press release

NIST Releases Version 1.1 of its Popular Cybersecurity Framework

The US Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released version 1.1 of its popular Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, more widely known as the Cybersecurity Framework. The framework was developed with a focus on industries vital to national and economic security, including energy, banking, communications and the defense industrial base.

FCC Reaches $40 Million Settlement with T-Mobile on Rural Calling

The Federal Communications Commission reached a settlement concluding its investigation into whether T-Mobile USA violated the Communications Act when it failed to correct ongoing problems with delivery of calls to rural consumers and whether it violated the FCC rule that prohibits providers from inserting false ring tones with respect to hundreds of millions of calls. T-Mobile agreed to pay $40 million to the US Treasury and entered into a compliance plan to prevent future violations.

NTIA Signs Agreement for Wireless Test Bed Study in Partnership with University of Colorado Boulder

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced a five-year cooperative research and development agreement with the University of Colorado Boulder to develop a wireless test bed. NTIA’s Boulder-based Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) will work with the university to install spectrum monitoring sensors throughout the CU Boulder campus, with data to be available to both parties for spectrum management research.

Uber Agrees to Expanded Settlement with FTC Related to Privacy, Security Claims

Uber Technologies has agreed to expand the proposed settlement it reached with the Federal Trade Commission in 2017 over charges that the ride-sharing company deceived consumers about its privacy and data security practices. After the announcement of 2017’s proposed settlement, the FTC learned that Uber had failed to disclose a significant breach of consumer data that occurred in 2016 -- in the midst of the FTC’s investigation that led to the August 2017 settlement announcement. Due to Uber’s misconduct related to the 2016 breach, Uber will be subject to additional requirements.

A Mid-Band Spectrum Compromise For Rural Broadband: Wins All Around

There are two general approaches to expanding access to high-speed broadband in small towns and rural areas: with wires (fiber) and without (fixed wireless). Because trenching fiber is very costly in low-density areas, there is a growing recognition that “wireless fiber”–otherwise known as fixed wireless access–can provide broadband at high capacity (100/10 Mbps or better) at a fraction of the cost and also far more quickly.

FCC's Ramped Up 'Pirate Radio' Enforcement Yields Results

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that significant progress has been made as a result of the Commission’s renewed commitment to combating unlawful broadcasting—often called “pirate radio.” The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has led an effort to crack down on this illegal activity, resulting in unlawful broadcasts going off the air, seizure of equipment, fines against pirates, proposed fines against pirates and property owners actively aiding pirate radio operations, and numerous other enforcement

FCC Meeting Agenda for April 2018

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Tuesday, April 17, 2018:

FCC Settles with Sprint & Mobilitie for $11.6 Million Regarding Wireless Structures Built Without Required Review

The Federal Communications Commission announced settlements with Sprint and Mobilitie in two separate but related investigations into whether the companies completed proper tower registration as well as environmental and historic impact reviews prior to construction of wireless infrastructure facilities.  To settle the investigations, Sprint agreed to pay $10 million and Mobilitie agreed to pay $1.6 million to the US Treasury.

FCC Launches New Honors Engineering Program

The Federal Communications Commission announced the launch of a new Honors Engineer Program to recruit current students and recent engineering school graduates to the FCC and into the forefront of the technology and communications fields. This is an opportunity for individuals to gain public
sector experience at the beginning of their careers through a valuable one-year career development program. At the end of the one-year program, Honors Program engineers will be eligible for consideration for continued employment at the FCC. 

FCC Authorizes SpaceX to Provide Broadband Satellite Services

The Federal Communications Commission approved an application by Space Exploration Holdings, doing business as SpaceX, to provide broadband services using satellite technology in the United States and around the world. SpaceX proposed a satellite system comprised of 4,425 satellites and was granted authority to use frequencies in the Ka (20/30 GHz) and Ku (11/14 GHz) bands to provide global Internet connectivity. The Memorandum Opinion, Order and Authorization outlines the conditions under which SpaceX is authorized to provide service using its proposed NGSO FSS satellite constellation.

FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Announces Staff Changes

Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Mignon Clyburn announced the appointments of Neşe Guendelsberger as wireline legal advisor and Michael Scurato as media legal advisor, as well as the departures of J. David Grossman, the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff and Claude Aiken, the Commissioner’s wireline legal advisor.

Public Safety’s Exclusive Communications Platform Comes to Life With Nationwide Launch of the FirstNet Dedicated Network Core

First responders perform a specialized job. And with the launch of the FirstNet network core, first responders now have access to a truly specialized communications system that can keep up with their needs. While we’ve already given first responders access to the early benefits of FirstNet, the launch of the FirstNet evolved packet core is a major breakthrough for public safety. Built on physically separate hardware, it finally gives first responders their own separate, nationwide broadband network.

