| This week's sponsor is Accunet. |  | Building a Scalable Big Data Infrastructure
Download this complimentary whitepaper about how the Accunet Solutions team architected a new infrastructure for the National Cancer Institute's Frederick National Laboratory. |
Editor's Corner: The problem of reverse auctions Also Noted: Federal Cloud Computing Summit
Spotlight On... New bill aims to ban in-flight calls
Flashlight app kept users in the dark about sharing location data; BlackBerry says making headway with government clients; and much more...  Follow @fiercegovit on Twitter
More News From the FierceMobileGovernment Network:
1. NSA tracks location through global cellphone data
2. NSA uses Google cookies to identify hacking targets
3. New White House open government plan looks good on paper, say transparency advocates
| This week's sponsor is Acronis and MobileIron. |  | Webinar: MobileIron and Acronis Deliver Secure File Access & Editing on Android
Thursday, December 12th, 11am ET /8am PT Join us on December 12th to learn how Acronis mobilEcho and MobileIron AppConnect together provide a complete solution for organizations supporting Android smart phones and tablets. Register Today! |
| 
The problem of reverse auctions
 The Federal Communications Commission Dec. 6 announced it would push its much-anticipated spectrum auction back an entire year.
No one has doubted it would be difficult to execute, but the FCC's decision serves as something of an admission of just how many details still need to be hashed out. The auction combines a reverse auction, which allows broadcasters sell back their spectrum rights, repacking of that spectrum by the FCC and a forward auction that will let carriers bid on spectrum for wireless broadband, among other things. The problem, said Gary Epstein, the chair of the commission's Incentive Auction Task Force, in a Dec. 10 hearing, is not the forward auction--the FCC feels prepared there. But it lacks experience designing reverse auctions and merging a reverse and forward auction into a single process, he said. Epstein's right, reverse auctions can be hairy. At the hearing Epstein acknowledged that even with the "best auction design and software people in the world" working on the project the FCC has been unable to craft a clear strategy for the reverse auction and meshing it with the forward auction. With such a high-profile reverse auction on the line, and the demand for $7 billion in revenue from the effort in order to fund the planned nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network, FirstNet, it's hard to fault the FCC for being cautious. Reverse auctions have a track record of poor execution and high costs. - Molly |
|
Today's Top News 1. FirstNet issues RFI for mobile apps
 FirstNet has taken an initial step toward the development of applications for the public safety broadband network as well as a mobile app platform.
In a request for information dated Nov. 25, FirstNet asks about capabilities ranging from an app store to security features. Mobile apps "will transform the way public safety completes its mission," FirstNet General Manager Bill D'Agostino said in press release. FirstNet is seeking companies with experience working with public safety data, integrating data from several sources, handling it securely, encrypting it and providing an audit trail. It also wants a platform that has an identity management system. Along with an app store to distribute its apps, FirstNet will need a platform to test and verify them. The RFI also inquires about industry's ability to provide priority, pre-emption and related services for network users. The responses, due Jan. 17, will also help FirstNet determine the feasibility of contracting with small businesses, the RFI says. For more:
- go to the RFI on FedBizOpps Related Articles:
FirstNet releases batch of RFIs for network elements
FirstNet compiles roadmap for devices coming to market Read more about: FirstNet, cybersecurity
back to top |
| This week's sponsor is Aruba Networks. |  | Lopez Research: The New World of Mobility Management
Mobility management continues to evolve as BYOD and mobile application deployments become more commonplace. There isn't a "one size fits all" strategy. It is important to implement an enterprise mobility management solution that secures corporate data while maintaining employee privacy and device usability. Download to learn more. |
2. FCC pushes back incentive auction to allow for tests
 The need to test complex software will push the Federal Communications Commission's incentive auction back to mid-2015, said Gary Epstein, the chair of the commission's Incentive Auction Task Force.
