The FTC is reviewing comments from more than 250 organizations and individuals in its privacy report proceeding. Some trade groups and industry folks in the online advertising and geospatial sectors asked for more focused definitions regarding practices that deem a company exempt from seeking consumer consent to collect data. Comments are due Friday.
FCC action in developing rules for efficient use of V-band spectrum will help allay the shortage of feeder link spectrum for broadband use but it should move forward with a “light hand,” the Satellite Industry Association said in comments on the FCC’s proposed rulemaking for the band. The FCC is working toward making rules meant to increase the sharing of 37.5-42.5 GHz spectrum by terrestrial and satellite services. The agency should “embrace a flexible regulatory approach that does not impinge unnecessarily on satellite operators” that are designing systems to work with international and FCC spectrum frameworks, said SIA.
While it doesn’t take a position on net neutrality, the Safe Internet Alliance said the FCC vote Tuesday on net neutrality raises several consumer issues. The commission said in its order that ISPs should disclose accurate information regarding their network management practices sufficient for consumers to make informed choices on Internet service. But ISPs should also undertake network management practices to protect consumer privacy and safety, said SIA President Linda Criddle. For example, some network management information would be useful to hackers, she said. Also, the FCC said ISPs should not block lawful content. But slowing some content in favor of others could be important for consumers, such as giving video streaming for remote medical assistance a higher priority than entertainment, she said. The FCC also defined network management that’s acceptable as technical management of a service, providing consumers with safety tools to manage their own content and managing network congestion. Other categories may be necessary, said Criddle.
While it doesn’t take a position on net neutrality, the Safe Internet Alliance said the FCC vote Tuesday on net neutrality raises several consumer issues. The commission said in its order that ISPs should disclose accurate information regarding their network management practices sufficient for consumers to make informed choices on Internet service. But ISPs should also undertake network management practices to protect consumer privacy and safety, said SIA President Linda Criddle. For example, some network management information would be useful to hackers, she said. Also, the FCC said ISPs should not block lawful content. But slowing some content in favor of others could be important for consumers, such as giving video streaming for remote medical assistance a higher priority than entertainment, she said. The FCC also defined network management that’s acceptable as technical management of a service, providing consumers with safety tools to manage their own content and managing network congestion. Other categories may be necessary, said Criddle.
Industry players on all sides expressed general support for FCC efforts to add spectrum for wireless backhaul. But reply comments on proposals to change FCC rules (CD Aug 6 p5) expressed reservations about several of the measures, especially one to allow fixed service (FS) operations to share several spectrum bands now used by the Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) and the Cable TV Relay Service. Several of the proposals grew out of the National Broadband Plan.
Industry commenters saw potential problems in various proposals by the FCC to change its rules to push more use of spectrum for wireless backhaul, as proposed in part in the National Broadband Plan. Comments on the Aug. 5 proposals were due this week. The comments said more use of wireless backhaul could both cut the cost of CMRS service and mean better coverage in rural areas (CD Aug 6 p5). The NBP proposed extensive spectrum sharing among the Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS), the Cable Television Relay Service (CARS) and the Fixed Service, sought comment on the use of adaptive modulation and on a Wireless Strategies proposal to allow FS licensees to coordinate primary and multiple auxiliary links.
The European Commission has posted a report on the key sustainability issues that will be considered and methodologies that will be employed in conducting the Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) of the EUCanada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The report includes an overview the negotiations to date, a description of the impact assessment, factors inhibiting trade between the EU and Canada, etc.
Consolidation in the wholesale satellite capacity market has made it less competitive than other satellite markets, said Spacenet, in comments to the FCC. The company was responding to the International Bureau’s public notice requesting information for the annual satellite competition report. The wholesale market is “dominated” by Intelsat and SES World Skies, which “now control some 83 percent of the data network services transponders serving the U.S.,” said Spacenet, which buys wholesale capacity from operators. New entrants to the market are unlikely since Intelsat and SES World Skies already control or have rights to 2/3 of the 31 orbital slots able to provide service to the U.S., they said. The agency shouldn’t treat all satellite capacity as “fungible” since a change in satellite providers is a difficult process, requiring major adjustments to terminals and earth stations, Spacenet said.
More needs to be done to spur competition in the U.S. wireless market, rural groups and Free Press said as the FCC embarks on preparation of its next annual report on wireless competition. AT&T and Verizon attacked the FCC’s latest competition report, reiterating their stance that the market is competitive, as did CTIA. Comments on the report were due Friday.
Wireless Strategies and the FCC Wireless Bureau need to answer several questions on the effect of distributed radiating elements on satellite communications before the agency moves forward on a rulemaking on the subject, the Satellite Industry Association said in a filing on WSI’s proposal on DREs. WSI proposed deploying DREs as a way to increase reuse of microwave frequencies in 2007. The proposal saw new light recently when it was referenced in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan. The bureau is preparing to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to make changes to part 101 of the FCC’s rules which govern fixed microwave services and has sought some industry input before moving forward, the SIA said in a filing. The association has met with the International Bureau and the Office of the Engineering and Technology in recent months to voice its concerns on the issue.