5G will take years to deploy, but industry should start thinking now about what 6G will look like, experts said Tuesday at the Brooklyn 6G Virtual Summit. Speakers said 6G is likely to be commercial by 2030, matching the consensus on the summit's first day (see 2110180065).
The EU and U.S. may not ever agree on some tech regulation but must cooperate, panelists said Tuesday at an EU40-The Network of Young Members of the European Parliament webcast. Both sides of the Atlantic are at a defining moment to meet the challenges of the digital and green economies and must work together, said Mariya Gabriel, European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth. The EU/U.S. policy agenda includes innovation, which the newly created Trade and Tech Council (TTC) is tackling, she said. “We need to set the global agenda together.” Slovenian Minister for Digital Transformation Mark Boris Andrijanic urged “comprehensive, smart regulation” of digital markets, which can be achieved only by working closely with other trusted allies: The EU and U.S. “will never agree on every detail,” but there's no alternative to partnership, he said.
Getting “stability” and clear political leadership at the FCC tops Google’s regulatory wish list, Michael Purdy, senior counsel-commercial, product and policy, said during an FCBA wireless webinar Tuesday. “Hopefully, that will resolve by year-end.” The U.S. needs “some consistency in 5G policy,” he said. All the speakers said U.S. leadership on 5G must remain a top goal. The Biden administration hasn't named a permanent chair at the FCC or nominated Democrats to fill two commissioner slots.
Commissioner Brendan Carr urged the FCC Tuesday to “immediately start the process” of adding China-based DJI, which has more than half the U.S. drone market, to the agency’s covered list. “The need for quick FCC action on this is very clear,” he told a virtual program sponsored by China Tech Threat. “What we’re seeing … is the potential for Huawei on wings.”
The District of Columbia’s 911 center failed in many months to meet national standards for getting timely help to callers, reported the Office of D.C. Auditor Tuesday. ODCA said insufficient supervision of call-taking and dispatch, plus operators’ distrust in location technology, contributed to failures at the Office of Unified Communications, including inconsistent call handling and difficulty determining location of emergencies. Local officials want action.
VoIP providers said a Further NPRM on imposing more requirements for those seeking direct numbering resources would harm members of their industry compared with traditional carriers, This came in comments posted Friday in docket 13-97. Others said additional requirements are necessary to curb illegal robocalls and spoofing. The NPRM would require that VoIP certify compliance with anti-robocalling obligations (see 2108050038).
Open radio access networks are likely to dominate 6G, taking multiple forms on different networks, the Brooklyn 6G virtual Summit heard Monday. Experts agreed 6G will likely be deployed starting as early as 2029.
The FTC study of ISP data collection practices could lead to enforcement or rulemaking proceedings, former agency officials said in interviews before Thursday’s meeting (see 2110140070).
Sinclair “provision of local advertisements” was disrupted by an apparent cyberattack over the weekend, said an SEC filing Monday. “The event has caused -- and may continue to cause -- disruption to parts of the Company’s business,” a news release said. Sinclair is No. 2 U.S. TV broadcaster, and Sinclair channels around the country appeared to have their local programs affected.
AT&T’s relationship with cable network One America News (OAN) is the sort of lift-up that Black-owned businesses don’t receive, and it shows that incubators can work, panelists told a conference Friday. “If there’s a better example of incubation by a big media company, I don’t know what it is,” said Clint Odom, T-Mobile vice president-strategic alliances and external affairs. The conference was produced by the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the U.S. Black Chambers.