| The Federal Trade Commission today announced it will hold a series of workshops titled "Can News Media Survive the Internet Age? Competition, Consumer Protection, and First Amendment Perspectives." The first workshop will be held on September 15, 2009. The news industry is in transition. Newspapers have lost much of their classified advertising revenues to online services, and some question how they will weather the development of targeted behavioral and other online advertising, online news aggregators, and other factors. How cable, broadcast, and other news organizations will respond to similar challenges is under discussion. Some predict that in a few years, television and radio will find themselves in situations similar to those facing newspapers. The workshops will consider a wide range of issues, including possible business and non-profit models for news organizations, the role of targeted behavioral and other online advertising, whether additional, limited antitrust exemptions may be necessary under these unique circumstances, and the implications of online news for both copyright protection and the availability of broadband access. Witnesses will include journalists and other representatives of news organizations, privacy experts, direct marketers, online advertisers, academics, new media representatives (such as bloggers and local news Web sites), and consumer advocates. An agenda for the September 15, 2009 workshop will be circulated at a later time. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC's Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics . MEDIA CONTACT: Betsy LordanOffice of Public Affairs 202-326-3707 STAFF CONTACT: Susan DeSanti Office of Policy Planning 202-326-2210 http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/05/newspapers.shtm |
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Extra! Extra! FTC Announces Workshop: ‘Can News Media Survive the Internet Age? Competition, Consumer Protection, and First Amendment Perspectives'
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sen Commerce Committee May 19 Confirmation Hearings :: Strickling, Choprah
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
11:00 AM
SR - 253
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a full committee Nominations Hearing.
Opening Remarks
Panel 1
Lawrence Strickling
Assistant Secretary- Designate
Telecommunications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
Aneesh Choprah
Chief Technology Officer- Designate
Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Executive Office of the President
John D. Porcari
Deputy Secretary- Designate
U.S. Department of Transportation
J. Randolph Babbitt
Administrator- Designate
Federal Aviation Administration
Rebecca M. Blank
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs- Designate
U.S. Department of Commerce
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Genachowski Hearing May 12
05/06/09
Contact: Jena Longo - Democratic Deputy Communications Director 202.224.7824
Email This
Print This
Committee Announces Nomination Hearing for Julius Genachowski
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the following full committee hearing:
Nominations Hearing for Julius Genachowski
To Be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Full Committee
Date: Tuesday May 12, 2009
Hearing Start Time: 11:00 a.m. *
Press Pre-Set Time: 10:15 a.m.
Hearing Location: Room 253, Senate Russell Building
*Please note, hearing was originally scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
Friday, April 24, 2009
NTIA :: RFC :: Assessment of the Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet’s Domain Name and Addressing System
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration [Docket No. 090420688–9689–01] Assessment of the Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Inquiry. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comment regarding the upcoming expiration of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). This agreement has been in existence since November 25, 1998, and is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2009.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration [Docket No. 090420688–9689–01] Assessment of the Transition of the Technical Coordination and Management of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Inquiry. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) seeks comment regarding the upcoming expiration of the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). This agreement has been in existence since November 25, 1998, and is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2009. DATES: Comments are due on or before June 8, 2009. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to Fiona M. Alexander, Associate Administrator, Office of International Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4701, Washington, DC 20230. Paper submissions should include a three and one–half inch computer diskette or compact disc (CD) in HTML, ASCII, Word, WordPerfect, rtf, or pdf format (please specify version). Diskettes or CDs should be labeled with the name and organizational affiliation of the filer and the name of the word processing program used to create the document. Alternatively, comments may be submitted electronically to DNSTransition@ntia.doc.gov. Comments provided via electronic mail also should be submitted in one or more of the formats specified above. Comments will be posted to NTIA's website at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/comments/2009/dnstransition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this Notice contact: Suzanne R. Sene, Office of International Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 4701, Washington, DC 20230, telephone (202) 482–3180; email ssene@ntia.doc.gov. Please direct media inquiries to the Office of Public Affairs, NTIA, at (202) 482–7002. