National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace report due to be released today (Wed.) has fewer details on wireless security and tones down language in earlier version that cautioned that security gaps in 802.11 wireless networks should be plugged before secure systems were deployed. Report stresses user education and continued development of wireless security protocols. But it doesn’t contain recommendation of earlier, printer-ready draft that said while efforts continued to improve security of wireless LAN systems, “federal agencies and other organizations requiring security and privacy on their networks should either disconnect from wireless LANs or strictly limit access in a way that provides security.” Instead, final draft said federal agencies should consider installing systems that “continuously check for unauthorized connections to their networks.” Earlier version recommended federal agencies take that step within 6 months, but latest version didn’t define timeline.

European Commission (EC) intends to clear 3G sharing agreements between T-Mobile and mmO2 in U.K. and Germany, it said Tues. Commission said it anticipated significant cost savings from companies sharing network elements that would benefit consumers without limiting network competition. “Such cooperation can bring benefits for the consumer in terms of a faster introduction of new services, more competition and a lesser impact to the environment,” said Comr. Mario Monti, who is responsible for EU competition policy. Network sharing also should lead to greater network coverage, Commission said.

One year after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks destroyed their transmission facilities atop World Trade Center, N.Y. TV stations are concentrating on N.J. as site for new 2,000- ft. tower. Move comes after N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg rejected site on Governors Island (soon to be turned over to city by federal govt.) sought by stations and other possible locations in city. N.J. cities Bayonne and Jersey City are actively competing for tower and “that’s 100% accurate,” we were told by source close to negotiations. Source said broadcasters had held preliminary discussions with officials of both cities. N.J. Gov. James McGreevey also has become involved and has toured several possible sites with N.Y. broadcasters across Hudson River from Manhattan, source said. Metropolitan TV Alliance (MTVA) was formed by N.Y. TV stations following Trade Center attacks and had planned to have new site approved well before now. One of stumbling blocks has been FCC requirement that tower be located within 3-1/2 miles of Trade Center because of interference and air traffic problems. Stations are transmitting at reduced power from temporary facilities atop Empire State Bldg.

PanAmSat purchase of Eutelsat could complicate EchoStar’s plan to take over DirecTV and further consolidate satellite industry, analysts and industry officials say. Wall St. Journal reported PanAmSat and Intelsat had made separate pitches for Eutelsat. No agreements have been reached and talks reportedly still are in preliminary stages, sources said. Intelsat reportedly has offered $3.5-$4 billion. PanAmSat has yet to make formal bid, report said, but it has war chest of $1 billion, which could “make bidding easier,” satellite analyst said. Talks between PanAmSat and Eutelsat are just beginning, Journal said.

In another legal setback for online music file-sharing networks, federal judge granted preliminary injunction against Madster peer-to-peer (P2) service Wed. in response to copyright infringement suit by RIAA and record labels. In order shuttering P2P network that is to take effect Sept. 11, Judge Marvin Aspen of U.S. Dist. Court, Chicago, said Madster -- formerly called Aimster -- “is a service whose very raison d'etre appears to be the facilitation of and contribution to copyright infringement on a massive scale.” He said defendants “managed to do everything but actually steal the music off the store shelf and hand it to Aimster’s users.”

