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Children’s Mercy must get better at protecting kids’ health info, says new CEO BY ANDY MARSO After several security breaches exposed the data of tens of thousands of patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital, its new CEO is making changes to better protect medical information. “It’s one of the first priorities that I encountered and have ensured that we are progressing on,” said Paul Kempinski, who took over the hospital system in November after longtime CEO Randall O’Donnell retired. “There’s no question we’re making the investments. We’re doing the right thing. However no CEO in the country at any hospital can guarantee a fail-safe environment.” Kempinski said O’Donnell’s 25-year tenure had clearly taken Children’s Mercy “to new levels” and it was on its way to becoming one of the top five children’s hospitals in the country, in terms of research and clinical care. But he said more had to be done to combat hackers looking to nab patient data and sell it online, or hold it for ransom. “It’s one of the biggest risks for any health care organization in the United States, or the world for that matter,” Kempinski said. “It’s the new form of terrorism within our realm.” Patient information is protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, and medical providers can face millions in fines when they leave information vulnerable. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investigating more than 400 medical privacy breaches reported within the last two years by providers large and small across the country. A disproportionate share of them in recent years have occurred in Missouri, The Star reported in 2017. Among those, Children’s Mercy has been responsible for at least one a year since 2016.
The most wide-ranging was an online hack in 2018, after an employee fell for an email “phishing” scam. The hacked information included dates of hospital stays and procedures, diagnoses and conditions and other clinical data. More than 63,000 people were affected. Other recent medical privacy breaches at Children’s Mercy were not the result of sophisticated hacks. In 2017, the hospital reported that a physician had created an unauthorized, unsecured website with notes about patients’ cases. About 5,500 people were exposed in that incident. A couple hundred more patients had their information exposed in 2016, when paper records were stolen from a Children’s Mercy employee’s car. The Star also reported last year that Children’s Mercy was one of several area hospitals using unencrypted pagers to send medical information that could be intercepted by anyone with knowledge of radio wave technology and about $30 worth of equipment. Children’s Mercy officials said they worked with their communications vendor to move to a secure pager system after they were alerted to the potential breach. Kempinski said the hospital is investing in technology and training to prevent such incidents and conducting regular drills to test the security of computer systems. “I think we’ve made great inroads in that,” Kempinski said. “I will say, however, that the bad guys are very smart and they’re evolving their efforts at as rapid a pace as we are. So this will be a struggle that goes on for a long, long time.” Kempinski said that although every medical provider has a responsibility to protect patient information, it’s perhaps even more important at a children’s hospital because parents are naturally protective of their kids. “There’s no question we had some vulnerability in the past,” Kempinski said. “But I think we’re doing the right things to ensure that we’re protecting data, information and especially the privacy of our patients and our own employees, for that matter.” Source: The Kansas City Star
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NO POLITICS HERE
This doesn't mean that nothing is ever published here that mentions a US political party—it just means that the editorial policy of this newsletter is to remain neutral on all political issues. We don't take sides.
A new issue of the Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn’t fill up your incoming e-mail account. There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world’s major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It’s all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology.
I regularly get readers’ comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it.
TIME TO HUDDLE UP
I spend the whole week searching the INTERNET for news that I think may be of interest to you — so you won’t have to. This newsletter is an aggregator — a service that aggregates news from other news sources. You can help our community by sharing any interesting news that you find.
Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any of advertisers or supporters. This newsletter is independent of any trade association. I don't intend to hurt anyone's feelings, but I do freely express my own opinions.
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New report says AirPods 2 and new iPads are about to be released Chris Smith @chris_writes Apple a few days ago sent out invites for a March 25th press conference where the company is widely expected to unveil its own Netflix-like video streaming product. Services may be the focus of the upcoming keynote, but Apple is also expected to introduce new hardware soon, including the new AirPods 2 wireless headphones, the AirPower universal wireless charger, and a couple of affordable iPads, the iPad 7 and iPad mini 5. It’s unclear, however, whether all of these devices will be unveiled during the media event, but a new report suggests the launch of new iPads and AirPods is imminent. Component suppliers from Asia are already manufacturing parts for unreleased Apple products, including iPad and AirPods, Digitimes says. The report notes that flexible PCB makers Flexium Interconnect and Zhen Ding Technology are readying mass production for the next-gen iPad, and Compeq Manufacturing and Unitech PCB make rigid-flex boards for the upcoming AirPods models. The report doesn’t offer any details about either product but does refer to them as the “new-generation iPad” and AirPods 2. Digitimes’s sources said that Apple would introduce the devices on March 25th. A report earlier this week said that Apple might be launching a third large-screen iPad this year, one that wasn’t mentioned in any of the previous rumors. The iPad 7 should sport a 10.2-inch display, but a 10.5-inch iPad “non-Pro” would debut later this year. We’d expect Apple to launch new iPad Pro models in late 2019 as well. The AirPods 2, meanwhile, is probably the most exciting new Apple product of the first half of the year. The new wireless headphones will come in a case that can be recharged wirelessly by accessories like the AirPower and other compatible products, previous rumors said. Also, AirPods 2 could be available in two colors, including black and white, and sport additional features compared to the original model, including “Hey, Siri” support and health tracking sensors. |
| Source: | BGR.com |
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Paging Transmitters 150/900 MHz The RFI High Performance Paging Transmitter is designed for use in campus, city, state and country-wide paging systems. Designed for use where reliable simulcast systems where RF signal overlap coverage is critical.