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background . . . . . REQUEST FOR COMMENT: Given the upcoming expiration of the current JPA between the Department of Commerce and ICANN, NTIA seeks comments regarding the progress of the transition of the technical coordination and management of the Internet DNS to the private sector, as well as the model of private sector leadership and bottom– up policy development which ICANN represents. The questions below are intended to assist in identifying the issues and should not be construed as a limitation on comments that may be submitted. Comments that contain references, studies, research, and other empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of the referenced materials with the submitted comments. 1. The DNS White Paper articulated four principles (i.e., stability; competition; private, bottom–up coordination; and representation) necessary for guiding the transition to private sector management of the DNS. Are these still the appropriate principles? If so, have these core principles been effectively integrated into ICANN's existing processes and structures? 2. The goal of the JPA process has been to transition the coordination of DNS responsibilities, previously performed by the U.S. Government or on behalf of the U.S. Government, to the private sector so as to enable industry leadership and bottom–up policy making. Is this still the most appropriate model to increase competition and facilitate international participation in the coordination and management of the DNS, bearing in mind the need to maintain the security and stability of the DNS? If yes, are the processes and structures currently in place at ICANN sufficient to enable industry leadership and bottom–up policy making? If not, what is the most appropriate model, keeping in mind the need to ensure the stability and security of the Internet DNS? 3. The original agreement and the first six amendments to the JPA contained a series of core tasks, and in some cases, date–specific milestones. Have these tasks been accomplished and have these milestones been met? If not, what remains and what steps should be taken to successfully address them? 4. In 2006, the focus on specific milestones was adjusted to a series of broad commitments endorsed by the ICANN Board as an annex to the JPA. Specifically, ICANN committed to take action on the responsibilities set out in the Affirmation of Responsibilities established in ICANN Board Resolution 06.71, dated September 25, 2006.12 Those responsibilities included activities in the following categories: security and stability, transparency, accountability, root server security and relationships, TLD management, multi– stakeholder model, role of governments, IP addressing, corporate responsibility, and corporate administrative structure. What steps has ICANN taken to meet each of these responsibilities? Have these steps been successful? If not, what more could be done to meet the needs of the community served in these areas? 5. The current JPA called for NTIA to conduct a mid–term review. That review revealed that ICANN needed to take further steps to increase institutional confidence related to long– term stability, accountability, responsiveness, continued private sector leadership, stakeholder participation, increased contract compliance, and enhanced competition. What steps has ICANN taken to address the concerns expressed in the mid–term review process? Have these steps been successful? If not, what more could be done to meet the needs of the community served in these areas? 6. The JPA between the Department of Commerce and ICANN is an agreement by mutual consent to effectuate the transition of the technical coordination and management of the Internet DNS in a manner that ensures the continued stability and security of the Internet DNS. Has sufficient progress been achieved for the transition to take place by September 30, 2009? If not, what should be done? What criteria should be used to make that determination? 7. Given the upcoming expiration of the JPA, are there sufficient safeguards in place to ensure the continued security and stability of the Internet DNS, private sector leadership, and that all stakeholder interests are adequately taken into account? If yes, what are they? Are these safeguards mature and robust enough to ensure protection of stakeholder interests and the model itself in the future? If no, what additional safeguards should be put in place? 8. The JPA provides that before its termination, NTIA and ICANN are to collaborate on a DNS Project Report that will document ICANN's policies and procedures designed and developed pursuant to the agreement. What should be included in this report? EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: . . . . . Dated: April 20, 2009. Anna M. Gomez, Acting Assistant Secretary Fed Reg April 24 http://www.ntia.doc.gov/frnotices/2009/FR_ICANNVol.74_No78_Apr242009.pdf |
Thursday, April 16, 2009
FCC UPDATE ON RURAL HEALTHCARE PILOT PROGRAM INITIATIVE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
April 16, 2009 Robert Kenny: 202-418-2668
Email: Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov
Mark Wigfield: 202-418-0253
Email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov
FCC UPDATE ON RURAL HEALTHCARE PILOT PROGRAM INITIATIVE
Six Telehealth Projects Approved for $46 million in Universal Service Funds
Washington D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today announced the approval of funding under its Rural Health Care Pilot Program (RHCPP) for the build-out of five broadband telehealth networks that will link hundreds of hospitals regionally in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In addition, funding has been approved for the design of a telehealth project in Alaska. Collectively, these projects are eligible to receive $46 million in reimbursement for the engineering and construction of their regional telehealth networks. Funding commitments for these projects were issued by the Universal Service Administrative Company, or USAC, which administers the RHCPP for the FCC.
