A bicameral group of legislators will lead the Congressional Semiconductor Caucus, launched Tuesday at an event on Capitol Hill, said a news release from the office of Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho. Risch, along with Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, and Reps. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., will co-chair the caucus. Representatives from the Semiconductor Industry Association attended the launch event, and in a Wednesday news release, SIA praised the formation of the caucus. It "will provide a venue for members of Congress and industry professionals to share ideas and work collaboratively to advance policies that preserve and strengthen the semiconductor industry," said SIA CEO John Neuffer.
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council objected to a proposal that some interference disputes be resolved by the FCC Office of Administrative Law Judges. “NPSTC does not view the process proposed in this petition to be of any significant benefit in resolving interference to public safety or possibly to other categories of licensees as well,” said NPSTC, which represents numerous public safety entities. AT&T said the Enforcement Bureau is the more appropriate entity for resolving spectrum disputes. Other commenters also questioned the viability of the proposal.
Satellite operators oppose an FCC proposal to charge them a 12-cent-per-subscriber regulatory fee (see 1505290033), and are concerned about what may come next, said DirecTV, Dish Network, EchoStar and Hughes Network in comments on the commission’s regulatory fee NPRM posted in docket 15-121 Tuesday. “There is no limiting principle that would stop the Commission from doubling or tripling the rate next year,” said Dish, saying such an outcome wouldn't be legal or in the public interest, and would negatively affect DBS subscribers.
Industry stakeholders universally praised the FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) report on communications sector cybersecurity risk management for recommending voluntary processes and assurances, with Motorola Solutions saying in comments posted Monday that those recommendations “strike an appropriate balance” between assuring cybersecurity protection and reflecting the interests of all stakeholders. The CSRIC report, adopted in March, was meant to adapt the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework for communications sector use (see 1503180056). Industry groups CTIA and TIA similarly praised the CSRIC report for providing important guidance to the sector (see 1505290042). A separate Department of Commerce Internet Policy Task Force (IPTF) proceeding (see 1504090049 and 1503160059) on possible cybersecurity topics the IPTF should address through multistakeholder work drew multiple filings urging the IPTF to factor the NIST framework into its process.
Industry stakeholders universally praised the FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) report on communications sector cybersecurity risk management for recommending voluntary processes and assurances, with Motorola Solutions saying in comments posted Monday that those recommendations “strike an appropriate balance” between assuring cybersecurity protection and reflecting the interests of all stakeholders. The CSRIC report, adopted in March, was meant to adapt the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework for communications sector use (see 1503180056). Industry groups CTIA and TIA similarly praised the CSRIC report for providing important guidance to the sector (see 1505290042). A separate Department of Commerce Internet Policy Task Force (IPTF) proceeding (see 1504090049 and 1503160059) on possible cybersecurity topics the IPTF should address through multistakeholder work drew multiple filings urging the IPTF to factor the NIST framework into its process.
Global sales of semiconductors reached $83.1 billion in Q1, a 6 percent increase from the same 2014 quarter, the Semiconductor Industry Association said in a Monday report. “Despite macroeconomic challenges, first quarter global semiconductor sales are higher than they were last year, which was a record year for semiconductor revenue,” said SIA President John Neuffer. In March, the Americas region "posted its sixth straight month of double-digit, year-to-year growth to lead all regional markets, and DRAM and analog products continue to be key drivers of global sales growth.”
High regulatory fees for satellite network operators are disconnected from the actual costs for the FCC to regulate them, the Satellite Industry Association said in meetings Thursday and Monday with aides to all commission members, according to an ex parte filing. The agency “must conduct a function-based analysis of full-time equivalents (FTEs) throughout the Commission in order to ensure that current direct and indirect costs are fairly allocated,” SIA said. The FCC “can do more to determine which licensees are directly benefited by many of the FTEs currently categorized as ‘indirect,’" SIA said. “Such a recalculation will ensure that fees are assessed more accurately and fairly.”
Newly introduced Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation is aimed at improving U.S. digital trade provisions and leading the way for trade pacts with countries in Asia and Europe, industry groups said. Introduced Thursday, the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 would also strengthen Congress' ability to slow trade agreement implementation bills, lawmakers said. Aside from procedural and transparency modifications, the bill largely mirrors the TPA legislation introduced in the last Congress.
Newly introduced Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation is aimed at improving U.S. digital trade provisions and leading the way for trade pacts with countries in Asia and Europe, industry groups said. Introduced Thursday, the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 would also strengthen Congress' ability to slow trade agreement implementation bills, lawmakers said. Aside from procedural and transparency modifications, the bill largely mirrors the TPA legislation introduced in the last Congress.
Newly introduced Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation is aimed at improving U.S. digital trade provisions and leading the way for trade pacts with countries in Asia and Europe, industry groups said. Introduced Thursday, the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 would also strengthen Congress' ability to slow trade agreement implementation bills, lawmakers said. Aside from procedural and transparency modifications, the bill largely mirrors the TPA legislation introduced in the last Congress.