The National Lifeline Association seeks waiver of certain emergency broadband benefit rules: the requirement "subscribers receive EBB service from a provider on the snapshot date to receive reimbursement for connected device discounts provided by that provider." The filing posted Monday in docket 20-445 said the FCC should direct Universal Service Administrative Co. to "expeditiously update" the national verifier application programming interface so "all providers have access to accurate data regarding prospective subscribers' eligibility for the connected device benefit."
Some 1 million households signed up for emergency broadband benefits in the program's first week (see 2104290085), said the FCC Wednesday. “The high demand we’ve seen for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program demonstrates what many of us already knew to be true -- too many families are struggling to get online, even in 2021,” said acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. More than 900 providers are participating.
Cyberattacks such as SolarWinds and Colonial Pipeline shouldn't become a norm, said European Member of Parliament Eva Maydell, of the European People's Party Group and Bulgaria, Wednesday at a webcast on the European Commission's proposed network and information security directive update (NIS2). Maydell, who's writing the legislative response to the proposal for the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, said Europe needs a clear, robust defense and high cyber-resilience. Cybersecurity requires trans-Atlantic cooperation, she said. Asked what common ground could be explored, Cisco Head-EU Public Policy Chris Gow listed use of internationally recognized standards; investment funding for governments and industry; better cyber skills for employees; and to "go after the bad guys." If cybercrime losses were an economy, they would be No. 3, Gow said. Major incidents made people fully aware of what's at stake, said Jakub Boratynski, head of unit-cybersecurity and digital privacy policy, EC Directorate-General, communications networks, content and technology. EU cybersecurity strategy began slowly when the original NIS became effective in 2013 and it needs improvement, he said. There's a "mismatch" between the regulatory framework at the EU level and what happens on the ground, said European Network and Information Security Executive Director Juhan Lepassaar: NIS2 is an effort to catch up, and it must also capture the future. The proposal is "evolution, not revolution," Gow said: NIS2 could help create more harmonization, and a more consistent overall approach is needed.
A coalition of groups asked the FCC to review “questionable” Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction applications “before dollars go out the door." Signers of a letter posted Tuesday in docket 19-126 included the Electronic Frontier Foundation, National Grange, Free Press, R Street Institute, National Taxpayers Union and Public Knowledge. They cited a Competitive Carriers Association report that “called into question thousands of locations where RDOF funding is set to be awarded to subsidize areas that are served today” (see 2105060072).
Google supported 60 GHz “updated rules” that "promote reasonable coexistence across technologies,” in a filing posted Tuesday in FCC docket 14-177. “Characteristics of the 60 GHz band are extremely favorable for radar applications,” it said: Recent waivers of power-level rules for deployment “of potentially life-saving 60 GHz radars” and “pending waiver requests illustrate that industry interest in the band is large" and growing. Facebook, Intel and Qualcomm recently also sought updated rules (see 2105110062). Both letters mention the work on coordination by the 60 GHz Coexistence Study Group. “While Google products including Soli chipsets have been available in markets around the globe since October 2019, Google has received no reports of interference from those devices’ operations,” Google said.
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.
The FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology let Google operate as American Samoa spectrum access system administrator in the citizens broadband radio service band, in a public notice Friday.
The FCC asked all stakeholders to help “get the word out” about an emergency broadband benefit and the Emergency Connectivity Fund, blogged acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Thursday.
Eligible households seeking to apply online for the FCC emergency broadband benefit program may experience “connectivity issues” due to a “high demand,” an alert said on the FCC and Universal Service Administrative Co.'s websites Thursday. The FCC became aware of some users experiencing issues online Wednesday, a spokesperson told us. The problem appears to be “leveling off” now and the alert was posted “out of an abundance of caution,” she said.
Dish Network opposed an application by SpaceX’s Starlink for eligible telecom carrier designation to participate in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction for Florida and North Carolina. Too much depends on future 12 GHz rules, said an FCC filing posted Thursday in docket 09-197. “While the 12 GHz rulemaking is pending, SpaceX cannot credibly claim that it will have ‘sufficient access’ to the 12 GHz band for 10 years, as required by the RDOF rules,” Dish said: “To the extent that SpaceX’s requested ETC designation relies on the 12 GHz band, it should be denied or deferred, pending the resolution of the 12 GHz rulemaking.” SpaceX didn't comment. The Michigan Public Service Commission Thursday granted a temporary license for Starlink to provide basic service, a required step toward ETC designation there (see 2105130043).