“I am pleased with the progress that these rural health care initiatives are making to develop telemedicine programs, build highways for electronic medical records and, overall, increase patient access to health care in the regions they serve,” Acting Chairman Michael J. Copps said. “There is great potential to improve health care for those communities that currently have limited access to primary, specialty and preventive care; as well as to enhance public safety by connecting health care providers, public health officials and first responders to these networks so that they can share crucial data during emergencies. These projects are to be commended for their dedication and commitment to these important goals. I commend USAC for its efforts to ensure the success of the program, and look forward to more such funding approvals soon so we can realize the great promise of this pilot program.”
The FCC established the $417 million RHCPP to increase patient access to care via telemedicine and support the transfer of electronic medical records, which will improve the quality of care for patients. Nationwide, 67 projects are eligible to receive RHCPP funding for telehealth networks serving 6,000 health care facilities in 42 states and three U.S. territories, using broadband technology to bring state-of the-art medical practices to isolated rural communities. At this time, 29 of these projects have developed or posted requests for proposals to select vendors to build out their broadband networks, while the remaining projects are preparing their requests for proposals as part of the competitive bidding process.
The following is an update on specific RHCPP projects:
Network Construction
· Health Information Exchange of Montana ($13.6 million) – In an area with no connections to Internet2 or National Lambda Rail - nationwide dedicated Internet backbones - a new fiber network will connect health care providers in Montana to enable distance consultation, electronic record keeping and exchange, disaster readiness, clinical research, and distance education services.
· Palmetto State Providers Network ($7.9 million) – This project will connect health care providers to a fiber optic backbone to enhance simulation training, remote intensive care unit monitoring, and medical education programs across South Carolina.
· Iowa Health System ($7.8 million) – This project will use new network connections to link health care providers in Iowa to an existing statewide, dedicated, broadband healthcare network, Internet2, and National LambdaRail.
· Heartland Unified Broadband Network ($4.7 million) – This project is expanding and enhancing an existing network to increase the use and quality of teleradiology and increase distance education activities throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
· Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative ($1.6 million) – This project has augmented an existing shared electronic health records project that will provide health care providers in Wisconsin with access to redundant connectivity and data centers, as well as higher speeds that will range from 10 to 100 Mbps.
Network Design
· Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium ($10.4 million) – The consortium’s network, which will serve primarily rural health care practitioners, will unify and increase the capacity of disparate healthcare networks throughout Alaska, allowing them to connect with urban health centers and access services in the lower 48 states.
-FCC-
News and information about the Federal Communications Commission is available at www.fcc.gov
Thursday, April 09, 2009
FCC Launches Development Of National Broadband Plan
| Seeks Public Input on Plan to Ensure Every American has Access to Broadband Capability Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today begins the process of developing a national broadband plan that will seek to ensure that every American has access to broadband capability. In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – known as the stimulus package – Congress charged the Commission with creating a national broadband plan. In a Notice of Inquiry adopted today, the Commission begins a proceeding to create that national broadband plan, seeking input from all stakeholders: consumers, industry, large and small businesses, non-profits, the disabilities community, governments at the federal, state, local and tribal levels, and all other interested parties. The Commission must deliver the plan to Congress by Feb. 17, 2010. It will provide a roadmap toward achieving the goal of ensuring that all Americans reap the benefits of broadband. The Recovery Act requires the plan to explore several key elements of broadband deployment and use, and the Commission now seeks comment on these elements, including:
Action by the Commission, April 8, 2009, by Notice of Inquiry (FCC 09-31). Acting Chairman Copps, Commissioners Adelstein, and McDowell. Separate statements issued by Acting Chairman Copps, Commissioners Adelstein, and McDowell. Docket No. GN 09-51 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: April 8, 2009 Mark Wigfield, 202-418-0253 Email: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov -FCC- 4/8/09 Comment Date: June 8, 2009 =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= Cybertelecom :: Federal Internet Law & Policy :: www.cybertelecom.org bobArlington :: Bunkum from bArlington :: http://barlington.blogspot.com =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= |
FCC Requests Nominations By May 8, 2009 For Membership On The Technological Advisory Council
