The terrestrial use of dynamic radios in satellites bands isn’t “technically feasible and would pose a serious threat of harmful interference to satellite networks,” the Satellite Industry Association said in comments on the FCC. The SIA was responding to a notice of inquiry on increasing efficient use of spectrum through dynamic use technologies. Neither real-time databases nor spectrum sensing technologies could fully protect satellite services from interference, the group said. Blanket-licensed earth stations, receive-only dishes and mobile satellite transceivers couldn’t be protected by a real-time database because accurate location information is necessary, said SIA. Spectrum sensing technologies also couldn’t protect downlinks because a dynamic radio’s “proximity to an earth station has no impact on the aggregate noise that the receiver” on a satellite receives, the association said.

The FCC should proceed with caution as it considers the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), balloon-mounted systems and other aerial base stations that could be quickly dispatched to disaster areas to keep communications alive when other systems falter, CTIA said. The Public Safety Bureau sought comment about low-altitude aerial telecommunications systems in a Jan. 28 public notice. Many of the responses were posted by the FCC Tuesday.

Provisions in the EPA’s recent greenhouse gas reporting rules will hit the U.S. semiconductor industry, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said in a petition for reconsideration filed with the agency. The association also filed a petition for review of the rules with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. “The SIA supports GHG reporting for our industry and we stand ready to work constructively with the EPA to develop a revised rule that achieves our shared environmental goals in a more balanced, cost-effective and less burdensome manner,” said association President Brian Toohey.

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.