President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing federal agencies to “prioritize investments” in artificial intelligence R&D. The American Artificial Intelligence Initiative promotes long-term research, access to federal data, novel AI applications and AI skills training for the federal workforce.
Telecom interests advised the FCC to encourage wireless network resiliency improvements through coordination with electric utilities, going easy on mandates. Utilities urged more telecom sector engagement with state and local authorities, and greater network protections, including through backup power. Comments were posted in docket 11-60 through Monday on a Jan. 3 Public Safety Bureau public notice seeking ways to increase such coordination amid emergencies (see 1901030037). Some telco and cable parties cited their backhaul efforts, responding to a Dec. 10 PN (see 1812100027).
The 1996 Telecom Act was a success but needs an update to connect those still unserved, former FCC officials and industry representatives agreed Sunday on a Telecom Staff Subcommittee panel. It’s unlikely to happen this Congress due to political divisions, they said. Former FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Gigi Sohn, former aide to ex-Chairman Tom Wheeler, urged states to stand up. Some state officials responded that pre-emption makes that difficult.
Clearing C-band through a mix of sale of spectrum by satellite operators and an overlay auction of terrestrial mobile licenses is meeting some skepticism. Spectrum and satellite consultant Tim Farrar blogged Saturday that no side in the band-clearing debate is seemingly interested in compromise, though the sale-overlay auction mix is obvious. Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, said even if the idea were practical, it would "be just another fig leaf [justifying] an unnecessary and unjustifiable windfall" for satellite operators.
Critics of T-Mobile's proposed buy of Sprint framed their case Monday against key aspects of the carriers' argument for federal regulators to sign off on the deal, citing aftereffects of the completed T-Mobile/Iowa Wireless (iWireless) transaction to illustrate what they say will be negative effects on rural wireless customers (see 1709270066). T-Mobile/Sprint drew attention elsewhere in Washington Monday, including at a NARUC conference. Two House subcommittees are gearing up for hearings later this week (see 1902060062).
One question for the FCC on the 5.9 GHz band's future is whether to act on a 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) waiver to deploy cellular vehicle-to-everything technology (C-V2X) in the upper 20 MHz of the band or wait for a broader NPRM. Industry officials said that with Chairman Ajit Pai quiet so far, it's tough to predict what the FCC will do. The band is allocated to dedicated short-range communications (DSRC).
The FCC is on track to issue a reimbursement plan for low-power TV, translators and FM stations in March, said industry lawyers. A public notice and progress report Monday announced allocation of additional repacking funds and reported the repacking is “ahead of schedule.” Broadcast officials told the Incentive Auction Task Force last week that repacking delays are worsening and could degrade further due to a lack of tower crews (see 1902080059).
Universal Service Administrative Co. hasn't de-enrolled any Lifeline users who failed the national verifier's automatic reverification, and no decision has been made on when that will happen, USAC Vice President-Lifeline Michelle Garber told the Telecom Staff Subcommittee at NARUC Sunday. A state commissioner and subcommittee members grilled Garber on high rates of users failing the automated check due to the NV not accessing all databases relevant to determining eligibility, with USAC not even trying to access them in higher cost states.
Amazon is focused on “engaging with our new neighbors -- small business owners, educators, and community leaders. Whether it’s building a pipeline of local jobs through workforce training or funding computer science classes for thousands of New York City students, we are working hard to demonstrate what kind of neighbor we will be,” an Amazon spokesperson emailed us Friday in response to reports the company is reconsidering its plans to build its HQ2 headquarters in New York’s Long Island City.
Intelligence agencies need to re-examine federal guidance, last updated in 2011, for collecting public-facing online and social media data, Alexander Joel, Office of the Director of National Intelligence civil liberties chief, told the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Friday. Basic principles guiding agencies are “good ones,” Joel said during PCLOB’s first public hearing since May 2015. Agencies worry about First Amendment protections and whether officials should be explicitly linked to a person’s social network to collect public-facing data, Joel said. Collecting publicly facing data on individuals can be critical to developing overseas intelligence and preparing data for policymakers, he said.