The FCC is comfortable with the forward auction process, Epstein told the Senate Commerce Committee during a hearing Dec. 10. But it lacks experience designing reverse auctions and merging a reverse and forward auction into a single process, he said. "We have some of the best auction design and software people in the world working both on the inside and outside as contractors with us, but that's not sufficient," Epstein said. "In the combination of both the reverse auction and the forward auction, it is a challenge, but one which we know that we have to meet." The commission, contractors and potential participants--television broadcasters planning to sell spectrum and wireless carriers planning to buy it--will need time to test out the software and design. In a Dec. 6 blog post where he announced the mid-2015 auction date, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler noted that the commission will have to try out the auction software under a range of scenarios to ensure it functions seamlessly. The commission originally planned to hold the auction in mid-2014. "We must also ensure that the operating systems and software to run it work from the moment the first bid is placed, until the final broadcast station is relocated or 'repacked,'" he said, likening the format's moving parts to a Rubik's cube. "Managing a complex undertaking such as this also requires an ongoing commitment to continuously and honestly assess its readiness and its project plan," he noted. For more:
- go to the hearing webpage (prepared testimonies and webcast available) Related Articles:
Spectrum auction not all about revenue, says OSTP official
Former FCC economist: No good reason to restrict auction Read more about: spectrum auctions, Gary Epstein
back to top |
3. FCC commits to freeing up more spectrum for mHealth
 The Federal Communications Commission is focused on making more spectrum available for mobile health innovation, said Julius Knapp, the chief of FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology.
"We're going to continue to work on spectrum for both licensed and unlicensed," said Knapp Dec. 6 during the mHealth Innovation Expo at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. "We also have some work ahead I think on things that we can do to possibly create medical test beds and to see how we can improve upon our authorization program at the FCC and similar programs at the FDA to make that process as straightforward for people as possible," Knapp added. There's been much focus recently on accessing spectrum for smartphones and tablets, but many of those same provisions for opening spectrum will also benefit mobile medical applications, he said. Just last year the FCC adopted an order to allocate spectrum for medical body area networks. These networks can free up patients for greater movement in rehab and eliminate the wires and cables that tether patients to monitors. Micro-powered networks are also expanding to help medical devices and even prosthetic limbs function better. "We still have a lot of work ahead of us and this is just the start. And I think we've got a commitment here from all the staff—the FCC and other federal agencies—to continue to support and measure this," said Knapp. Related Articles:
ITU, WHO launch mHealth initiative to combat non-communicable diseases
Mobile could dramatically improve life for those in weak and failed states, says paper
Agencies seek feedback on mobile health app regulation Read more about: mHealth, unlicensed spectrum
back to top |
4. ACLU calls for better digital privacy standards
Electronic privacy laws haven't kept up with technology and with the mass aggregation of mobile data, American Civil Liberties Union staff attorney Catherine Crump wrote in a post that originated on Slate. "Congress has failed to meaningfully update the rules since 1986, and so the legal standards the government is using are far too lax," Crump says in the Dec. 9 post. Crump's concern comes after Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) asked the major cellphone companies to disclose how frequently they receive requests from law enforcement for customer call records, which include the content of communications, numbers dialed, websites visited and location data. T-Mobile and AT&T together received nearly 600,000 requests for customer information in 2012, Crump says. AT&T has to employ more than 100 full-time workers to process them and police demand for call records is growing rapidly, with requests to Verizon doubling in the last five years, she says. "It used to be impossible for law enforcement agents to monitor all of the people all of the time, but now our cellphone carriers do it for them," Crump says. The Fourth Amendment requires law enforcement agents to get a warrant to read postal mail, she says, and digital communication shouldn't be any different. But AT&T discloses stored texts or voicemails that are older than 180 days old with a subpoena, Crump says. The letters also show that in its search for evidence about guilty people, law enforcement often obtains the data of thousands of innocent people, she says. "It's long past time for Congress to update our electronic privacy laws," Crump says. "For starters, it should raise the standards law enforcement must meet to access cell phone records. The content of communications and location data should always require a warrant." For more:
