1. Monthly archive
  2. February 2020

February 2020

CBO Scores the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 219

The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (HR 4998) would establish a program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, to reimburse certain US communications providers for the cost of removing and replacing equipment or services made or provided by entities, including certain companies based in China, that are deemed to pose a national security risk. The act would prohibit recipients of FCC subsidies from using those funds to purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise obtain communications equipment or services that could threaten national security.

Emergency Alerting: Agencies Need to Address Pending Applications and Monitor Industry Progress on System Improvements

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Modernization Act, enacted in 2016, required the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in consultation and coordination with Federal Communications Commission, to enhance and test the capabilities of IPAWS and increase its adoption among state and local public safety agencies. GAO was asked to review the federal response to recent natural disasters. This report examines, among other things: (1) trends in the use of IPAWS and (2) actions that FEMA and FCC have taken to modernize IPAWS and increase its adoption.

SpaceX could spin off Starlink satellite business and take it public

Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to spin out and pursue a public offering of its budding space-internet business Starlink, giving investors a chance to buy into one of the most promising operations within the closely held company. Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Summary: Chairman Pai's C-band Proposal

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai shared draft rules that would reform the use of the C-band and make a large amount of spectrum available for 5G, the next generation of wireless technology. The C-band is a 500-megahertz segment of spectrum from 3.7 to 4.2 GHz, which is now mostly used by fixed satellite companies to beam content to video and audio broadcasters, cable systems, and other content distributors. However, satellite companies don’t need the entire C-band to provide the services they are providing today.

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