Broadcasters having satellite phones on hand and pressing more stations to sign up for the FCC's disaster information reporting system are among items the FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council is considering for dealing with emergencies. CSRIC adopted two working group reports Tuesday, one on broadcaster best practices and one on 911 interoperability in the transition from legacy to IP-based networks. The approved reports weren't posted Tuesday.
The rapid escalation in the number of confirmed U.S. cases of COVID-19 Tuesday continued turning life topsy-turvy for millions in various sectors, including telecom and consumer electronics. New Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance urging Americans to avoid crowds larger than 10 people was making telework the new normal and sending more events and functions to the virtual domain.
The coronavirus pandemic could have contradictory effects on European telecom providers, officials said in recent interviews. Demand may rise as people increasingly work from home. or fall from customers who lose their jobs or get COVID-19. European telcos said their supply chain hasn't been affected. U.K. ISPs said they can handle increased usage. Authorities said EU privacy rules must still be followed.
Sprint temporarily closed 71% of its retail locations and cut back store hours in those remaining open, in response to the spread of COVID-19, it said Tuesday. New store hours are Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
Advertisers raised the specter of litigation Tuesday as a Maryland digital tax bill neared final passage. Maryland state senators amended a smoking tax bill (HB-732) Monday to include the text of SB-2 that would impose taxes on annual gross revenue from digital ad services, ranging from 2.5% to 10%, for companies exceeding $100 million annual revenue. A New York state senator proposed a similar bill there on Friday.
FCC plans to vote in April to allow Wi-Fi to share the 6 GHz band (see 2003050058) are in doubt because of complications from the coronavirus, Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel said during a New America teleconference Tuesday. Most FCC staffers have been telecommuting since last week.
The FCC should act quickly to help school districts give students the devices and connectivity they need to learn online while schools are closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks, educational technology stakeholders said in recent interviews. An estimated 6 million to 12 million K-12 schoolchildren don't have residential broadband. Some school districts are postponing online classes until all their students can be connected.
After a broadcast tower company suspended work for two weeks because of the novel coronavirus, the FCC announced Tuesday it will allow stations that can’t meet the upcoming phase 9 deadline because of COVID-19-related delays to shift to the next phase (see 2003170023). Phase 10, which begins May 3, is scheduled to be the final phase of the repacking.
The COVID-19 pandemic is clouding the outlook for the wireless industry in coming months, with the government asking people to stay home and carriers temporarily closing many retail outlets, analysts said. Meanwhile, the FCC gave T-Mobile special temporary authority Sunday to use additional spectrum in the 600 MHz band for 60 days to help it meet increased customer demand for broadband during the pandemic.
The Senate on Monday agreed to a 77-day extension to vote on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization. The USA Freedom Reauthorization Act, which would end NSA’s call detail records program (see 2003110077), passed the House 278-136 Wednesday. Key Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act authorities, including the CDR program, expired Sunday.