1. Monthly archive
  2. September 2017

September 2017

CBO Scores Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017 (HR 3359) would rename the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The bill also would consolidate certain missions of NPPD under two divisions: the Cybersecurity Division and the Infrastructure Security Division.

Based on information from DHS, CBO has concluded that the requirements in the bill would not impose any new operating requirements on the agency. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3359 would have a negligible effect on the federal budget. Enacting HR 3359 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3359 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

McCarthy Named to Run Mobile Future

Mobile Future, a wireless advocacy group whose members include AT&T, Verizon and Qualcomm, has named Margaret McCarthy executive director. McCarthy will oversee day-to-day operations. Most recently she was legislative director for Rep Doris Matsui (D-CA), and before that senior staffer on the Communications Subcommittee. She is also former policy advisor to then-FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. She also helped launch the BTOP broadband subsidy program at the Department of Commerce.

“I have had the immense pleasure of working with Margaret both at the FCC and on Capitol Hill," said Mobile Future senior policy advisor and former senior Republican FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, "and I have been consistently impressed by her proficiency as well as her ability to work well with people of all political stripes. Her abilities and expertise will prove invaluable to Mobile Future as we continue the important work of transforming the role of wireless in our society and the nation’s economy.”

What Happens If a State Decides to Opt Out of FirstNet Plans from AT&T?

AT&T earlier in 2017 was awarded a contract to build a nationwide public safety network by FirstNet, the organization put in charge of that network by the US government. But as a FirstNet spokesperson explained, individual states must decide whether to opt in or opt out of FirstNet plans submitted by AT&T. “In an ‘opt out’ scenario, the state assumes all responsibility for deploying, operating and maintaining the radio access network component of the nationwide public safety broadband network in the state in accordance with FirstNet’s network policies, including requirements to interoperate with the FirstNet/AT&T core network,” the spokesperson said. “This ensures the nationwide network remains interoperable for all public safety users.”

As of Sept 1, 20 states or territories had chosen to have AT&T build and operate their public safety networks and no states had opted out of the AT&T plan. As part of its FirstNet contract, AT&T was awarded spectrum in the 700 MHz band, known as Band 14, for use on a priority basis by public safety. As the FirstNet spokesperson explained, however, if a state were to opt out (and its alternative plan was approved by the FCC), the state would enter into a spectrum capacity lease with FirstNet in order to use the Band 14 spectrum.

Delaware becomes latest state to streamline rules for small cell deployments

Delaware became the latest state to pass legislation aimed at streamlining policies for the siting and deployment of small cells. And unlike some other states, Delaware’s effort apparently didn’t face much vocal opposition.

As expected, Gov John Carney (D-DE) signed House Bill 189—dubbed the Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Investment Act—which enables carriers and their partners to apply to place small cells on public rights-of-way directly through the state’s department of transportation. The bill passed the Delaware General Assembly in July unanimously, according to The Coastal Point, a local media outlet. Naturally, the wireless industry was quick to praise the move.

Verizon Wants to Build an Advertising Juggernaut. It Needs Your Data First

A new Verizon rewards program, Verizon Up, provides credits that wireless subscribers can use for concert tickets, movie premieres and phone upgrades. But it comes with a catch: Customers must give the carrier access to their web-browsing history, app usage and location data, which Verizon says it uses to personalize the rewards and deliver targeted advertising as its customers browse the web.

The trade-off is part of Verizon’s effort to build a digital advertising business to compete with web giants Facebook and Alphabet’s Google, which often already possess much of the same customer information. Even though Congress earlier this year dismantled tough privacy regulations on telecommunications providers, Verizon still wants customers to opt-in to its most comprehensive advertising program, called Verizon Selects. Data collected under the program is shared with Oath, the digital-media unit Verizon created when it bought AOL and Yahoo.

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