U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is monitoring recent research by NASA on interference to aircraft communications systems posed by ultra-wideband (UWB) devices, agency spokeswoman said. She said CAA would have to be convinced by airlines or UWB developers that technology didn’t pose threat before its use would be allowed on planes in laptop PCs or other devices. Issue has received flurry of attention in U.K. with news reports that any CAA ban would have to entail outlawing use of all laptop computers on aircraft because there would be no way to pinpoint only devices with UWB technology. Earlier this year, NASA’s Langley Research Center conducted tests on United Airlines aircraft in Victorville, Cal., examining impact of UWB emissions to plane radios. NASA in presentation in May to Air Transport Assn. said preliminary test results showed UWB source caused loss of targets on Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System of planes. Limited testing also recorded interference incident at lower emission levels involving part of instrument landing system (ILS). CAA spokeswoman said NASA tests appeared to have involved higher power levels than what would be available on commercially offered UWB equipment. One industry source said ILS system that was tested operated in 108-137 MHz band, below 3.1 to 10.6 GHz at which UWB handheld and indoor systems are allowed to operate. Only emissions from UWB at those levels would be unintentional, source said. TCAS system tested also operated on 2 frequencies that UWB operators aren’t allowed to use, 1030 MHz and 1090 MHz, source said. For now, CAA hasn’t made any decisions on possible UWB ban. “We are waiting for more research to be done,” CAA spokeswoman told us, and “for the technology developers and the airlines if they are looking into it to come to us and tell us that it is not a threat to flight safety.” In U.K., portable electronic devices can’t be used during take-off, landing or when seatbelt sign is on, she said. CAA already has conducted research on interference from wireless phones on ground on frequencies used by those headsets, she said. “We did find that there was potentially significant interference coming from those frequencies.” That led to retention of ban on cellphone use, spokeswoman said, with wireless phone users required to switch off devices when plane’s engines are turned on.

Consumer intentions on buying TV sets fell in Aug. from July for 2nd straight month, according to preliminary data in Conference Board monthly survey. Of 5,000 households polled, 6.7% said they planned to buy TV set in next 6 months, vs. 7.4% in July, 7.7% in June, 7.3% in Aug. 2001. Consumer Confidence Index fell nearly 4 points in Aug., its 2nd decline in as many months, and was at its lowest point since last Nov. Conference Board said findings suggested “consumer spending is not likely to gain momentum any time soon.”

SES Americom asked FCC to force DBS incumbents EchoStar and DirecTV to discuss technical issues as part of petition for declaratory ruling (PDR), it said in ex parte filed late Fri. SES said companies’ refusal to hold coordination discussions on proposed satellite licensed by govt. of Gibralter that would provide DBS service in U.S. violated FCC and ITU regulations. SES plans to establish open DBS platform on which SES Americom2Home customers can lease capacity on satellite that can be used to transmit DBS programming directly to consumers. New satellite, which is expected to be completed by 2004, would be placed at 105.5 W orbital location between EchoStar and DirecTV DBS satellites at 101 degrees W and 110 degreesW (CD Feb 6 p6).

CTIA is soliciting proposals for next phase of research under its Cooperative R&D Agreement (CRADA) with Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on cellphone health effects. Upon FDA’s recommendation, CTIA said new research would focus on epidemiology, including tools for measuring exposure to radio frequency energy from wireless phones. Issues that may be examined include patterns of usage, duration of calls. transmission mode and analysis of exposure changes over time. CTIA and FDA had reached agreement on CRADA in June 2000 for follow-up on cellphone research. Last year, CTIA signed contracts for research under first phase of CRADA with FDA, as part of followup to issues raised by earlier study overseen by Wireless Technology Research and funded by CTIA over 5 years, which had become caught up in controversy and raised preliminary questions for further study. Last year, Sen. Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Rep. Markey (D-Mass.) had stressed need for changes in CRADA to ensure that CTIA followed FDA recommendations on specific research proposals and urging that independence of FDA judgment not be compromised (CD May 22/2001 p1). CTIA said Fri. that FDA “is responsible for the scientific and technical guidance of the research conducted.” Group said studies would be “conducted independently of CTIA and the wireless industry… Changes regarding the scope of work or the direction of research can only be made with FDA approval. Further the FDA will actively oversee the research through a series of regular reports and can request additional reports as necessary.” CTIA said scientists “will own their research,” although contracts require that final results be published in peer- reviewed, scientific journals.

Fighting to stay alive, Globalstar dramatically reduced prices for handsets and rates for calls to unprecedented level as it moved closer to leaving bankruptcy that started 6 months ago, spokesman said Wed. As expected (CD July 22 p4), Globalstar reduced cost for certain high-volume users packages to 17 cents per min. for high-usage calls in U.S. and Caribbean. Similar price plans are expected to be introduced in other global markets, spokesman said. Before cuts were announced, Globalstar prices ranged from 79 cents to $1.60 per min., virtually same as rival Iridium. Handsets also have been reduced 25% from $799 to $599.