Press Release

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.

I announce my resignation from my position as Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, effective April 28, 2018. I am grateful to President Obama and Vice President Biden for the opportunity to serve during some important milestones in the FTC’s history including the 100th anniversary of the agency and its first Commission led entirely by women. During the last four years, the FTC took careful stock of the tools it needs to remain nimble enough to navigate fast-paced digital markets.

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.

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.

Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced legislation—the Community Connect Grant Program Act—to establish the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program under law and make improvements to the grant program that makes funding available for broadband projects in tribal, low-income, and remote rural areas. The USDA Community Connect program through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities. In addition to authorizing the program and targeting areas that lack access across the nation, Sen.

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.

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.

It is equally important for the Federal Communications Commission to understand how the US Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) pilot program funding is being spent.  There are several programs that promote and enable broadband deployment and operation within the high-cost or Connect America Fund umbrella.  Some programs are already underway; some are about to commence in the form of upcoming auctions, and some have yet to be implemented.

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

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