the economy has improved significantly in the past year, it's likely that public fears about foreign trade have diminished, partly because of Americans' strengthening views of the U.S. economy.” The majority of Americans in both parties, including roughly 60 percent of Democrats, also support the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Gallup said.
A group of bipartisan House lawmakers introduced legislation “to direct the [FCC] to extend to private land use restrictions its rule relating to reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications,” its title said. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., introduced HR-1301 Wednesday and it was referred to the Commerce Committee. It has five Democratic and seven Republican co-sponsors. Its text isn't online.
A group of bipartisan House lawmakers introduced legislation “to direct the [FCC] to extend to private land use restrictions its rule relating to reasonable accommodation of amateur service communications,” its title said. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., introduced HR-1301 Wednesday and it was referred to the Commerce Committee. It has five Democratic and seven Republican co-sponsors. Its text isn't online.
EU governments let the Latvian Presidency begin talks on net neutrality with the European Parliament and Commission ("trialogue"). The net neutrality and mobile roaming proposals are the only parts remaining of the EC-proposed telecom single market "connected continent" legislative package, the Council said Wednesday. The presidency's negotiating mandate covers EU-wide rules on the open Internet, safeguarding end users' rights and ensuring nondiscriminatory treatment in access services, it said. The European Parliament Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee said it will try to convince governments to "include proper safeguards" for net neutrality. A digital rights advocate called some of the draft "bizarre."
EU governments let the Latvian Presidency begin talks on net neutrality with the European Parliament and Commission ("trialogue"). The net neutrality and mobile roaming proposals are the only parts remaining of the EC-proposed telecom single market "connected continent" legislative package, the Council said Wednesday. The presidency's negotiating mandate covers EU-wide rules on the open Internet, safeguarding end users' rights and ensuring nondiscriminatory treatment in access services, it said. The European Parliament Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee said it will try to convince governments to "include proper safeguards" for net neutrality. A digital rights advocate called some of the draft "bizarre."
The FCC should reconsider its Dec. 19 CAF order (see 1412110060) changing the national average cost per loop support mechanism because it will “substantially reduce” funding for broadband deployment to tribal lands and tribally owned carriers, the National Congress of American Indians wrote in a petition for reconsideration posted Monday in docket 10-90. The agency didn't follow the commission’s 2000 statement of policy on establishing a government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes by not consulting with tribes before adopting the order, the letter said. The FCC didn't comment Monday.
The FCC should reconsider its Dec. 19 CAF order (see 1412110060) changing the national average cost per loop support mechanism because it will “substantially reduce” funding for broadband deployment to tribal lands and tribally owned carriers, the National Congress of American Indians wrote in a petition for reconsideration posted Monday in docket 10-90. The agency didn't follow the commission’s 2000 statement of policy on establishing a government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes by not consulting with tribes before adopting the order, the letter said. The FCC didn't comment Monday.
Members of the Technology CEO Council and President Barack Obama agree on the importance of Trade Promotion Authority, the White House said in a March 2 statement (here), following a meeting between the council and Obama. "Growing U.S. exports to support new opportunities for our workers and businesses is a top priority for the President and the members of the Council, who reiterated their commitment to building bipartisan support for Trade Promotion Authority," said the White House. Many observers expected lawmakers to introduce TPA legislation in recent days, but a spat between Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., continues to prevent committee progress on the trade front (see 1502250075). Obama met with the council, alongside senior advisor Valerie Jarrett, senior economic advisor Jeff Zients and White House Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, the White House said. On behalf of the council, CEO’s from Dell, Qualcomm and other companies attended the meeting.