FCC Launches Small Biz Cyber Planner, A New Easy-To-Use Online Resource To Empower Small Businesses With Cybersecurity Plans

NEWS Federal Communications Commission.November 17, 2011.Washington, D.C. – Today, as part of an unprecedented collaboration with government experts and private IT and security companies, the FCC is releasing the Small Biz Cyber Planner, a new easy-to-use online tool to help small businesses customize their own cybersecurity plans. The online tool is available at www.fcc.gov/cyberplanner.

The Small Biz Cyber Planner online resource will enable any small business to create a customized guide tailored to its cybersecurity needs by answering a few basic questions. By using this tool and implementing the planning guide, businesses can protect themselves, their information, and their
customers from cyber threats.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “With larger companies increasing their online defenses, small businesses are now the low hanging fruit for cyber criminals. This tool will be of particular value for businesses that lack the resources to hire a dedicated staff member to protect themselves from cyberthreats. Even a business with one computer can benefit from this important guidance.”

The new online tool was developed as part of a collaboration with government experts and private IT and security companies, including DHS, NCSA, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Chertoff Group, Symantec, Sophos, Visa, Microsoft, HP, McAfee, The Identity Theft Council, ADP and others.

In October, as part of National Cybersecurity Month, FCC Chairman Genachowski joined The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several corporate executives to announce this initiative. At the event, Symantec and The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) announced the results of a new survey finding that while 85 percent of small businesses think their companies are cyber-secure, barely half of these businesses actually have a cybersecurity strategy or plan in place.

Also this month, Hewlett Packard is distributing the FCC’s Cybersecurity Tip Sheet through its HP.com Security Center, its small business newsletter, and via the HP Support Assistant, an application preinstalled on most HP PC’s. This distribution by Hewlett Packard will reach millions of small business
owners.

For more information, including the FCC Small Business Cybersecurity Tip Sheet to help small businesses understand basic cybersecurity precautions, visit www.fcc.gov/cyberforsmallbiz.

Committee Releases Report on the Workload of the Federal Communications Commission

November 15, 2011.WASHINGTON, DC–The House Energy and Commerce Committee today released a report on the Workload of the Federal Communications Commission. The report is a summary of data, requested by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL), regarding the number of complaints, petitions, applications, and other pending items at the Commission.

Walden said, “This staff report confirms what everyone already knows: Chairman Genachowski has improved many of the processes of the Commission, but there is much work left to be done. That’s why it’s so important to move forward with process reform legislation now, so that the agency locks in the gains it has already made, and so that the public will see it continue to improve into the future.”

Stearns said, “As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I have challenged agencies to rid themselves of unnecessary regulations and provide certainty to the industries they regulate. The Federal Communications Commission’s recent closing of 999 dockets signifies Chairman Genachowski’s commitment to good process, but much more needs to be done. Thousands of petitions and licenses have been pending at the Commission for more than five years, and the FCC has missed its own internal deadlines 29 percent of the time. The Commission has also repeatedly missed deadlines set by Congress, including the release of the Satellite Competition Report and Video Programming Report. Congress has tasked the FCC with reviewing the competitive landscapes of these industries annually in order to determine the appropriate regulatory framework. How can the agency appropriately regulate an industry it has not comprehensively analyzed since 2008? I hope the FCC will work on these shortcomings and show signs of improvement by its next report due in January. In the meantime, I will work with my colleagues on FCC process reform legislation.”

The Communications and Technology Subcommittee will vote tomorrow on H.R. 3309, the “Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2011,” and H.R. 3310, the “Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2011.” These bills will improve the way the FCC operates by increasing transparency, predictability, and consistency as part of Republicans’ ongoing effort to ensure the commission’s work encourages job creation, investment, and innovation. Text of the legislation as well as a background memo can be found here.

US: Policy Branch Information Actions Taken

The Commission, by its International Bureau, took the following actions pursuant to delegated authority.  The effective date of these actions is the release date of this Notice, except where an effective date is specified.
S2764SAT-LOA-20080910-00174 E
Effective Date: 11/08/2011Withdrawn
Launch and Operating Authority
Skynet Satellite Corporation
Nature of Service: Other
S2776SAT-LOA-20080910-00186 E
Effective Date: 11/08/2011Withdrawn
Launch and Operating Authority
Skynet Satellite Corporation
Nature of Service: Other
S2162SAT-STA-20111031-00210 E
Effective Date: 11/09/2011Grant of Authority
Special Temporary Authority
SES Americom, Inc.

