Saturday, May 28, 2016

1961 :: May 28 :: Radicals Blow Up AT&T Microwave Towers

As if to prove Paul Baran's arguments about the vulnerability of the hub-and-spoke design of the AT&T communications network, in 1961 radicals blew up AT&T microwave towers in the Rockies, interrupting the central transcontinental microwave routes, severing 2200 circuits. Porticus has great coverage of the incident including many photographs of the damage. [Porticus Long Lines] [Porticus Explosion Damange]

Monday, May 23, 2016

:: USAC is Hiring

USAC Careers Portal

Here are our current job openings. Please click on the job title for more information, and apply from that page if you are interested.

[Unless otherwise noted, all positions are located in our home office, located at 20th and L St NW in downtown D.C.]
 
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2016-1641 Software Developer II - JEE (Term) IT (Program Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 5/23/2016
2015-1543 System Analyst III IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington Schools & Libraries 5/19/2016
2016-1642 Senior Business Analyst - IAD PMO Audit US-DC-Washington Internal Audit 5/18/2016
2016-1630 Agile Project Manager III IT (Other) US-DC-Washington IT 5/17/2016
2016-1653 Staff Compliance Auditor/Analyst - High Cost and Lifeline Programs Audit US-DC-Washington Internal Audit 5/17/2016
2016-1652 Staff Compliance Auditor/Analyst - High Cost and Lifeline Programs Audit US-DC-Washington Internal Audit 5/17/2016
2016-1654 Manager of UX External Relations US-DC-Washington Stakeholder Engagement 5/17/2016
2016-1601 Quality Assurance Analyst III IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 5/16/2016
2016-1616 Quality Assurance Analyst III IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 5/16/2016
2016-1651 Procurement Specialist I Finance (Purchasing) US-DC-Washington Financial Operations 5/12/2016
2016-1638 Staff Compliance Auditor/Analyst - High Cost and Lifeline Programs Audit US-DC-Washington Internal Audit 5/12/2016
2016-1648 System Analyst IV IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 5/10/2016
2016-1647 System Analyst II IT (Other) US-DC-Washington IT 5/10/2016
2016-1649 Software Developer III IT (Program Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 5/10/2016
2016-1650 Vice President of Schools and Libaries Schools and Libraries US-DC-Washington Schools & Libraries 5/10/2016
2016-1600 Quality Assurance Analyst III IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 5/9/2016
2016-1632 Payroll and Benefits Specialist Human Resources US-DC-Washington Human Resources 5/5/2016
2015-1571 System Analyst IV IT (Program Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 5/3/2016
2016-1643 Manager of Application Delivery - BPM IT (Other) US-DC-Washington IT 5/2/2016
2016-1644 System Analyst II IT (Program Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 4/29/2016
2016-1646 Program Analyst High Cost US-DC-Washington High Cost 4/28/2016
2016-1608 Senior Project Manager Low Income US-DC-Washington Lifeline 4/26/2016
2016-1640 Program Analyst High Cost US-DC-Washington High Cost 4/18/2016
2016-1639 Assistant Program Analyst Rural Health Care US-DC-Washington Customer Operations 4/13/2016
2016-1591 Software Developer III IT (Program Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 4/8/2016
2016-1636 Deputy General Counsel General Counsel US-DC-Washington General Counsel 4/6/2016
2016-1622 PQA Compliance Analyst Audit US-DC-Washington Internal Audit 4/5/2016
2015-1539 Senior Strategy Analyst Strategy US-DC-Washington Strategy 3/31/2016
2015-1572 Software Developer IV - JEE IT (Program Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 3/30/2016
2015-1530 Software Developer III - BPM IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 3/30/2016
2016-1587 Software Developer IV - BPM IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 3/30/2016
2016-1628 Senior Project Manager High Cost US-DC-Washington High Cost 3/28/2016
2016-1624 Software Developer III- .NET/SharePoint IT (Corporate Software Development) US-DC-Washington Corporate Software Development 3/24/2016
2016-1634 Senior Manager of IT Business System Analyst IT (Other) US-DC-Washington IT 3/23/2016
2016-1633 Art Director External Relations US-DC-Washington Stakeholder Engagement 3/23/2016
2016-1627 Staff Compliance Auditor/Analyst - Rural Health Care & Schools and Libraries Program Audit US-DC-Washington Internal Audit 3/21/2016
2016-1621 Master Data Management Analyst IT (Architecture and Standards) US-DC-Washington IT 3/15/2016
2016-1617 Senior Manager of Program Management Schools and Libraries US-DC-Washington Schools & Libraries 3/9/2016
2016-1625 Staff Compliance Auditor/Analyst - High Cost & Lifeline Programs Audit US-DC-Washington Internal Audit 3/9/2016
2016-1585 System Analyst IV IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington Schools & Libraries 2/11/2016
2015-1544 System Analyst III IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington Schools & Libraries 2/11/2016
2016-1586 System Analyst II IT (Schools and Libraries Software Development) US-DC-Washington Schools & Libraries 2/11/2016
2015-1540 Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Schools and Libraries Schools and Libraries US-DC-Washington Schools & Libraries 2/10/2016
2016-1599 Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Lifeline Lifeline US-DC-Washington Lifeline 2/8/2016
2015-1516 Software Developer IV (TERM) IT (Corporate Software Development) US-DC-Washington IT 10/22/2015
2015-1478 Business Intelligence Analyst III IT (Architecture and Standards) US-DC-Washington Architecture and Standards 3/25/2015 

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Senate Hearing on IANA Transition

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled “Examining the Multistakeholder Plan for Transitioning the Internet Assigned Number Authority” on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.
 
