CTIA told the FCC that U.S. networks are secure in comments on a notice from the FCC Public Safety Bureau on providers’ implementation of security counter-measures to prevent the exploitation of vulnerabilities in the Signaling System 7 (SS7) and Diameter protocols to track the locations of consumers through their mobile devices. Comments were due Friday in docket 18-99. Major carriers emphasized that their systems were updated to address risks. That was also the industry message when the agency asked about Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council recommendations on diameter protocol security four years ago (see 2003120030). “U.S. providers’ commitment to security has resulted in U.S. networks being relatively more secure from legacy SS7 and Diameter risks than networks in other regions,” CTIA said. CTIA explained that technology is evolving. Legacy SS7 signaling is used today only in legacy 2G and 3G networks and Diameter in 4G and non-stand-alone 5G networks and “was deployed to help reduce risks associated with SS7 and is less susceptible to attacks,” the group said. Stand-alone 5G networks use HTTP/2 for signaling. Verizon said it knows of no successful attempts to access network user location data on its network using weaknesses in the SS7 or Diameter protocols since CSRIC’s adoption of best practices in 2018. “As Verizon explained in response to previous public notices relating to SS7 and Diameter security, in interviews with Commission staff, and in its responses to the Letter of Inquiry received from the Bureau” in October 2022 “we have implemented the relevant recommendations issued by the CSRIC and GSMA on signaling security,” the carrier said. As noted in previous filings, “AT&T has employed an aggressive, multifaceted approach to SS7 and Diameter security” and “continues to take significant, aggressive steps to protect the SS7 and Diameter networks including implementation of CSRIC’s working group recommendation,” the carrier said.
Tuesday marks the last day that eligible households enrolled in the affordable connectivity program will receive full funding, Miriam Montgomery, chief of the FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau’s Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division, noted during a National Association of Telecommunication Officers and Advisors webinar on Monday. The webinar also included an update on the national broadband map.
The FCC Enforcement Bureau wants letters of intent by May 29 from entities interested in leading the industry consortium for robocall traceback efforts, said a public notice Friday. USTelecom's Industry Traceback Group currently holds the position (see 2308180041). Comments on submitted letters of intent are due by June 12, replies by June 19, in docket 20-22.
CTIA representatives met with FCC Public Safety Bureau staff to express general support for commission efforts that will make IoT products more secure through the Cyber Mark program. “CTIA also discussed administration of the Program, including the roles and responsibilities of the Lead Administrator, Cybersecurity Label Administrators, CyberLABs, and the Commission,” said a filing posted Friday in docket 23-239. Commissioners approved the program in March (see 2403140034).
Samsung Electronics America representatives met with FCC Wireless Bureau and Office of Engineering and Technology staff about the company’s request for a waiver on a 5G base station radio that works across citizens broadband radio service and C-band spectrum, said a filing posted Friday in docket 22-93. “Samsung respectfully again urges the Commission to expeditiously grant Samsung’s waiver request based on sound engineering and clear public interest benefits,” the company said. Samsung representatives also met last week with aides for Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (see 2404240036).
The full FCC unanimously approved proposed forfeitures of $857,775 for operators of six Boston-area pirate radio stations at the commissioners' open meeting Thursday. The FCC is a “watchdog” for airwaves, said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel after the vote. When spectrum users fail to comply with FCC rules “and cause harmful interference to others, we take action,” she said. The Boston area has had increasing problems with pirate radio users over the past decade, said Massachusetts Broadcasters Association Executive Director Jordan Walton in an interview. “It’s difficult to stay on top of them and anything the FCC can do to help our taxpaying broadcasters is welcome,” he said. According to a release, the FCC voted a $597,775 notice of apparent liability against Jean Marius, operator of unauthorized radio station Radio Tele Planet Compas in Brockton, Randolph and Mattapan. Also in Brockton, a $120,000 NAL was approved against Renold David, of pirate radio station Lotnivo FM, while Brockton FM’s Joao Vieira and Brockton Heat’s Djovany Pierre and Mario Turner all face $40,000 NALs. Robert Bellinger of TBR Radio in Contuit also faces a $40,000 NAL and Shane Kelly, operator of the pirate radio station The Test 87.9 FM in Hyannis was approved for a $20,000 NAL. All the pirate stations were discovered during a recent Enforcement Bureau sweep of the Boston area, the agency said.
Standard General and its founder Soohyung Kim filed a civil complaint Wednesday charging that Allen Media CEO Byron Allen, Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, along with lawmakers, unions and public interest groups, were partners in a conspiracy and race discrimination aimed at sinking Standard's $8.6 billion purchase of Tegna last year (see 2306010077). The filing was made in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “The FCC Chairwoman and her personal staffer blocked the deal at the behest of Mr. Allen, who used business allies and six-figure political donations to destroy Mr. Kim’s chances of acquiring TEGNA,” the complaint said.
Industry groups largely questioned the wisdom of using the voluntary cyber mark program for IoT devices, approved in March, to further clamp down on international security threats. But the proposals also received some support from the Internet Protocol Video Market (IPVM) and Whirlpool. FCC commissioners approved 5-0 a Further NPRM, along with the implementing order, asking about software and hardware from countries of national security concern and whether data from U.S. citizens will be stored abroad (see 2403140034). Comments were posted Thursday in docket 23-239.
FCC commissioners were met with applause following a 3-2 vote that restored the net neutrality framework and reclassified broadband internet access service (BIAS) as a Communications Act Title II telecom service during the agency's open meeting Thursday (see 2404190038). “Essential services [require] some basic oversight,” Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said. She told reporters following the vote that the rules are "court tested and court approved" because they are "very consistent with" prior rules that were upheld in court: "I'm confident that these rules will also be upheld."
SpaceX wants V-band capabilities on some of its lower-orbiting second-generation Starlink satellites. In an FCC Space Bureau application posted Wednesday, the company asked for authority to include V-band payloads on its second-generation satellites orbiting at 340-360 km. The agency last year approved V-band payloads on second-generation Starlinks operating at 525-535 km (see 2310160053). SpaceX said the FCC giving it more V-band deployment options would augment its broadband service capabilities using V-band frequencies. It said it can share V-band frequencies with other non-geostationary orbit systems and conventional geostationary orbit satellites and terrestrial networks at 300 km without becoming a significant interference threat.