press release

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules requiring text messaging providers to enable Americans to text 911 in an emergency.

Building on commitments made by America’s four largest wireless carriers to support text-to-911 by May 2014, the new rules will ensure that all remaining wireless carriers and certain IP-based text application providers are prepared to support text- to-911 by the end of 2014. After that time, if a 911 call center requests text-to-911, text messaging providers will have six months to deploy the service in that area.

Text messaging is also widely used by Americans who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities. The Commission’s text-to-911 requirements apply to wireless carriers and “interconnected” text messaging providers (i.e., those which enable consumers to send text messages to and from US phone numbers). This includes providers of “over the top” applications that support texting to and from phone numbers but not, for example, messaging apps that only support communications among users of games or social media.

The Commission also adopted a Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on the continued evolution of text-to-911, including the delivery of location information and support for text-to- 911 when roaming.

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order to streamline and eliminate outdated provisions of the Part 17 Rules governing the construction, marking and lighting of antenna structures.

As part of the FCC’s ongoing process reform initiative, this item will provide clarity and reduce the regulatory burden on tower owners and licensees. The Order makes common sense changes to FCC rules such as allowing tower owners to provide tenants with antenna structure registration information via mail, e-mail or other electronic methods.

The reforms adopted by the FCC will remove barriers to wireless deployment, reduce unnecessary costs, and encourage providers to continue to deploy advanced systems that facilitate safety while preserving the safeguards to protect historic, environmental and local interests.

Significant increases in the use of electronic health records (EHRs) among the nation’s physicians and hospitals are detailed in two new studies published by the Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

The studies found that in 2013, almost eight in ten (78 percent) office-based physicians reported they adopted some type of EHR system. About half of all physicians (48 percent) had an EHR system with advanced functionalities in 2013, a doubling of the adoption rate in 2009.

About 6 in 10 (59 percent) hospitals had adopted an EHR system with certain advanced functionalities in 2013, quadruple the percentage for 2010.

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved the Safe Harbor Program of iKeepSafe, also known as the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, as a safe harbor oversight program under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the agency’s COPPA Rule.

The FTC’s COPPA Rule requires operators of online sites and services directed at children under the age of 13 to provide notice and obtain permission from a child’s parents before collecting personal information from that child.

The COPPA safe harbor provision promotes flexibility and efficiency by encouraging industry members and others to develop their own COPPA oversight programs, known as “safe harbor” programs.

The Media, Diversity, & Social Change Initiative at USC Annenberg released a study demonstrating that diversity on screen falls far below that of the US population.

The study found that individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups comprise just over a quarter (26%) of all speaking characters. Individuals from all underrepresented groups face a similar plight in animated films.

Across three years examined (2007, 2010, 2013), less than one-eighth of characters in big-screen films were from any underrepresented group. The high occurred in 2013 when 12.4% of characters were from diverse backgrounds, while in 2007, 8.1% of speaking characters were from underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups. 2010 was the worst year, when a mere 1.5% of characters reflected any racial and/or ethnic diversity.

The recent White House big data reports are inconsistent with the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights proposed by the White House in 2012, states Technology Policy Institute President Thomas Lenard in comments filed with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

The reports, by a group led by White House Counselor John Podesta and a complementary report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, suggest privacy policy should focus on specific harmful uses of information, as opposed to policies limiting collection and use as described in the Privacy Bill of Rights. In his comments, Lenard notes that the proposed Privacy Bill of Rights is based on the Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs), which promote notice and choice, access and security.

A new staff report issued by the Federal Trade Commission finds that many mobile apps for use in shopping do not provide consumers with important information -- such as how the apps manage payment-related disputes or handle consumer data -- prior to download.

The report, “What’s the Deal? An FTC Study on Mobile Shopping Apps,” looked at some of the most popular apps used by consumers to comparison shop, collect and redeem deals and discounts, and pay in-store with their mobile devices. The report makes a number of recommendations to companies that provide mobile shopping apps to consumers:

• Apps should make clear consumers’ rights and liability limits for unauthorized, fraudulent, or erroneous transactions.
• Apps should more clearly describe how they collect, use, and share consumer data.
• Companies should ensure that their data security promises translate into sound data security practices.
• Beyond recommendations for companies, the report also urges consumers to closely examine the apps’ stated policies on issues like dispute resolution and liability limits, as well as privacy and data security and evaluate them in choosing which apps to use.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors released a report that found shortwave radio to be essential to listeners in target countries, but of marginal impact in most markets.

Research-based evidence of media trends suggests that the increased availability and affordability of television, mobile devices and Internet access has led to the declining use of shortwave around the world.

Still, the report finds that substantial audiences embrace shortwave in Nigeria, Burma, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Cuba and other target markets for the BBG. At the same time, the committee’s recommendations make clear that the BBG will need to continue to reduce or eliminate shortwave broadcasts where there is either minimal audience or that audience is not a US foreign policy priority.

The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation called on the Federal Communications Commission to extend to cable and satellite systems the requirement that their political files be posted on the FCC’s online database.

In a petition for rulemaking, the watchdog groups noted political spending on cable has increased by one-third in each election cycle since 2008 and is expected to comprise roughly one-fourth of all political television spending in 2014.

The petition asks the FCC to bring cable and satellite providers under the same online public disclosure requirements now applicable to broadcast television stations. This is particularly important because political campaigns, large political action committees, or Super PACs, and other outside groups are increasingly advertising on cable and satellite.

The ConnectME Authority has released the Universal Service Fund (USF) Assessment: A Study on the Impacts and Opportunities of USF Reforms in Maine.

Commissioned by ConnectME in November 2013, this study was conducted by James W. Sewall Company to evaluate the existing and potential impacts of the Federal Communications Commission’s reforms on the USF in Maine; assess the strength of Maine’s positioning for USF support, identifying the potential gap in Maine’s future funding resources; and provide recommendations for ConnectME and other stakeholder agencies to consider in developing Maine strategy, policy and programs that align with future USF funding opportunities.

The study finds that:

• Maine’s eligibility and status as an USF recipient is high among New England states, with only Massachusetts receiving a higher annual average.
• FCC reforms to legacy programs are reducing the amount of annual support to Maine for telecommunications services, in some cases, without compensatory support for broadband.
• Uncertainty of funding has led some carriers in Maine to reduce broadband network investments and to focus new services in lower cost areas that promise higher return.
• Maine is benefiting from new programs for USF funding that support broadband, particularly from pilot and phase I programs.
• Funding from several USF programs, including the Low Income and Rural Health Care programs, remains a largely untapped resource for Maine. Maine can realize more benefit from the Schools and Libraries program by increasing the local contribution match.
• The development of cost-efficient, ubiquitous broadband in Maine is impacted by several factors, including the predominance of broadband DSL over copper, the limited amount of fiber network buildout, low standard broadband speed definitions in the state, and the lack of integrated, policy-based investment support.
• The ConnectME Authority is positioned to support and drive initiatives to fill funding gaps and to lead the development of broadband policies and programs that maximize USF funding opportunities.