Gogo Business Aviation asked for limited waiver of FCC effective radiated power limits for air-to-ground operations in the 849-851 MHz and 894-896 MHz bands for a next-generation system. The system uses orthogonal frequency division multiplex technology “to improve throughput, coverage, and reliability for inflight connectivity to aircraft in the United States and Canada,” said a Thursday posting: “A narrow waiver permitting the current ERP rules to be measured as limits on the maximum average power, rather than peak power, will allow Gogo … to maximize the utility of its next-generation system, similar to other mobile wireless licensees.”

The National Institute of Standards and Technology plans a virtual workshop June 2-3 on developing standards and guidelines for software supply chain security, as directed by President Joe Biden’s recent executive order (see 2105130065). The EO directs NIST to help lead two pilot labeling programs to inform consumers about IoT device security.

There's too little support to move forward on a terrain-based propagation model to determine channel availability for TV white spaces operations (see 2104270037), NAB said in calls with aides to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks. “Microsoft and other white spaces proponents have simply failed to do the work to demonstrate that this proposal will not increase the potential for harmful interference to licensed television stations,” said Thursday's posting in docket 20-36. Microsoft didn’t comment.

As DOD develops positioning, navigation and timing technology to supplement or replace GPS, it should consider ways of coordinating across the agency to clarify responsibilities and authorities in prioritizing the need for PNT alternatives. That's per a GAO report Monday with other policy options for developing and integrating alternatives including selection of the most resilient technologies as the centerpiece of PNT for military missions rather than defaulting to GPS, and looking for ways DOD could clarify what level of performance is needed for missions rather than defaulting to requirements that match GPS performance. It said the Pentagon's alternative PNT portfolio is centered on two options: improved sensors to provide relative PNT data, and external sources to provide absolute positioning and navigation. It said Defense might use multiple PNT technologies to provide sufficient data.

The FTC 4-0 finalized its nonmonetary settlement with a photo app that allegedly “deceived consumers” about face scanning technology and retention of user photos and video (see 2101110027), the agency announced Friday. Everalbum allegedly failed to delete photos and videos from deactivated accounts when it promised to remove the content. It faces $43,280 fines for future violations and is required to delete content from deactivated accounts. Everalbum is "excited to move forward" with a "mindful tone," said a spokesperson. "We take our role as face recognition technology provider very seriously, and are committed to the ethical development and use of this important technology" in accordance with company principles and guidance.

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., asked the FCC to “investigate a reported increase in complaints about loud TV ads that may violate” the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act “and take enforcement actions as appropriate.” The 2010 law (see 1012170090), written by Eshoo, “led to a decrease in complaints about TV ad loudness,” she said in a letter Tuesday to acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. But former Chairman Ajit Pai indicated last year that the FCC “never brought an enforcement action under the law, even though the FCC receives thousands of complaints. His response also indicated that CALM Act complaints were increasing in the first half of 2020,” Eshoo said. A news report “using more recent data shows that complaints increased sharply from April 2020 through February,” and 2021 is likely to be the “worst year” for such complaints since the law went into effect, she said. “This worries me a great deal.” The FCC didn’t comment.

The FTC will testify at a hybrid Senate Commerce Committee hearing on consumer protection authority at 10 a.m. EDT Tuesday. Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter is scheduled to testify with Commissioners Noah Phillips, Rohit Chopra and Christine Wilson. Topics include the FTC’s “endangered consumer redress authority” and the agency’s “efforts to fight fraud during the pandemic, including its new first-time civil penalty authority for COVID-related scams.”

President Joe Biden's FY 2022 discretionary budget request, released Friday, asks Congress to give the Commerce Department $11.4 billion, up almost 28% from what it received for FY 2021. The money includes $39 million to NTIA "for advanced communications research," to "support the development and deployment of broadband and 5G technologies by identifying innovative approaches to spectrum sharing," the White House said. The request "ensures Commerce has additional staff and resources to analyze export control and Entity List proposals, enforce related actions, and implement executive actions related to export controls and secure telecommunications." The budget would give the National Institute of Standards and Technology $916 million, up 16% from FY 2021, the White House said. That would help NIST spur research into "computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, quantum information science ... and to establish prize competitions to pursue key technology goals." Biden is seeking $2.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, an almost 6% boost. CISA got increased scrutiny for the 2020 SolarWinds cyber hack (see 2104060058). "This funding would allow CISA to enhance its cybersecurity tools, hire highly qualified experts, and obtain support services to protect and defend Federal information technology systems," the White House said. "The discretionary request also provides $20 million for a new Cyber Response and Recovery Fund." The request includes $500 million for the General Services Administration’s Technology Modernization Fund to “strengthen federal cybersecurity and retire antiquated legacy technology systems.” The TMF request “builds on” $1 billion provided in the American Rescue Plan Act, the White House said. The request shows a "commitment to improve cybersecurity" and "invest in researching and developing modern technologies," House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said.

RF exposure rule changes, approved 5-0 in December 2019 (see 1912040036), take effect May 3, the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology said Friday. A two-year period for existing parties to ensure compliance with the new rules starts that date, OET said. “The Commission anticipated that few parties would have to conduct reevaluations under the new rules and that such evaluations will be relatively straightforward,” OET said: “It nevertheless adopted a two-year period for parties to verify and ensure compliance under the new rules.”

The FTC won’t petition the Supreme Court to review its antitrust case against Qualcomm, the agency announced Monday (see 2010280058). Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter cited the “significant headwinds facing the Commission” here but said she continues "to believe that the district court’s conclusion that Qualcomm violated the antitrust laws was entirely correct and that the court of appeals erred in concluding otherwise.” Bold antitrust enforcement is needed more than ever, she said: “I am particularly concerned about the potential for anticompetitive or unfair behavior in the context of standard setting and the FTC will closely monitor conduct in this arena.” Qualcomm didn’t comment.