On November 9, 2011, the Satellite Division granted, with conditions, special temporary authority to SES Americom, Inc. for a a period of 30 days, to conduct telemetry, tracking, and telecommand operations necessary to drift the AMC-3 space station  from its current orbital position of 87° W.L. to the 86.9° W.L. orbital location and to maintain the AMC-3 space station at that location, using the following center frequencies:

6423.5 MHz (vertical polarization; Earth-to-space), 3700.5 MHz (vertical polarization; space-to-Earth), 4199.5 MHz (horizontal polarization; space-to-Earth), and 12198.0 MHz (horizontal polarization; space-to-Earth).  In addition, SES is authorized to operate AMC-3 as an in-orbit spare at the 86.9° W.L. orbital location in the 3700-4200 MHz (space-to-Earth), 5925-6425 MHz (Earth-to-space), 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands.
S2786SAT-STA-20111104-00212 E
Effective Date: 11/09/2011Grant of Authority
Special Temporary Authority
XM Radio LLC

On November 9, 2011, the Satellite Division granted, with conditions, special temporary authority to XM Radio LLC  (formerly known as XM Radio Inc.),  for a period of 30 days, to activate the communications payload of its Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) space station, XM-5, at the 85.15° W.L orbital location for in-orbit performance testing purposes in the 2320-2345 MHz (space-to-Earth) frequency band.

For more information concerning this Notice, contact the Satellite Division at 202-418-0719; TTY 202-418-2555.
S2388SAT-T/C-20110324-00059 E
Effective Date: 11/08/2011
TO:
No. of Station(s) listed: 1
INTELSAT LICENSE LLC
Withdrawn
FROM:
Current Licensee:
Europe*Star Gesellschaft Fur Satellitenkommunikation mbH
INTELSAT LICENSE LLC
Transfer of Control
INTELSAT LICENSE LLC

Documents:

Acrobat : DA-11-1871A1.pdf

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PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
445 12th STREET S.W.
WASHINGTON  D.C.  20554
News media information 202-418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov (or ftp.fcc.gov)
TTY (202) 418-2555
DA No. 11-1871
Thursday  November 10, 2011SAT-00822    Report No.
Actions Taken
Policy Branch Information

FCC Workshops on the Public Switched Telephone Network in Transition

The Federal Communications Commission is holding two workshops to examine the transition from the  public switched telephone network (PSTN) to new technologies.  Circuit-switched wireline voice  technology has created a high standard for reliability, accessibility, and ubiquity.  Consumers will  continue to expect and demand these qualities, even as they shift from PSTN services to services provided  over different networks.

The transition away from the PSTN is already occurring, and is likely to  accelerate. Through these workshops, the Commission will seek input on the technical, economic, and  policy issues that must be addressed to minimize disruption during this transition, and to protect consumers, public safety, competition, and other important interests.

The first workshop will focus on what obstacles and opportunities the transition may create regarding public safety, accessibility, and ubiquitous service.  The workshop will also attempt to identify and evaluate the types of non-carrier stranded assets (such as alarm monitoring systems) that would be left  after the transition.

This workshop is scheduled for Tuesday December 6, 2011, in the morning.
The second workshop will examine a wide array of economic, technological, and policy issues that need to be addressed as consumers choose to subscribe to, and rely on, new technologies and services.

This workshop is scheduled for Wednesday December 14, 2011, in the morning and afternoon.

The workshops will be held at the FCC Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington,  DC, 20554 and streamed live at http://www.fcc.gov/live.  Reasonable accommodations for people with
disabilities are available upon request.  The request should include a detailed description of the  accommodation needed and contact information. 

We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible in order to allow the agency to satisfy such requests whenever possible.  Send an email
to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
For further information, contact Cindy Spiers or Claude Aiken of the Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-1580, or via e-mail at cindy.spiers@fcc.gov or claude.aiken@fcc.gov.-FCC-

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Word : DA-11-1882A1.doc

Acrobat : DA-11-1882A1.pdf

Text : DA-11-1882A1.txt

PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.govTTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 11-1882
Released: November 10, 2011