DA 09-796 April 8, 2009 The Federal Communications Commission Technological Advisory Council (TAC) is in the process of being reestablished. The Commission is requesting nominations for membership on the TAC for its next 2 year cycle. In reestablishing the TAC, the Commission noted that rapid advances in technology have resulted in innovations in how telecommunications services are provided to, and are accessed by, users of those services. Many of these advances create challenges and opportunities for the growth of telecommunications and use of the radio spectrum. The Commission must remain abreast of new developments in technology so that it can effectively fulfill its responsibilities under the Communications Act. The purpose of the TAC is to provide technical advice to the Federal Communications Commission and to make recommendations on the issues and questions presented to it by the FCC. The TAC will address questions referred to it by the FCC Chairman, the FCC Chief Technologist, the Chief of the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, or the TAC Designated Federal Officer. The questions referred to the TAC will be directed to technological and technical issues in the field of communications. Among the potential topics that the TAC may consider are spectrum policy, broadband technology and deployment, communications technology that enhances and supports public safety, Internet security, and communications technology required to support emerging systems such as the smart grid and tele-health applications. The TAC will meet three to five times per year, with the possibility of more frequent meetings by informal subcommittees. Meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public. Timely notice of each meeting will be published in the Federal Register and will be further publicized through other appropriate vehicles. The Commission will provide facilities necessary to conduct meetings. Members of the Council will serve without any government compensation, and will not be entitled to travel expenses, per diem or subsistence allowances. The Council will consist of recognized technical experts in telecommunications and related fields. The Commission will accept nominations for the Council through May 8, 2009 . The Commission, at its discretion, may consider nominations received after this date, but consideration of late submissions is not guaranteed. Individuals may apply for, or nominate another individual for, membership on the Council. Each nomination or application must include:
Nominations and applications should be sent to Jon M. Peha, Chief Technologist, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 7-C324, Washington, DC 20554 or e-mail jon.peha@fcc.gov and please include "TAC nomination" in the subject line. - FCC - 4/8/09 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-796A1.pdf
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= Cybertelecom :: Federal Internet Law & Policy :: www.cybertelecom.org bobArlington :: Bunkum from bArlington :: http://barlington.blogspot.com =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= |
Thursday, April 02, 2009
RFC :: FCC :: Comment Sought On International Comparison And Consumer Survey Requirements In The Broadband Data Improvement Act
| GN Docket No. 09-47 :: DA 09-741 Release Date: March 31, 2009 :: Comment Date: April 10, 2009 :: Reply Comment Date: April 17, 2009 In this Public Notice, we seek comment on how the Commission should implement sections 103(b) and 103(c)(1) of the Broadband Data Improvement Act (BDIA). These sections impose new broadband data collection and reporting obligations on the Commission by requiring the Commission to include an international comparison in its annual broadband report and to conduct a consumer survey of broadband service capability. Specifically, s ection 103(b) of the BDIA provides: (b) INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON.— (1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the assessment and report required by section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 157 note), the Federal Communications Commission shall include information comparing the extent of broadband service capability (including data transmission speeds and price for broadband service capability) in a total of 75 communities in at least 25 countries abroad for each of the data rate benchmarks for broadband service utilized by the Commission to reflect different speed tiers. (2) CONTENTS.—The Commission shall choose communities for the comparison under this subsection in a manner that will offer, to the extent possible, communities of a population size, population density, topography, and demographic profile that are comparable to the population size, population density, topography, and demographic profile of the various communities within the United States. The Commission shall include in the comparison under this subsection— (A) a geographically diverse selection of countries; and (B) communities including the capital cities of such countries. (3) SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES.—The Commission shall identify relevant similarities and differences in each community, including their market structures, the number of competitors, the number of facilities-based providers, the types of technologies deployed by such providers, the applications and services those technologies enable, the regulatory model under which broadband service capability is provided, the types of applications and services used, business and residential use of such services, and other media available to consumers. The Commission invites parties to comment on how the Commission can effectively implement the international comparison of broadband service capability, including speeds and prices, required by section 103(b). We seek comment on the criteria in section 103(b)(2) for the identification and selection of the communities to be included in the survey. We seek comment on the enumerated indicators in section 103(b)(3) for the identification of "relevant similarities and differences in each community" as well as any additional indicators that commenters seek to propose. We also seek comment on all possible sources of data that the Commission should examine in the course of implementing this section of the BDIA. Finally, we seek comment on any other factors or issues the Commission should consider in implementing section 103(b) of the BDIA. Section 103(c)(1) of the BDIA provides: (c) CONSUMER SURVEY OF BROADBAND SERVICE CAPABILITY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of evaluating, on a statistically significant basis, the national characteristics of the use of broadband service capability, the Commission shall conduct and make public periodic surveys of consumers in urban, suburban, and rural areas in the large business, small business, and residential consumer markets to determine— (A) the types of technology used to provide the broadband service capability to which consumers subscribe; (B) the amounts consumers pay per month for such capability; (C) the actual data transmission speeds of such capability; (D) the types of applications and services consumers most frequently use in conjunction with such capability; (E) for consumers who have declined to subscribe to broadband service capability, the reasons given by such consumers for declining such capability; (F) other sources of broadband service capability which consumers regularly use or on which they rely; and (G) any other information the Commission deems appropriate for such purpose. The Commission invites parties to comment on how the Commission can effectively implement the survey requirements in section 103(c)(1), including any factors or issues the Commission should consider as part of this implementation. This Public Notice proposes new information collection requirements. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the Office of Management and Budget to comment on the information collection proposals contained in this document, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. In addition, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law No. 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. § 3506(c)(4), we seek specific comment on how we might "further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees." All comments should refer to GN Docket No. 09-47. Comments may be filed using (1) the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. [FILING INSTRUCTIONS] For further information about this Public Notice as it relates to section 103(b) of the BDIA, please contact Robert S. Tanner, Strategic Analysis and Negotiations Division, International Bureau at (202) 418-1535. For further information about this Public Notice as it relates to section 103(c)(1) of the BDIA, please contact Jeremy Miller, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-0940. - FCC – Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-385, 122 Stat. 4097 (codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 1301-04). BDIA § 103(b); 47 U.S.C. § 1303(b). BDIA § 103(c)(1); 47 U.S.C. § 1303(c)(1). We recognize that, while the Commission previously raised related issues of whether and how the Commission should undertake broadband customer surveys in a pending proceeding, the BDIA mandates that we conduct and publish such a survey. See Development of Nationwide Broadband Data to Evaluate Reasonable and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services to All Americans, Improvement of Wireless Broadband Subscribership Data, and Development of Data on Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Subscribership , WC Docket No. 07-38, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd 9691, 9712, para. 40 (2008). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Federal eRulemaking Portal website for submitting comments. Released: 03/31/2009. COMMENT SOUGHT ON INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON AND CONSUMER SURVEY REQUIREMENTS IN THE BROADBAND DATA IMPROVEMENT ACT. (DA No. 09-741). (Dkt No 09-47). Comments Due: 04/10/2009. Reply Comments Due: 04/17/2009. WCB. Contact: Randy Clarke or Jeremy Miller at (202) 418-0940 DA-09-741A1.doc DA-09-741A1.pdf DA-09-741A1.txt
|
Friday, March 27, 2009
TAC BACK
[Federal Register: March 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 57)]
[Notices]
[Page 13208]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr09-71]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Federal Advisory Committee Act; Technological Advisory Council
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice of intent to reestablish.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
purpose of this notice is to announce that a Federal Advisory
Committee, known as the ``Technological Advisory Council'' (hereinafter
the ``TAC'') is being reestablished.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Attn: Jon M. Peha, Chief
Technologist, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 7-C324, Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon M. Peha, Chief Technologist,
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 7-C324,
Washington, DC 20554. Telephone: (202) 418-2406, e-mail:
jon.peha@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission has determined that the reestablishment of the Council is
necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance
of duties imposed on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by
law. The Committee Management Secretariat, General Services
Administration concurs with the reestablishment of the Council. The
purpose of the TAC is to provide technical advice to the Federal
Communications Commission and to make recommendations on the issues and
questions presented to it by the FCC. The TAC will address questions
referred to it by the FCC Chairman, the FCC Chief Technologist, the
Chief of the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, or the TAC
Designated Federal Officer. The questions referred to the TAC will be
directed to technological and technical issues in the field of
communications. The duties of the TAC will be to gather data and
information, perform analyses, and prepare reports and presentations to
respond to the questions referred to it.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
[FR Doc. E9-6463 Filed 3-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Comment Procedures Established Regarding The Commission’s Consultative Role In The Broadband Provisions Of The Recovery Act
| DA 09-668 - Released: March 24, 2009 - GN Docket No. 09-40 - Comment filing date: April 13, 2009 Through this Public Notice, we establish procedures for parties wishing to provide written or oral comments on the Commission's consultative role in the broadband provisions of the Recovery Act. In the Recovery Act, Congress assigned grant- and loanmaking responsibilities to the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Specifically, NTIA will administer the Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program (BTOP), which will provide grants for developing and expanding broadband services, and RUS will continue to administer its programs of broadband loans, loan guarantees, and grants with additional funds. The Commission has no funds under the Recovery Act for grant- or loanmaking. The Commission does, however, have an important role to play in providing expert, technical advice to NTIA as it establishes the BTOP, and the Commission may also provide expert, technical advice to RUS as it proceeds with its own programs. Congress directed NTIA to consult with this Commission on five specific terms and concepts:
Commission staff are attending the relevant hearings being held jointly by NTIA and RUS on the implementation of their Recovery Act programs, and will have access to the written filings made in response to those agencies' Joint Request for Information. Some parties may wish to provide comment specifically to this Commission on its consultative role on the five definitions listed above. Because we desire that all comments to the Commission on its consultative role be fully disclosed and accessible to the public, and because the Commission has a unique role with regard to consulting on the five definitions, we establish the following procedures for parties wishing to comment on the advice the Commission should offer on these terms. We do not here seek comment or intend to accept meetings on individual projects or requests for funding, which are within the purview of NTIA and RUS, but rather on the Commission's consultative role with regard to the five points enumerated above. First, parties wishing to submit written comments may file them on or before April 13, 2009. Comments should reference GN Docket No. 09-40. Parties are encouraged to limit their comments to the five definitional issues named above, and to include an executive summary if their comments exceed ten pages. . . . . . [filing procedure] In addition, Commission staff will make themselves available for ex parte meetings with interested parties during the week of March 30 through April 3, 2009. Parties wishing to schedule an ex parte meeting should contact Ginny Kennedy, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-2328, or by email at Ginny.Kennedy@fcc.gov, or Morasha Younger, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-1203, or by email at Morasha.Younger@fcc.gov. Any registered lobbyists requesting meetings should identify themselves as such at the time of requesting meetings. Because of the potential volume of meeting requests, meetings will be scheduled for twenty minutes with Commission staff members. Parties are also strongly encouraged to provide staff a one- to two-page handout summarizing their points. Staff will attempt to accommodate requests for ex parte meetings on other dates but interested parties are strongly encouraged to schedule any meetings for the dates mentioned above. . . . . . [filing procedure] It is the intent of the Commission that contacts with the Commission pursuant to this Public Notice also comply with the March 20, 2009 White House Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Agencies: Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds ("Memorandum"). Under the Memorandum, an executive department or agency official shall not consider the view of a lobbyist registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq., concerning particular projects, applications, or applicants for funding under the Recovery Act unless such views are in writing. An executive department or agency official may communicate orally with registered lobbyists concerning general Recovery Act policy issues, provided that such oral communications shall not extend to or touch upon particular projects, applications, or applicants for funding, and further that the official must contemporaneously or immediately thereafter document in writing: (i) the date and time of the contact on policy issues; (ii) the names of the registered lobbyists and the official(s) between or among whom the contact took place; and (iii) a short description of the substance of the communication. This written summary will be posted publicly on the Commission's website within 3 business days of the communication. For further information, contact Ian Dillner or Claude Aiken, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-1580, Jennifer Salhus, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1310, Kevin Holmes, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-2487, or Jeff Cohen, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-1300. -FCC- 3/24/09 Bureaus Establish Procedures Regarding the Commission's Consultative Role in the Broadband Provisions of the Recovery Act. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-668A1.doc |
Thursday, March 12, 2009
RFC :: NIST :: Safer Net Surfing Is Goal of NIST Domain Name Security Experts
 "When you type www.irs.gov—or the Web address of your bank or an e-commerce site—into your web browser, you want to be sure that no one is hijacking your request and sending you to a bogus look-alike page. You're relying on the integrity of the Internet's "phone book," the Domain Name System (DNS). Computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are playing a major role in making sure that what you type is what you get by providing standards, guidance and testing necessary to bolster the trustworthiness of the global DNS. A draft update of NIST's guidelines for DNS security is now available for public comment. Most recently, NIST computer scientists provided technical assistance to the General Services Administration to meet the end-of-February deadline to secure the top-level .gov ("dot-gov") domain, the first major step of a new government-wide DNS security upgrade. NIST researchers develop the standards, specifications and operational procedures used by federal civilian agencies to safeguard their information systems. The Internet relies on the DNS system that converts the user-friendly names (www.nist.gov) into a unique Internet Protocol address (129.6.13.45) necessary to route data to its destination. The DNS as currently deployed lacks the ability to authenticate the source or integrity of responses returned from the system, and as a result it is easy to spoof responses and redirect users to fake or look-alike destinations. NIST and others are working to add "steel doors and locks" to enhance DNS security. NIST computer scientists led the development of new Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards to add digital signatures and associated key management procedures to DNS protocols. These additions, called DNSSEC, allow users to validate the authenticity and integrity of the data and will provide the basis for a new trust infrastructure for the DNS and protocols and systems that rely on it. "We hope that the dot-gov deployment of DNSSEC will encourage rapid deployment in other sectors, including government contractors, trading partners and general e-commerce sites," said Scott Rose, one of the NIST computer researchers. In addition to developing the standards and deployment protocol guidance for DNSSEC, NIST researchers have developed the Secure Naming Infrastructure Pilot (SNIP) distributed testbed (www.dnsops.gov) to assist agencies and vendors in experimenting with and evaluating specific DNSSEC solutions. NIST is a member of an industry-government DNSSEC-Deployment Initiative, coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security, to foster adoption and implementation of DNSSEC specifications across Internet domains. The NIST team also has drafted updated recommendations for the "Secure Domain Name System (DNS) Deployment Guide" (NIST Special Publication 800-81 Rev 1), the key DNS security guidance document for civilian agencies, (Available on the Web at http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/drafts/800-81-rev1/NIST_SP-800-81-Rev1_draft.pdf.) This first revision of the guidance proposes stronger cryptographic algorithms and keys to provide more resilience against attack. The revised publication incorporates comments from the Internet Engineering Task Force that are to update best practices and checklists in the document. The latest version of the deployment guide includes cookbook configuration instructions for two commonly deployed DNS server implementations. The public is invited to review the draft NIST SP-800-81 revision 1 guidelines and submit comments to SecureDNS@nist.gov before March 31, 2009. Media Contact: Evelyn Brown, evelyn.brown@nist.gov, (301) 975-5661 http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2009_0310.htm#dns |
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Comment Date Established For Report On Rural Broadband Strategy
| Through this Public Notice, we seek comment on Congress's directive in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) that the Chairman of the Commission develop, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, a comprehensive rural broadband strategy.[1] Congress, this Commission, and the Secretary of Agriculture have repeatedly recognized the importance of ensuring access to advanced telecommunications and information services to all Americans, with a special focus on rural and hard-to-serve areas. We now issue this Notice guided by Congress's recent requirement that the Commission develop a comprehensive national broadband plan.