President Trump Announces Nomination for FTC

President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration: Rebecca Kelly Slaughter of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Trade Commission for the remainder of a seven-year term expiring September 25, 2022. Slaughter is currently chief counsel to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY).  A native New Yorker, she has worked for Minority Leader Schumer since 2009, advising him on legal, competition, telecom, privacy, consumer protection, and intellectual property matters, among other issues.

Digital Taxation: European Commission proposes new measures to ensure that all companies pay fair tax in the EU

The European Commission proposed new rules to ensure that digital business activities are taxed in a fair and growth-friendly way in the European Union. Two distinct legislative proposals will lead to a fairer taxation of digital activities in the EU:

USDA Seeks Applications for Funding to Increase Access to E-Connectivity/Broadband in Unserved Rural Areas

The US Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants to fund broadband infrastructure projects in unserved rural communities. USDA is accepting applications through May 14 in the Community Connect program. Grants from $100,000 to $3 million are available to state and local governments, federally-recognized tribes, nonprofits and for-profit corporations. Applicants must be able to provide a 15 percent match on the desired grant amount.

Applications Now Being Accepted for $2 Billion Rural Broadband Auction

The Federal Communications Commission is now accepting applications from broadband providers of all kinds to participate in Summer 2018's Connect America Fund Phase II reverse auction.  Providers must submit their applications by March 30, when the application window closes. The auction will make available up to $1.98 billion in support over the next decade to help build out high-speed Internet access to up to 1 million homes and small businesses in rural areas across the country that lack service.

Initial Estimates Show Digital Economy Accounted for 6.5 Percent of GDP in 2016

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released, for the first time, preliminary statistics and an accompanying report exploring the size and growth of the digital economy. Goods and services that are primarily digital accounted for 6.5 percent of the US economy, or $1.2 trillion, in 2016, after a decade of growing faster than the US economy overall, BEA’s research shows. 

Arthur C. Brooks to step down as president of the American Enterprise Institute in 2019

Tully Friedman and Daniel D’Aniello, co-chairs of American Enterprise Institute’s Board of Trustees, announced that Arthur C. Brooks intends to step down as president in the summer of 2019, after a decade of distinguished service. Brooks had asked AEI’s Board of Trustees to commence the search for his successor at the annual executive board meeting, and informed scholars and staff of his decision March 14. Brooks joined AEI as a visiting scholar in 2007 while also teaching at Syracuse University.

NCTA Names Mark Kulish and Robert N. Rubinovitz as New Senior Executive Hires

The Internet & Television Association today announced two new senior hires for the organization. Mark Kulish joins as Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration, on March 12th and Robert N. Rubinovitz as Vice President, Research & Analysis, starting April 2nd.

The Trump Administration’s Plan to Put You in Charge of Your Health Information

“Interoperability” isn’t a word most people hear every day. But when it comes to the future of patient-centered healthcare in the United States, few technological developments may prove to be more important. Interoperability is essentially the ability of different computer systems to communicate with each other quickly and effectively. For healthcare specifically, that means being able to share patient data in an instant regardless of what hospital, pharmacy, laboratory, or clinic houses the information—and being able to do so with complete reliability and privacy protection.

Sen Wicker Leads Effort to Tell FCC That Mobility Fund Map Has ‘Gaps’

A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai expressing serious concerns about the agency’s recently released Mobility Fund Phase II (MF II) map. The purpose of this fund is to allocate $4.53 billion over the next 10 years to preserve and expand mobile coverage to rural areas.

Free Press Sues the FCC for Dramatic Reversal of Media-Ownership Limits That Pave Way for Media Mergers

Free Press has joined Common Cause, Communications Workers of America and the Office of Communication, Inc. of the United Church of Christ to file suit against Federal Communications Commission efforts to repeal local media-ownership limits.

Sen Duckworth and Others Introduce Inmate Calling Technical Corrections Act

[Press release] Sens Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Inmate Calling Technical Corrections Act to strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system by helping families keep in touch with incarcerated family members, which studies have shown can help reduce recidivism rates and thereby save taxpayer dollars. This targeted legislation would address long-standing concerns regarding predatory inmate calling rates at prison facilities across the US and would affirm the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to address a m

Consumer Alert: Protect Yourself Against 'Neighbor Spoofing', Scam Callers Placing Phone Calls That Appear To Be Local

The Federal Communications Commission is warning consumers about “neighbor spoofing” scams where thieves manipulate caller ID information in ways that make calls appear to have been placed locally. In general, scammers use such spoofing to increase the likelihood that consumers pick up
the phone and to increase the consumer’s trust in the call.

Consumer Tips: