The National Broadband Plan will take into account “the unique circumstances” faced by American Indian tribes, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Tuesday during a speech to the National Congress of American Indians meeting in Washington. The FCC needs different programs to promote broadband deployment in “Monument Valley” than in Silicon Valley, Genachowski said: “I get that."
The FCC should drop any plans to allow wireless mics to operate in 700 MHz spectrum used by public safety “due to the potential for dangerous interference to public safety communications systems,” APCO said in a filing. APCO said it strongly supports the commission’s decision to prohibit wireless microphone use of the 700 MHz band, but an accompanying further rulemaking notice raises troubling questions. “The Commission proposes that Part 15, unlicensed wireless microphones be allowed to operate in the television broadcast spectrum, including portions of that spectrum also used for public safety communications,” the group said. “The Commission’s rules allocate a portion of the 470-512 MHz band for public safety and other private land mobile radio communications in eleven major metropolitan areas.” In New York, Los Angeles and other cities, “the 470-512 MHz band has become a principal source of radio spectrum for interoperable public safety communications systems, and some of the nation’s largest public safety agencies use the band for virtually all of their mobile and portable radio communications,” APCO said. “Unlicensed wireless microphones operating in the 470-512 MHz band could create serious and life-threatening interference to police, fire, emergency medical and other public safety communications.”
The State Department has posted the transcript from a special briefing on Secretary of State Clinton's trip to Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Guatemala from February 28-March 5, 2010. On the Secretary's agenda, among other things, is a Pathways for Prosperity meeting. (Briefing, dated 02/26/10, available at http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/rm/2010/137343.htm._)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a CSMS message announcing that the Automated Commercial System programming changes required for the Food and Drug Administration's final rule on prior notice of food (including animal feed), which is imported or offered for import into the U.S., will be installed in the ACS Certification (test) region on February 24, 2010.
Wal-Mart’s plan to buy Vudu marks the discount chain’s return to the video download business and drew mixed reviews from retailers, many of whom said they're leery of selling a service that benefits a rival.
Wal-Mart’s plan to buy Vudu marks the discount chain’s return to the video download business and drew mixed reviews from retailers, many of whom said they're leery of selling a service that benefits a rival.
The European Commission has notified a number of air freight forwarders that an investigation is underway into their alleged participation in price-fixing cartels in violation of European Union antitrust rules1.
A proposal floated for months to end the legal fight over New York City’s e-waste program seems sure to get a new look now that CEA and the ITI Council have agreed with the city and the Natural Resources Defense Council to discuss a settlement (CED Feb 9 p1).
The Center for Environmental Health has notified four retailers, Saks Fifth Avenue, Justice, Catherines, and Aeropostale that independent lab testing has found significant levels of cadmium in jewelry purchased from their stores in December and January. Similar recent reports suggest that, in response to the new federal law limiting lead in children's products, jewelry makers may be using cadmium instead of lead. (Press release, dated 02/02/10, available at http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=428&Itemid=166)
The FCC shouldn’t loosen rules for the wireless communications service band to allow mobile broadband use because the risk of interference with satellite radio reception, Land Rover North America said in an ex parte filing. If the agency does change the rules, it should remember that satellite radio subscribers don’t tolerate momentary blips like cellphone users and most satellite radio antennas are on the tops of vehicles and typically unshielded, the automaker said.