The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of a TMI Briefing.
White House Smart Cities Initiative
The Obama Administration announced that it is expanding the Smart Cities Initiative with over $80 million in new Federal investments and a doubling of the number of participating cities and communities. In addition, several complementary steps are planned to support local innovation including the Advanced Wireless Research Initiative (wireless technologies including 5G). Four companies are joining the Advanced Wireless Research Initiative, collectively committing over $8 million in in-kind contributions to help support the design, deployment, and operation of four city-scale advanced wireless testing platforms. Click here for the full announcement.
FEMA Emergency Alert System test
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the FCC, will conduct a mandatory nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on September 28, at 2:20 p.m. EDT. September is National Preparedness Month. In addition to conducting the nationwide EAS test, FEMA and the FCC encourage individuals to take action to prepare now and throughout the year. Click here for full Notice.
CRTC Emergency Alert Map
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) unveiled an interactive map identifying which radio and television stations across Canada distribute emergency alert messages. Canadians will also find a list of cable and satellite companies that relay these messages. Click here to read News Release.
California Cybersecurity
The Governor signed a bill that addresses strategy incident response standards. No later than July 1, 2018, the Department of Technology (Department) must update the Technology Recovery Plan element of the State Administrative Manual to ensure the inclusion of cybersecurity strategy incident response standards for each state agency to secure its critical infrastructure controls and critical infrastructure information. No later than July 1, 2019, each state agency must report on its compliance with the incident response standards as directed by the Department The law prohibits public disclosure of reports and public records relating to the cybersecurity strategies of state agencies.
