Communication at a distance, especially the electronic transmission of signals via the telephone
Telecommunication
The Stop Illegal Robocalls Expo will feature technologies, devices and applications to minimize or eliminate the number of illegal robocalls consumers receive. The Expo is free for the public to attend. It will provide a platform for showcasing innovative technologies, devices and applications that will improve consumers' daily lives by combatting illegal robocalls.
Witnesses
Mr. Aaron Foss
Founder, Nomorobo
Mr. Ethan Garr
Chief Product Officer, RoboKiller
Mr. Scott Hambuchen
Executive Vice President, Technology and Solution Development, First Orion Corp.
Ms. Maureen Mahoney
Policy Analyst, Consumers Union
The hearing will examine the problem of malicious spoofing and abusive robocalls designed to defraud consumers, as well as measures being taken by government and industry to protect consumers.
Witnesses
FCC Meeting Agenda for April 2018
The Federal Communications Commission will hold an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below on Tuesday, April 17, 2018:
How Localities Can Prepare for—and Capitalize on—the Coming Wave of Public Safety Network Construction
In the coming months, localities around the nation can expect to begin receiving a flood of applications to construct the first of hundreds—perhaps thousands—of new telecommunications towers up to 300 feet high, plus applications to attach hundreds of thousands of “small cell” wireless devices on buildings, utility poles, and new structures. A major driver of this activity is FirstNet, the federal organization overseeing the deployment of a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). These developments will bring clear public safety benefits.
Now that the RAY BAUM’S Act is Law, What's In It?
On March 23, 2018, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1625, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018. H.R. 1625's 2,232 pages make for a great read, but if you're looking for just the telecommunications policy highlights, let's thumb through straight to Division P, the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018 or the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018 which reauthorizes the Federal Communications Commission and does a whole bunch more. The bill completes a process began three years ago.
Verizon asks FCC to accelerate Philadelphia copper retirement to accommodate new bridge construction
Verizon has asked the Federal Communications Commission to accelerate its request to retire some of its copper facilities in Southern Philadelphia (PA) due to two bridge replacements being conducted by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). In its request to the FCC, Verizon said that SEPTA and PennDOT planned to replace two bridges in Philadelphia: the Allens Lane Bridge in Verizon’s Chestnut Hill, wire center and the Woodland Avenue Bridge in its Saratoga wire center.
Chairman Pai announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the April 2018 Open Commission Meeting:
Public Safety’s Exclusive Communications Platform Comes to Life With Nationwide Launch of the FirstNet Dedicated Network Core
First responders perform a specialized job. And with the launch of the FirstNet network core, first responders now have access to a truly specialized communications system that can keep up with their needs. While we’ve already given first responders access to the early benefits of FirstNet, the launch of the FirstNet evolved packet core is a major breakthrough for public safety. Built on physically separate hardware, it finally gives first responders their own separate, nationwide broadband network.
Behind Dueling AT&T, Verizon Public Safety Core Network Announcements
In separate announcements, AT&T and Verizon provided launch details for core networks to support mobile broadband service for public safety users. A key capability of both the AT&T and Verizon public safety offerings is to prioritize public safety network traffic and, where necessary, to pre-empt regular commercial traffic – a capability that could be important in the case of a major emergency.