[2] With a renewed focus on the importance of interagency and intergovernmental coordination, and with an ever-increasing understanding of the profound impacts of broadband services on the ways we communicate and of the importance of broadband to the future of our nation, we expect that the rural broadband strategy developed in this docket will inform our effort to develop a comprehensive national broadband plan pursuant to the Recovery Act. Broadband services have great potential to bring opportunity to the citizens of rural America. They improve the educational opportunities of children and adults everywhere, allowing children in rural areas across the country to access the same information as schoolchildren in urban areas. Telemedicine networks made possible by broadband services save lives and improve the standard of healthcare in sparsely populated, rural areas. For businesses in rural areas, access to broadband services is just as critical. These services are creating new jobs, while enabling skilled employees to work more effectively in their current jobs. At the same time, the Commission and the Department of Agriculture have recognized that rural consumers are doubly vulnerable: that is, although they are most in need of access to advanced telecommunications capability to overcome economic, educational and other limitations, they are also the most likely to lack access precisely because of these limitations. Congress has also highlighted the importance of promoting interagency coordination in meeting the rural broadband challenge. On May 22, 2008, Congress adopted the 2008 Farm Bill.[3] Section 6112 of that statute requires the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, to submit a report to Congress describing a comprehensive rural broadband strategy within a year of the passage of the Act. The Act specifies that the report shall include: (1) recommendations— (A) to promote interagency coordination of Federal agencies in regards to policies, procedures, and targeted resources, and to streamline or otherwise improve and streamline the policies, programs, and services; (B) to coordinate existing Federal rural broadband or rural initiatives; (C) to coordinate both short- and long-term needs assessments and solutions for a rapid build-out of rural broadband solutions and application of the recommendations for Federal, State, regional, and local government policymakers; and (D) to identify how specific Federal agency programs and resources can best respond to rural broadband requirements and overcome obstacles that currently impede rural broadband deployment; and (2) a description of goals and timeframes to achieve the purposes of the report.[4] We invite comment on how the Commission and the Department of Agriculture should implement section 6112. In particular, we invite suggestions regarding the substantive recommendations to be included in the report, as well as proposed goals and timeframes to achieve the purposes of the report. Interested parties may file comments on or before March 25, 2009. All pleadings should reference GN Docket No. 09-29. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Suite TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. Parties should also send a copy of their filings to the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554, or by e-mail to CPDcopies@fcc.gov, and to the Spectrum & Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW—Portals 1, Washington, DC 20554 or by e-mail to RuralBB@fcc.gov. Parties shall also serve one copy with the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com. In the interests of efficiency and conducting an orderly proceeding, Bureau staff will make themselves available for ex parte meetings with interested parties on March 26, 2009 and March 27, 2009. Parties wishing to schedule an ex parte meeting should contact Myrva Charles, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-1506 or by email to Myrva.Charles@fcc.gov, or Morasha Younger, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-1203 or by email to Morasha.Younger@fcc.gov. Staff will attempt to accommodate requests for ex parte meetings on other dates but interested parties are strongly encouraged to schedule any meetings for the dates mentioned above. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty). Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail at fcc@bcpiweb.com. This matter shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200, 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required. See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b). For further information, contact William Kehoe or Melissa Kirkel, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-1580, or Charles Mathias or Christina Clearwater, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1310. -FCC- 3/10/09 Bureaus Establish Comment Date for Report on Rural Broadband Strategy. Public Notice: Word | Acrobat DA 09-561 Released: March 10, 2009
[1] Pub. L. 110-246, 122 Stat. 1651 (Jun. 18, 2008) (June 18, 2008 Bill). [2] American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115 (2009) (Recovery Act). [3] We note that the 2008 Farm Bill was initially enacted on May 22, 2008. See Pub. L. 110-234, 122 Stat. 923 (May 22, 2008) (May 22, 2008 Bill). The May 22, 2008 Bill, as enacted, however, did not include one title (i.e., Title III – Trade) that Congress had intended to include. The June 18, 2008 Bill corrected this omission by repealing the May 22, 2008 Bill and enacting a statute that includes Title III but otherwise is identical to the May 22, 2008 Bill. The June 18, 2008 Bill specified that it would take effect on the earlier of the enactment date of that bill or the enactment date of the May 22, 2008 Bill. See Pub. L. 110-246, § 4(b). Pursuant to this provision, the Act became effective on May 22, 2008, and therefore, May 22, 2009, is the statutory deadline for the comprehensive rural broadband strategy report required by the Act. [4] See Pub. L. 110-246, 122 Stat. at 1966. =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= Cybertelecom :: Federal Internet Law & Policy :: www.cybertelecom.org bobArlington :: Bunkum from bArlington :: http://barlington.blogspot.com =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= |