In a Tues. notice of proposed rulemaking, the FCC asked a battery of questions about steps the Commission could take to protect customer proprietary network information (CPNI). The Commission at least broaches the possibility of a number of mandates wireless carriers decry as burdensome. An FCC press release on the NPRM preceded the document itself by a week.
American Shipper reports that since February 2005, representatives from six ocean carriers and a committee of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) have been meeting and while these meetings have not yet resulted in tangible progress, the article states that the fact that the two sides are talking constructively is a major step in resolving their differences. (American Shipper, dated 12/05, www.americanshipper.com.)
The FCC late Fri. released a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require all telecom carriers to submit to the Commission each year certifications providing details on their protocols for protecting customer proprietary network information (CPNI). The FCC proposed that with the certificates a carrier submit a summary of all consumer complaints the previous year on the unauthorized release of CPNI, and a summary of any actions taken against data brokers.
The FCC likely will ask a battery of questions but draw few “tentative conclusions” in an imminent notice of proposed rulemaking on guarding customer records, sources said. Given the current dearth of detailed customer proprietary network information (CPNI) rules at FCC, the Commission is expected to issue few additional citations based on thousands of CPNI certifications filed for the record in recent days, a mandate the agency temporarily reimposed as part of an investigation (CD Feb 1 p5), they said. The FCC remains on track to release the NPRM later this week, Chmn. Martin told reporters Wed.
DoD will create an interoperable authentication network with the Federation for Identity & Cross-Credentialing Systems (FiXs), said that organization of large IT companies. The agreement formalizes cooperation between FiXs and DoD’s Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) back to 2003 to develop secure authentication of each other’s employees without compromising personal information. Each employer maintains its employees’ information -- as with bank customers and commercial ATMs -- but members follow a common set of operating rules and a uniform trust model. The FiXs board and other committees will include a DMDC member and FiXs will have similar representation at DMDC forums and meetings, FiXs said Mon. Each is using its own trust brokers to route identification verification requests between participating companies. FiXs includes BearingPoint, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, ChoicePoint, Citigroup and others. The agreement is in line with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which requires a standard for “secure and reliable forms of identification” for govt. employees and contractors. In a recent report, the Cyber Security Industry Alliance called HSPD-12 a “toothless tiger” because it lacks dedicated funding (WID Dec 14 p1).
House Commerce Committee members said Fri. they sent letters demanding answers from operators of Internet sites such as phonebust.com and datafind.org that offer to sell detailed records of a person’s phone calls made on cellular, wireline or VoIP phones. The letters are the first stage of an investigation by the Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, which has subpoena power to obtain records and testimony from uncooperative witnesses.
House Commerce Committee members said Fri. they sent letters demanding answers from operators of Internet sites such as phonebust.com and datafind.org that offer to sell detailed records of a person’s phone calls made on cellular, wireline or VoIP phones. The letters are the first stage of an investigation by the Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, which has subpoena power to obtain records and testimony from uncooperative witnesses.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may soon implement "Phase 4", CBP's next step in enforcing mandatory advance electronic information requirements for truck carriers, as required by the Trade Act of 2002.
CBP has posted to its Web site a revised version of a document entitled: Operating Procedures for Trade Community Regarding Implementation of the Wood Packaging Materials (WPM) Regulation." (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/15/05 news 05091505 for BP summary of initial version.)
T-Mobile sought injunctions in Wash. against data brokers Anderson Private Investigators and Global Information Group, which it believes “unlawfully obtained and sold call records.” Last week, T-Mobile sought a temporary restraining order against Locatecell.com. The carrier has also sent cease and desist orders against companies it believes illegally obtained and sold calling records. AT&T, meanwhile, said in a statement it was working with the FCC after it was hit this week with a proposed penalty for failure to protect customer proprietary network information. AT&T submitted a certificate for SBC but not for premerger AT&T (CD Feb 1 p5). “A copy of the officer’s certificate attesting to those procedures hasn’t been located,” the company said. “The company is rectifying the mistake and is working with the FCC to ensure full compliance.”