With rumors of a Sept. 9 launch of the iPhone 6 swirling around the blogosphere, as consumers, media and competitors await the launch of next-gen Apple smartphones, iPhone 5s offers reached new lows, according to deals website DealNews Wednesday.
Recognizing changing consumer Internet demands, the FCC issued a notice of inquiry (http://bit.ly/1srx6Gz) Tuesday asking if it should raise the benchmarks for defining “advanced telecommunications capability” in preparation for its national broadband progress report. Because of a “tremendous growth in the online video and audio markets in the past few years,” the NOI asked as expected (WID June 4 p4) if the agency should modify its current broadband benchmark of 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. “The demand for video services and the introduction and use of new services on the market” may mean the old benchmark “no longer allows consumers the ability to ‘originate and receive’ the broadband services identified in section 706” of the Telecom Act, NOI said. Republican commissioners concurred in part and expressed concern that higher benchmarks could bring more regulation.
Recognizing changing consumer Internet demands, the FCC issued a notice of inquiry (http://bit.ly/1srx6Gz) Tuesday asking if it should raise the benchmarks for defining “advanced telecommunications capability” in preparation for its national broadband progress report. Because of a “tremendous growth in the online video and audio markets in the past few years,” the NOI asked as expected (CD June 4 p1) if the agency should modify its current broadband benchmark of 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. “The demand for video services and the introduction and use of new services on the market” may mean the old benchmark “no longer allows consumers the ability to ‘originate and receive’ the broadband services identified in section 706” of the Telecom Act, NOI said. Republican commissioners concurred in part and expressed concern that higher benchmarks could bring more regulation.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet approved in late July a partial revision of the Japanese export control framework in an effort to ease defense trade restrictions and harmonize the country with global export controls, said the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The approval targets the following:
Enthusiasm was high for the NextRadio FM reception smartphone app among 801 smartphone owners ages 18-49 canvassed online after watching a 90-second promotional video extolling NextRadio’s virtues, said NAB, which helped fund the study, and Emmis Communications, which developed and is promoting NextRadio to broadcasters and wireless carriers. NextRadio’s “growth of listening with users is quite good,” Emmis Chief Technology Officer Paul Brenner emailed us Monday. Until recently, only about two dozen models of Sprint smartphones supported the Next Radio app, a limitation still on display at the NextRadio website Monday. “We are working to update our website this week to more accurately reflect the multiple carriers with a NextRadio phone,” Brenner told us. “Our new matrix will make it easier for you and consumers to reference available phones.” For example, the HTC One M8 smartphone supports NextRadio on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, in addition to Sprint, plus “regionals” like Cellcom, he said. Other phones supported on other major carriers are the HTC Remix on Verizon and the HTC Desire on AT&T, he said. FM reception chips already are embedded in many of today’s smartphones and need only be unlocked by the major carriers to support the NextRadio app. Only last Friday, for example, Sony landed FCC equipment authorizations on two models of smartphones, the PM-0382-BV and PM-0381-BV, and 20 model derivatives, all with GSM, Wi-Fi and near-field communication support, plus FM reception capability built into its Bluetooth chipset, FCC documents show. Sony has requested 180 days of confidentiality through Jan. 27 on the smartphones, which Sony Mobile Communications, of Lund, Sweden, is sourcing from Arima Communications, a Taiwanese original equipment manufacturer supplier, the documents show. As for the NextRadio survey results, 88 percent of those canvassed had a positive reaction, including 56 percent who described their initial reactions as “very positive,” and 45 percent who said they “definitely” would use NextRadio if it were available on their smartphones, the survey takers said. They found that 92 percent of those asked agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “The NextRadio app is really cool,” they said. The study was done by Coleman Insights, which released the results Thursday (http://bit.ly/1mfIeBl).
President Barack Obama unveiled an administration-wide strategy to optimize U.S. trade with sub-Saharan Africa in a move that coincides with the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit launch in Washington, D.C. Obama established a Steering Committee, comprised of nearly all trade and development arms of the administration, on Aug. 4 that will report to the president within 180 days on recommendations to expand bilateral trade and investment. The committee is directed to target initiatives and programs that will bolster the African Trade and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the “cornerstone” of U.S.-Africa trade, Obama said in a memorandum (here).
