The Obama Administration announced infrastructure projects to help modernize and expand 5 major U.S. ports, including Jacksonville, Miami, Savannah, New York and New Jersey, and Charleston. The administration also announced a White House-led task force of senior officials from various White House offices, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Departments of Transportation, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Treasury. The task force will develop a federal strategy and decision-making principles that focus on the economic return of investments into coastal ports and related infrastructure, it said. The port projects include:
The FCC approved a fourth order on reconsideration on rules for the USF Mobility Fund, which said “if a petition for reconsideration simply repeats arguments that were previously considered and rejected in the proceeding, it will not likely warrant reconsideration.” The order (http://xrl.us/bnhfr8) affirmed the FCC’s earlier adoption of a reverse auction mechanism. But the commission turned down several requests for changes, including requests that the FCC: restrict or prohibit Tier I carriers from receiving Mobility Fund Phase I support; hold applications for eligible telecom carrier status in abeyance pending completion of the auction and then automatically qualify any winning bidder as an ETC; and deem a carrier to be a Lifeline-only ETC to be eligible to participate in the Mobility Fund without first obtaining general ETC status. The FCC also rejected “for purposes of the auction of Mobility Fund Phase I support, arguments that the Commission provide for bidding preferences to small or rural entities and extend eligibility for the Tribal lands bidding credit to entities that are not Tribally-owned or controlled.”
Directorate of Defense Trade Controls notification of name/address changes:
President Barack Obama signed into law S-2061, the "Former Charleston Naval Base Land Exchange Act of 2012." The law, signed July 18, authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to convey a parcel of federal land in North Charleston, S.C., to the South Carolina State Ports Authority in exchange for three specified parcels of land owned by the Ports Authority in Charleston, S.C.
Ultrabooks will hit a $699 “sweet spot” this fall and remain on target to account for 40 percent of notebook PC sales this year, Intel CEO Paul Otellini said on an earnings call.
Municipalities whose federal grants for public safety networks were suspended say they remain frustrated that, more than two months after the NTIA suspended seven municipal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants, there’s no timetable to save them. Public safety advocates and NTIA encourage patience and wise tax spending, while leaders of some of the 700 MHz projects worry about what suspending the projects has done to safety and tax dollars, they said in interviews. A prominent former Seattle official is urging the FirstNet board, once established in August, to re-engage with the BTOP grantees and kickstart their projects as a potential answer to the limbo and sense of frustration.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related issues:
The U.S. faces huge challenges trying to stay ahead of growth in wireless broadband use, and putting the right band plans in place is critical, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Monday at the start of an all-day agency workshop conducted by the commission’s Technological Advisory Council (TAC). “We are going to be listening very closely to what happens at this workshop and what comes out of the TAC process in terms of directions and recommendations for the FCC."
Sigma Designs could be “severely harmed" if dissident shareholder Potomac Capital Partners gains control of the Sigma board, the company said in a letter to shareholders and filed at the SEC. The letter, which was filed Thursday, marks the latest twist in Sigma’s proxy battle with Potomac, which owns 7.9 percent of the company and is nominating a rival slate of directors before shareholders at the company’s annual meeting in August. Sigma’s business strategy is yielding “objective results,” Sigma said. That includes a $16.8 million fee that Sigma landed through a licensing agreement with an unidentified company for its Z-Wave software that will be paid over 12 months, the company said. “The lack of any specificity from Potomac about its plan for Sigma gives the Sigma Board great concern that the investments already made to execute this strategic plan will be wasted by a short-term investor looking to capitalize quickly on Sigma’s strong portfolio of technology,” said the Sigma letter, which was signed by Chairman William Almon. “What does Potomac intend to do with control of the Company and why won’t it pay a premium to Sigma’s shareholders for it?” Potomac has accused Sigma’s four-member board of “self-dealing” in some of the company’s investments and blames it for “dismal financial results” despite a string of recent acquisitions. Sigma has countered that Vizio recently deployed Sigma’s HiDTV Pro chipsets, developed by Sigma’s newly acquired Trident DTV processor business, in its 58-inch 21:9 LCD TVs, and that that design win demonstrates a “potential upside” for Sigma’s digital connected home business. Vizio wasn’t a “significant customer” for Trident before the acquisition, Sigma said. Sigma also landed an agreement with Chunghwa Telecom to deploy HomePlug AV technology in its IPTV system. The deal gives Sigma a chance to be a “major provider” of connectivity technology in Asia, something that wouldn’t have occurred without its buying Coppergate, Sigma said. Sigma has singled out Potomac board nominee Eric Singer for criticism, based on his “poor performance” record at Zilog, including selloffs of assets and low stock prices. Singer is Potomac’s co-managing director. “In order for Sigma to compete in its large target markets, it must invest in next generation technologies and diversify its business,” Sigma said. “It should not simply cut its employees’ salaries, sell off businesses and sell the company. It should look to build value for its shareholders.” Potomac hasn’t given shareholders a plan if it gains control of the company and has provided only “generalities” about cutting expenses, Sigma said. Sigma said it acknowledges that the “new perspectives” that Potomac members would bring if elected to the board would benefit the company and has been open to discussing Potomac’s demands. But Potomac countered that Sigma has rebuffed its proposals and has “inundated” shareholders with letters misstating facts and “touting the future success of a strategy that clearly isn’t working” (CED July 11 p5).
The FCC should afford broadcasters more latitude when it comes to indecency enforcement, and focus on holding networks accountable for programming they supply to affiliates and on setting clearer guidelines for broadcasters to follow, TV station general managers and others said. With the Supreme Court’s rejection last month of indecency censures against Disney’s ABC and News Corp.’s Fox (CD June 22 p1), the onus returns to the agency to articulate what is actionably indecent. While much of the debate has focused on content, the question of how much responsibility should be borne by the affiliates should also be considered, said Bill Lamb, president of Block Communications’ WDRB-TV and WMYO-TV in Louisville, Ky.