- go to the Slate blog post
- go to the Markey letters Related Articles:
Mobile-based development projects must consider privacy, security, says paper
Police body cameras could serve as check against power abuse, ACLU says Read more about: T-mobile, Edward Markey
back to top |
5. FTC unveils responsive site
The Federal Trade Commission Dec. 9 launched an update to FTC.gov. Among the website's features is a responsively-designed format, which allows users to access the site just as easily from a smartphone or tablet as they do on a desktop. "On the site, you can navigate easily with a phone or tablet--the site responds to your device's screen size," says a Dec. 9 blog post from the FTC. While responsive design allows content to be placed in containers that adjust according to the viewer's screen size, it doesn't address adjustments needed to make content easier to digest via mobile. FTC addressed content issues in the update as well--in part by improving web services offered through the site. Visitors can now filter thousands of documents, reports and cases. Another updated tool is the FTC's Complaint Assistant, which is used to report fraud or other consumer problems. "Intrested in pre-merger notifications? You'll be interested that our early terminations database is now searchable," explains a video released by the FTC in conjunction with the launch. The video also says the redesign was based on "months of research and interviews with users like you," to ensure that the new site doesn't just provide better access no matter the device, but better services. For more:
- go to the FTC blog post
- watch the FTC video Related Articles:
Congress.gov: Why there isn't an app for that
'Create once, publish everywhere' model comes to government
USA.gov, GobiernoUSA.gov unveil mobile-friendly sites Read more about: FTC, responsive web design
back to top |
Also Noted | This week's sponsor is Federal Cloud Computing Summit. |  | Join cloud computing thought leaders from the Federal government at a one-day symposium featuring cutting-edge technology from leading cloud computing innovators.
December 17, Washington, D.C.
For more information, visit www.cloudfedsummit.com
|
SPOTLIGHT ON... New bill aims to ban in-flight calls Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) announced Dec. 9 he would introduce a bill (.pdf) to prohibit the use of cellphones for in-flight calls. The proposal comes on the heels of news that the Federal Communications Commission is considering allowing the use of cellphones on flights. Shuster said using mobile devices for texting for web access makes sense during flights, but phone calls could be problematic given planes are already "noise, crowded, and confined," he said. > Flashlight app kept users in the dark about sharing location data: FTC. Article (WashPo)
> Reps. Walden and Upton pushing for new Communications Act. Article (LA Times)
> BlackBerry says making headway with government clients. Article (Reuters)
> NSA tracking cellphone locations worldwide, Snowden documents show. Article (WashPo)
> AT&T and T-Mobile received 600,000 government requests for user data last year. Article (The Verge) And Finally… A photo tour of the Yucatan's caves. Article (Yucatan for 91 Days blog) > Federal Cloud Computing Summit - December 17, 2013 - Washington, DC Cloud thought leaders from the Federal government will convene for a collaborative one-day symposium. This dynamic event will include a Technology Showcase featuring cutting-edge technology from leading cloud innovators. More information can be found at: www.cloudfedsummit.com > Federal Mobile Computing Summit - January 22, 2014 - Washington, DC Mobile thought leaders from the Federal government will convene for a collaborative one-day symposium. This dynamic event will include a Technology Showcase featuring cutting-edge technology from leading mobile innovators. More information can be found at: www.mobilefeds.com
| > Whitepaper: Customer Experience for Service This Executive Brief explores the role of service and support in creating great customer experiences, the service goals market leaders use related to customer experience and the Oracle approach for empowering new service experiences. Download today! > Whitepaper: How to Transform Your Mobile Customer Care Strategy It's all about the SCI: the smart, connected interaction. It's not easy - mobility increases the number of variables going into each interaction, requires the preservation of context across channels, but it allows each interaction to naturally evolve. Read this document to learn how to go SCI and naturally connect with your customers. | |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.