Enthusiasm was high for the NextRadio FM reception smartphone app among 801 smartphone owners ages 18-49 canvassed online after watching a 90-second promotional video extolling NextRadio’s virtues, said NAB, which helped fund the study, and Emmis Communications, which developed and is promoting NextRadio to broadcasters and wireless carriers. NextRadio’s “growth of listening with users is quite good,” Emmis Chief Technology Officer Paul Brenner emailed us Monday. Until recently, only about two dozen models of Sprint smartphones supported the Next Radio app, a limitation still on display at the NextRadio website Monday. “We are working to update our website this week to more accurately reflect the multiple carriers with a NextRadio phone,” Brenner told us. “Our new matrix will make it easier for you and consumers to reference available phones.” For example, the HTC One M8 smartphone supports NextRadio on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, in addition to Sprint, plus “regionals” like Cellcom, he said. Other phones supported on other major carriers are the HTC Remix on Verizon and the HTC Desire on AT&T, he said. FM reception chips already are embedded in many of today’s smartphones and need only be unlocked by the major carriers to support the NextRadio app. Only last Friday, for example, Sony landed FCC equipment authorizations on two models of smartphones, the PM-0382-BV and PM-0381-BV, and 20 model derivatives, all with GSM, Wi-Fi and near-field communication support, plus FM reception capability built into its Bluetooth chipset, FCC documents show. Sony has requested 180 days of confidentiality through Jan. 27 on the smartphones, which Sony Mobile Communications, of Lund, Sweden, is sourcing from Arima Communications, a Taiwanese OEM supplier, the documents show. As for the NextRadio survey results, 88 percent of those canvassed had a positive reaction, including 56 percent who described their initial reactions as “very positive,” and 45 percent who said they “definitely” would use NextRadio if it were available on their smartphones, the survey takers said. They found that 92 percent of those asked agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “The NextRadio app is really cool,” they said. The study was done by Coleman Insights, which released the results Thursday (http://bit.ly/1mfIeBl).
Enthusiasm was high for the NextRadio FM reception smartphone app among 801 smartphone owners ages 18-49 canvassed online after watching a 90-second promotional video extolling NextRadio’s virtues, said NAB, which helped fund the study, and Emmis Communications, which developed and is promoting NextRadio to broadcasters and wireless carriers. NextRadio’s “growth of listening with users is quite good,” Emmis Chief Technology Officer Paul Brenner emailed us Monday. Until recently, only about two dozen models of Sprint smartphones supported the Next Radio app, a limitation still on display at the NextRadio website Monday. “We are working to update our website this week to more accurately reflect the multiple carriers with a NextRadio phone,” Brenner told us. “Our new matrix will make it easier for you and consumers to reference available phones.” For example, the HTC One M8 smartphone supports NextRadio on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, in addition to Sprint, plus “regionals” like Cellcom, he said. Other phones supported on other major carriers are the HTC Remix on Verizon and the HTC Desire on AT&T, he said. FM reception chips already are embedded in many of today’s smartphones and need only be unlocked by the major carriers to support the NextRadio app. Only last Friday, for example, Sony landed FCC equipment authorizations on two models of smartphones, the PM-0382-BV and PM-0381-BV, and 20 model derivatives, all with GSM, Wi-Fi and near-field communication support, plus FM reception capability built into its Bluetooth chipset, FCC documents show. Sony has requested 180 days of confidentiality through Jan. 27 on the smartphones, which Sony Mobile Communications, of Lund, Sweden, is sourcing from Arima Communications, a Taiwanese original equipment manufacturer supplier, the documents show. As for the NextRadio survey results, 88 percent of those canvassed had a positive reaction, including 56 percent who described their initial reactions as “very positive,” and 45 percent who said they “definitely” would use NextRadio if it were available on their smartphones, the survey takers said. They found that 92 percent of those asked agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “The NextRadio app is really cool,” they said. The study was done by Coleman Insights, which released the results Thursday (http://bit.ly/1mfIeBl).
The FCC Public Safety Bureau approved a request by Chesapeake Operating for a waiver of commission rules allowing the energy company to operate a private land mobile radio system using Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) spectrum in southwest Texas. The bureau approved the use of five of six sites where Chesapeake proposed to install transmitters (http://bit.ly/WNnZpe). The company plans to use the spectrum for a communications system to provide advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technologies for its natural gas exploration and production, the bureau said. Eagle Creek Broadcasting had objected because of a potential interference risk for one of its stations, KVTV in Laredo, Texas. In response, the bureau denied the application for a single transmitter site in Cotulla, Texas, but allowed installation of the network at five other sites. “We remind Chesapeake that AMTS stations are authorized on the condition that no harmful interference will be caused to reception of existing television stations,” the bureau said. “AMTS licensees are expected to help resolve interference complaints, and must cure any impermissible interference to television reception ... or discontinue operation of the station.” The order was approved by the bureau Tuesday and released Wednesday.
The World Customs Organization recently announced the completion of the new version of its Harmonized System (HS) tariff schedule. The body made over 200 changes to tariff subheadings and notes (here), including modernizing changes such as new provisions for light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, hybrid cars and buses, and the removal of any provision for typewriters. Other changes affect the classification of tropical woods, bamboo and rattan; mosquito nets; monopods, bipods, and tripods; and the distinction between sports equipment in Chapter 95 and sports apparel in Chapters 61 and 62. Adopted by the WCO Council in June, the changes will enter into force on Jan. 1, 2017. As a signatory, the U.S. must amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule by that time to reflect the changes to the international classification scheme. The U.S. and other WCO members now have six months to notify the international organization of objections before changes take effect.