The hearing will examine the proposed transition of oversight of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a department of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that allocates Internet IP addresses and domain names, to the global multistakeholder community. Two years ago, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced its intention to transition IANA functions. On March 10, 2016, ICANN forwarded to the NTIA a transition proposal developed by the international community of Internet stakeholders. The NTIA set a target of 90 days to complete its review. Witnesses will testify on advantages and disadvantages of the proposed transition of IANA functions to the global multistakeholder community.

https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=EC4E406A-4FA3-440B-9107-F02150CE7CE5

:: Copyright Office Requests Public Comment on Mandatory Deposit of Online-Only Books and Sound Recordings

The U.S. Copyright Office today published a Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”), seeking public comment on potential changes to the mandatory deposit regulations for electronic works not available in a physical format (referred to as “online-only works”). An interim rule adopted in 2010 creates a limited exception to the Register’s longstanding regulatory exemption that online-only works are not subject to mandatory deposit requirements, and also establishes best edition criteria and regulations as to electronic serials. The Library of Congress is now interested in expanding the 2010 interim rule to apply to online-only books and sound recordings. The NOI asks for feedback from affected communities regarding their experience with the interim rule, as well as comments pertaining to the potential application of mandatory deposit to online-only books and sound recordings.


The Notice of Inquiry, and instructions on how to submit a comment, are available here. Written comments must be received no later than July 18, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

:: Input on Proposals and Positions for 2016 World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly

NTIA seeks input from stakeholders and interested parties to help develop its proposals and positions regarding matters that will be addressed at the upcoming 2016 World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-2016) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), being held from October 25 to November 3, 2016. The results of this Notice and Request for Public Comment will be reflected in NTIA's recommendations for U.S. proposals and positions to the U.S. Department of State, which is coordinating the WTSA-2016 preparatory process. Comments are due on or before June 16, 2016.

Recently uploaded NANOG video

Recently published videos...












Sunday, May 15, 2016

Weekend Reading - Charter Merger Approved - NTIA IOT RFC extended - Set Top Boxes

The Federal Communications Commission Approves Charter's Merger With Time Warner Cable And Acquisition Of Bright House Networks

1 Charter News Release / 8 days ago 


STAMFORD, Conn., May 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Charter Communications, Inc. received approval from the Federal Communications Commission for its merger with Time Warner Cable Inc. and acquisition of Bright House Networks.  The California Public Utilities Commission vote is scheduled for May 12th, following last month's recommendation for approval from the California Administrative Law Judge.  "I want to thank Chairman Wheeler and Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel, Pai and O'Rielly for their thorough review of these transactions," said Tom Rutledge, President and CEO of Charter Communications.  "The significant benefits of these transactions are clear; greater competition, more co... 



Charter, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks Receive Final Regulatory Approval for Transactions

1 Charter News Release / 2 days ago 


STAMFORD, Conn. and NEW YORK and SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR) (together with its subsidiaries, "Charter"), Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) ("TWC"), and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (a parent of Bright House Networks, LLC) today announced that they had received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission for the transactions between the parties, and as such, all required regulatory approvals in connection with the previously announced transactions between Charter and TWC (the "Charter-TWC transactions"), and Charter's acquisition of Bright House Networks have been received. Subject to the remaining customary closing c... 


Is the FCC's Set-Top Box Plan Technology Neutral? Spoiler Alert: It's Not

5 CableTechTalk / by NCTA / 2 days ago 


At a press conference following the FCC's April 28 public meeting, Chairman Wheeler took the opportunity to call out NCTA for raising concerns about his proposal that would impose significant new rate regulation on competitive providers of business data services. According to the Chairman, the cable industry has long advocated technology neutral regulation and he suggested we were being hypocritical when we questioned his purportedly technology neutral approach to business data services.....


Regulation over Innovation…Again?

7 AT&T Public Policy Blog / by Bob Quinn / 8 days ago 


Yesterday, 60 members of Congress joined an already significant chorus of bipartisan Congressional voices questioning the impact that Google's set-top box proposal will have on consumers and the broader video marketplace.  This time the focus was on the negative impact the Google proposal would have on the ability of smaller/rural video providers to continue innovating and investing in the intensely competitive video marketplace. For those keeping score at home, 154 members of Congress have now written to FCC Chairman Wheeler to express their concerns about the Commission's proposed rulemaking, which recommended adopting the Google set-top box proposal in a 3-2 party-line vote back in February.

