Industry and government using AI should eliminate algorithmic bias, inform consumers about data collection and allow consumers to opt out, the White House said Tuesday, releasing its Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.
Russia launched a “massive, broad” cyberattack on Ukraine as part of its invasion of the country in an attempt to “create disorder and overwhelm Ukraine’s cyber defenses,” but the results show the limits of cyberwar, Daniel Hoffman, former CIA senior officer and station chief, said in a keynote at an AT&T virtual cybersecurity conference Tuesday. Hoffman spoke with AT&T Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Legg.
ISPs, states and local officials said they're closely monitoring the FCC’s bulk challenge process for the broadband serviceable location fabric, before the initial map’s release later this fall. Few issues have been identified so far, though some ISPs raised concerns about potential challenges by states since the new maps will be used to allocate broadband-related Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding.
Industry asked the FCC to encourage all voice service providers to implement Stir/Shaken on the IP interconnection portions of their networks, in comments posted Tuesday in docket 17-97 (see 2208050055). Some companies urged the commission not to further extend the Stir/Shaken implementation beyond the June deadline for small providers.
There’s strong, bipartisan potential for moving legislation that would establish digital identity verification practices meant to help the federal government combat identity theft, said Senate and House staffers during a Monday webinar.
Major wireless carriers reported a few glitches during localized, end-to-end wireless emergency alert testing Sept. 12-13, designed to assess the geographic accuracy of alerts (see 2208300046). Reports from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon were posted Monday in docket 22-160. Carriers reported some problems during a national WEA test last year (see 2108260046). In the first national test in 2018, many alerts didn’t go through (see 1812210056).
SES said it's reviewing its options with outside counsel for a possible appeal after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge last week threw out its $1.8 billion complaint against Intelsat for supposedly reneging on the C-Band Alliance (CBA) agreement between the two. Satellite business experts said the loss means one fewer reason for SES and Intelsat to do a takeover deal quickly, before the ruling. SES reportedly has approached Intelsat about an acquisition. The trial was in February with closing arguments in April (see 2204190037).
The FCC extended its disaster information reporting system Friday to cover counties in Georgia and South Carolina hit by Hurricane Ian, which headed north after pummeling Florida. The FCC said it acted in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and FEMA. The FCC also set up a dedicated website on Ian.
California will make phone calls free for many incarcerated persons. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Keep Families Connected Act (SB-1008) Thursday, the Democrat’s office said. Newsom vetoed a telecom industry-supported bill (AB-2749) to put a shot clock on California Public Utilities Commission reviews of California Advanced Services Fund broadband grant applications and require wireless eligibility in CASF’s federal funding account. Newsom supported but sought refinements to AB-988 to implement the national 988 suicide prevention hotline with an 8 cent monthly surcharge on wireline, wireless and VoIP lines.
Congress is buying itself more time to continue negotiations on a potential spectrum legislative package by agreeing to temporarily extend the FCC’s auction authority through Dec. 16 (see 2209210076), but the breathing room hasn’t appreciably improved prospects those talks will result in a deal by the new deadline, lawmakers and lobbyists told us last week. The House voted 230-201 Friday to pass a continuing resolution that includes the FCC renewal and an extension of federal appropriations to the Dec. 16 date (HR-6833). The Senate approved it Thursday (see 2209290066). President Joe Biden was expected to sign the measure before FY 2022 appropriations expired late Friday.