September 2011

FCC Issues Comprehensive Data Request in Special Access Proceeding

Taking another important step in its business broadband agenda, the Federal Communications Commission asked for key information regarding the special access market -- services that link cell phone towers, carry data to the Internet, and serve high-volume business customers.

These dedicated, high-capacity links are offered by local telephone companies and purchased by businesses and competitive communications providers. The National Broadband Plan recognized that special access services play a significant role in the availability and pricing of broadband services and recommended that the FCC take steps to ensure that special access rates, terms, and conditions are just and reasonable. The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau requested detailed data on special access prices, revenues, and expenditures. The request includes information on services such as DS1 and DS3 services, as well as packet-based services such as Ethernet. The PN also seeks data about the nature of terms and conditions for special access services. Gathering this data is the next critical step in the FCC’s review of whether special access rates, terms, and conditions are just and reasonable.

Why Verizon just launched a $99 LTE phone

[Commentary] The Pantech Breakout runs on Verizon’s fast 4G network but will only cost $99 after rebate. The low purchase price requires a two-year contract with a minimum 2 GB data plan and is far less than the initial price of Verizon’s other LTE phones, which have typically cost $249 or more at launch. Pantech’s Breakout is more of a mid-tier handset when compared to prior LTE phones, but phones like this will help push consumers on Verizon’s new network. The Breakout uses a 1 GHz single-core processor to drive Android 2.3, can record 720p high-definition video, and provides a 4-inch touchscreen with 800×480 resolution. Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and GPS round out the wireless connections and the phone can share its LTE connection with up to 10 devices using Wi-Fi. A front-facing camera supports video chat and the handset comes preloaded with Swype’s software keyboard for fast text entry. And of course, the phone has access to the many software applications found in the Android Market.

The Breakout offers more than half of the functionality of the more costly smartphones and I wouldn't be surprised to see Verizon steer many customers towards this relatively inexpensive phone. Verizon can expand its LTE user base, and by getting more consumers initially addicted to the faster broadband speeds — making them more likely to buy additional monthly bandwidth — it can start recouping the 4G network investment faster.

How Do You Think Federal Websites Can Improve?

As part of President Obama's Campaign to Cut Waste and the Administration's overall commitment to improving customer service, we're taking a fresh look at how government information and services are delivered on the Internet. To help facilitate the conversation, a number of people from outside of government have agreed to serve as "catalysts" for the discussion and engage others on their comments to flesh out the best ideas.

AT&T vs. Verizon: LTE, Head-to-Head

In head-to-head tests in Houston (TX), AT&T's new LTE network is faster than Verizon's.

Defense to grow industrial base cyber program, DHS may expand to other sectors

The Pentagon this fall expects to make permanent and expand a test program through which the Defense Department shared classified intelligence on cyber threats with select contractors to better secure commercial networks serving the military. The trial that ran from May 9 through Sept. 15 thwarted hundreds of attempted breaches at the roughly 20 participating firms from the defense industrial base, Pentagon officials said.

Japan's defense industry hit by its first cyber attack

Japan's biggest defense contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said hackers had gained access to its computers, with one newspaper saying its submarine, missile and nuclear power plant component factories had been the target.

The company said in a statement that some information could have been stolen in the first known cyber attack on Japan's defense industry. "We've found out that some system information such as IP addresses have been leaked and that's creepy enough," said a Mitsubishi Heavy spokesman. "We can't rule out small possibilities of further information leakage but so far crucial data about our products or technologies have been kept safe," he said, adding the company first noticed the cyberattack on August 11.

Myanmar authorities unblock some banned websites

Myanmar's new government has stopped blocking some foreign websites such as the BBC and YouTube in a gesture toward openness that is tempered by remaining harsh laws that still keep readers of such sites at risk of arrest.

Once-banned websites that were opened this week for viewing include the Voice of America and the British Broadcasting Corp., as well the Democratic Voice of Burma, Radio Free Asia and the video file sharing site YouTube. The unannounced move is the latest step taken by the Southeast Asian nation's new leaders to boost hope, however faint, that authoritarian rule here could finally be easing. The country's long-standing military government handed over power to a nominally civilian regime earlier this year. Since authorities introduced the Internet here about a decade ago, Myanmar -- also known as Burma -- has aggressively monitored online activities and routinely blocked websites seen as critical to the government.

Canadian Bank Launches NFC Based Mobile Payments Service

Canada's Bank of Montreal (BMO) has launched an NFC-based payments service that it is promoting as being able to allow payments in shops by swiping a mobile phone on a terminal by the cashier.

The service is however not reliant on NFC enabled mobile phones as it comes with a sticker that is applied to the back of the phone, and that contains the NFC capabilities. Through MasterCard's inControl platform, Mobile PayPass Tag users can monitor their spending by opting to receive email notifications that report the merchant and exact location of each PayPass purchase they make with their tag. PayPass technology is already embedded in more than seven million of BMO's MasterCard credit cards and they are expanding the service to the mobile phone based sticker -- although in theory, the user could put the sticker on anything they wanted.

German Networks Meet 800Mhz Roll-out Obligations

Germany's mobile networks have met the coverage obligation in the 800MHz band in North-Rhine Westphalia and Saarland, the regulator announced. The three companies, T-Mobile, Vodafone and Telefonica O2 are now able to use the frequencies assigned to them in this band as they wish in the two federal states.

"I'm very happy that the coverage requirements have already been fulfilled in two states in such a short space of time. Following the auction, the companies quickly started broadband expansion, ensuring rapid progress. I expect the frequencies to continue to be used efficiently now, leading to further improvement in broadband coverage", emphasized Matthias Kurth, Bundesnetzagentur President.

Senators question privacy practices of background screening firm

Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Al Franken (D-MN) voiced concern over the practices of an employment screening firm that culls data about job applicants from social media and the Web, arguing the practice could invade consumers' privacy and violate the law.

“According to sample background reports published in the media, information is collected from applicants’ profiles on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, personal websites, and other online information sources that Social Intelligence Corporation matches to applicants," the Senators wrote. "We are concerned that there are numerous scenarios under which a job applicant could be unfairly harmed by the information your company provides to an employer. We are also concerned that your company’s business practices may in some cases violate the law.” Social Intelligence Corp. is a background screening service that stores data on consumers' Web and social media footprints for up to seven years to give employers information about potential hires. The firm says it looks for publicly posted content that is racially insensitive, sexually explicit, or demonstrates clearly illegal activity. Flagrant displays of weaponry are also flagged. Content limited only to users' friends is not included in the searches.

Benton

Search