 


NIST RAMPS Up Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development With New Grants

8 The National Institute of Standards and Technology / 2 days ago 


The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is offering up to $1 million in grants to establish up to eight Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) cybersecurity education and workforce ... 



FTC Testifies on Its Privacy Protection Efforts at Hearing Examining Proposed FCC Rules

4 Press Release Feed / by ccampos / 3 days ago 


In testimony before Congress today, the Federal Trade Commission outlined its work over the past 40 years to protect consumers' privacy at a hearing convened to examine privacy rules proposed by the Federal Communications Commission.

Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen testified on behalf of the Commission. The testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law provided background on FTC law enforcement efforts, policy work and consumer and business education programs related to protecting consumers' privacy.

The testimony highlighted the FTC's extensive history of privacy-related work. The testimony noted that the agency has brought more than 500 privacy-related enforcement cases in its history against online and offline companies of varying sizes, including companies across the internet ecosystem. In addition, the testimony highlighted a number of recent cases of note.

The testimony also provided information on the FTC's policy work in the privacy area, going back to its first internet privacy workshop in 1996. The testimony noted that recent policy work has been based on principles featured in the FTC's 2012 privacy report, and also highlighted workshops and reports related to the Internet of Things, big data, and other issues, including cross-device tracking.

The testimony also described the FTC's extensive consumer and business education efforts related to privacy, including the FTC's Start With Security campaign for businesses, and the newly-updated IdentityTheft.gov.

The testimony also addressed the FTC's history of partnership with the FCC on various consumer protection issues, including on privacy and data security issues. The testimony called attention to the agencies' ongoing partnership on Do Not Call and robocall issues, previous work on pretexting, and collaboration on law enforcement cases related to unauthorized third-party billing by mobile phone carriers, as well as separate, parallel studies on mobile security updates.


Commerce Brings Stakeholders Together to Improve Digital Economy Metrics

1 NTIA / by cfranz / 5 days ago 


Guest blog post by Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Chief Economist and Alan Davidson, Director of Digital Economy 

May 09, 2016

Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) convened a roundtable to discuss what data is needed to better measure the economic importance of the cross-border information flows that connect people and businesses across the globe. Representatives from the government, private sector, academia, and public interest community spent the morning going through existing resources, identifying gaps, and evaluating what the Commerce Department could be doing to improve its digital economy metrics.

The Internet has connected people around the world in new ways through the free flow of information across borders. In 2014, approximately 56 percent of services exports and 50 percent of U.S. services imports were digitally deliverable. Modern day companies of all sizes are relying on cross-border data flows for their day to day operations. This includes the ability to access global markets, interact with customers across the globe, find new suppliers, and communicate with their overseas affiliates. For example, of 271 tech‐enabled startups surveyed by 1776 and the McKinsey Global Institute, 86 percent had at least one cross‐border activity. People are using cross-border data flows to access knowledge, communicate, and participate in electronic commerce.


NTT Communications and Omantel Agree to Collaborate on Wholesale IP Services

1 NTT Communications / 2 days ago 



Notice of Extension of Comment Period on the Benefits, Challenges, and Potential Roles for the Government in Fostering the Advancement of the Internet of Things

2 NTIA / by cfranz / 3 days ago 


May 11, 2016

On April 6, 2016, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a notice and request for public comments to initiate an inquiry to review the current technological and policy landscape for the Internet of Things (IoT). In response to requests for additional time in which to comment, NTIA through this notice extends the closing deadline for submitting comments to 5 p.m. on June 2, 2016.

Notice of IoT Comment Period Extension


Lack of Trust in Internet Privacy and Security May Deter Economic and Other Online Activities

11 NTIA / by cfranz / 2 days ago 


Rafi Goldberg, Policy Analyst, Office of Policy Analysis and Development 

May 13, 2016

Every day, billions of people around the world use the Internet to share ideas, conduct financial transactions, and keep in touch with family, friends, and colleagues. Users send and store personal medical data, business communications, and even intimate conversations over this global network. But for the Internet to grow and thrive, users must continue to trust that their personal information will be secure and their privacy protected.

NTIA's analysis of recent data shows that Americans are increasingly concerned about online security and privacy at a time when data breaches, cybersecurity incidents, and controversies over the privacy of online services have become more prominent. These concerns are prompting some Americans to limit their online activity, according to data collected for NTIA in July 2015 by the U.S. Census Bureau. This survey included several privacy and security questions, which were asked of more than 41,000 households that reported having at least one Internet user.

Perhaps the most direct threat to maintaining consumer trust is negative personal experience. Nineteen percent of Internet-using households—representing nearly 19 million households—reported that they had been affected by an online security breach, identity theft, or similar malicious activity during the 12 months prior to the July 2015 survey. Security breaches appear to be more common among the most intensive Internet-using households. For example, while 9 percent of online households that used just one type of computing device (either a desktop, laptop, tablet, Internet-connected mobile phone, wearable device, or TV-connected device) reported security breaches, 31 percent of those using at least five different types of devices suffered this experience (see Figure 1).