Telecom Business Alert – Internet of Things; Cybersecurity; 911 Power Outage Rules; FirstNet; LMCC Meeting; New UTC President, Vol XIII, Issue 16

NTIA Internet of Things Proceeding

Last week the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a Notice and Request for Public Comment initiating an inquiry into the Internet of Things (IoT) to review the current technological and policy landscape.  NTIA is seeking input on the potential benefits and challenges of IoT and what role, if any, the U.S. Government should play.  Comments are due by May 23, 2016.  

Cybersecurity Report

Last month, the Office of Management and Budget released its annual cybersecurity report, as mandated by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act. The report provides information on Federal cybersecurity incidents during Fiscal Year 2015 and agencies’ progress in implementing cybersecurity policies and programs to protect their systems, networks, and data.  he report also assigns scores to Federal agencies based on their progress toward meeting program goals. For more information, please contact Tracy Marshall (marshall@khlaw.com; 202.434.4234).

911 Power Outage Rules

Last year the FCC’s rules were changed to require providers of facilities-based, fixed residential voice services to offer subscribers the option to purchase a backup power solution, enabling calls to 911 during power outages.  The effective date of the Subscriber Disclosure portion of those rules has been announced as August 5, 2016.  The Subscriber Disclosure requires providers of Covered Services to disclose to new subscribers at the time of sale and annually thereafter the capability of service to accept backup power, availability of at least one backup power solution, service limitations without backup power, and purchase and replacement information, among other information. For more information, please contact Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).    

FirstNet SPOC Meeting 

FirstNet will host its 2016 Spring Single Points of Contact (SPOC) Meeting in McLean, Virginia tomorrow, April 12.  Over 260 attendees are expected from 54 states and territories.  The meeting will also host PSAC Executive Committee members, Tribal working Group members, and staff from several federal agencies.  Attendance is limited to state representatives and FirstNet personnel.  

LMCC Annual Meeting

The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) will hold its annual Membership Meeting on April 12, 2016 in Washington, DC.  LMCC will host an FCC panel featuring representatives from the Wireless Telecommunications, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Enforcement Bureaus and the Office of Engineering and Technology.  The current President of LMCC and Keller and Heckman Partner Greg Kunkle will preside. For more information, please contact Mr. Kunkle (kunkle@khlaw.com; 202.434.4178).

New UTC President

Last week the Utilities Telecom Council announced the selection of Joy Ditto as its new President and CEO, effective April 27, 2016.  Ditto was previously the Senior Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs for the American Public Power Association (APPA). 

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Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert is a complimentary weekly electronic update created by the Telecommunications and the Business Counseling and Transactional practice groups of Keller and Heckman LLP.  All articles, videos, and quotations are on topics of general interest and do not constitute legal advice for particularized facts.  Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert © 2015.  All rights reserved.  Articles may be copied with attribution.  To sign up for our weekly alert, please send us an email at telecomalert@khlaw.com and provide us with your name and email.  Please follow us on Twitter at @KHtelecom.