Built-in custom interface for Prism-IPX ipBSC Base Controller for remote control, management and alarm reporting.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022
Back To Paging
Still The Most Reliable Protocol For Wireless Messaging!
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GLENAYRE INFRASTRUCTUREI would like to recommend Easy Solutions for Support of all Glenayre Paging Equipment. This Texas company is owned and operated by Vaughan Bowden. I have known Vaughan for over 35 years. Without going into a long list of his experience and qualifications, let me just say that he was the V.P. of Engineering at PageNet which was—at that time—the largest paging company in the world. So Vaughan knows Paging. GTES is no longer offering support contracts. GTES was the original group from Vancouver that was setup to offer support to customers that wanted to continue with the legacy Glenayre support. Many U.S. customers chose not to use this service because of the price and the original requirement to upgrade to version 8.0 software (which required expensive hardware upgrades, etc.). Most contracts ended as of February 2018. If you are at all concerned about future support of Glenayre products, especially the “king of the hill” the GL3000 paging control terminal, I encourage you to talk to Vaughan about a service contract and please tell him about my recommendation.
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ARRL Supports No Change to Table of Allocations for 45.5 – 47 and 47 – 47.2 GHz Bands03/14/2019 The FCC has opened a brief window for public comment on recommendations approved by the World Radiocommunication Conference Advisory Committee (WAC). Comments are due March 18 on International Bureau Docket 16-185. The FCC said the short comment period was necessary to allow time to finalize the US position for submission to the upcoming meeting of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). Addressing WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.13, which serves to identify spectrum above 24.25 GHz that may be designated for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), ARRL has recommended no change in the 45.5 – 47 and 47 – 47.2 GHz bands, with hopes that commenters will agree. The 47 – 47.2 GHz band is allocated to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services. ARRL and other no-change proponents point out that no sharing and compatibility studies were performed between IMT-2020 systems and the relevant incumbent services in the 45.5 – 47 GHz and 47 – 47.2 GHz bands, although sharing and compatibility studies for a number of incumbent services were required under Resolution 238 of World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15). “In the absence of [ITU Radiocommunication Sector] studies, the only sustainable conclusion is that it has not been demonstrated that the incumbent services in either band — the Mobile-Satellite Service, the Radionavigation Service, and the Radionavigation-Satellite Service in the 45.5 – 47 GHz band, and the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services in the 47 – 47.2 GHz band — can be protected, as required by Resolution 238,” asserts the proponents of View B, which sides with no change to the current allocations. “In this regard, the View A proposal to identify mobile spectrum in the 45.5 – 47 GHz band for the terrestrial component of IMT, and to allocate spectrum in the 47 – 47.2 GHz band to the mobile service and identify the same for the terrestrial component of IMT, is fatally flawed. The absence of studies in the responsible ITU-R task group leaves the proposals unsubstantiated and incapable of adoption.” View B proponents, including ARRL, are urging the FCC to accept the proposals of the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) for no change to the Table of Allocations in the 45.5 – 47 GHz and 47 – 47.2 GHz bands. — Thanks to Jon Siverling, WB3ERA |
| Source: | ARRL.org |
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Critical Messaging that works
Secure . . . Dependable . . . and Encrypted |
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INTERNET Protocol Terminal
The IPT accepts INTERNET or serial messaging using various protocols and can easily convert them to different protocols, or send them out as paging messages. An ideal platform for hospitals, on-site paging applications, or converting legacy systems to modern protocols.
Additional/Optional Features
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
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Paging Data Receiver PDR-4 The PDR-4 is a multi-function paging data receiver that decodes paging messages and outputs them via the serial port, USB or Ethernet connectors. Designed for use with Prism-IPX ECHO software Message Logging Software to receive messages and log the information for proof of transmission over the air, and if the data was error free.
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
Wireless Network Planners
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Remote AB Switches ABX-1 switches are often used at remote transmitter sites to convert from old, outdated and unsupported controllers to the new modern Prism-IPX ipBSC base station controllers. Remotely switch to new controllers with GUI commands. ABX-1
ABX-3 switches are widely used for enabling or disabling remote equipment and switching I/O connections between redundant messaging systems. ABX-3
Common Features:
Prism-IPX Systems LLC.
11175 Cicero Dr., Alpharetta, GA 30022 |
| Leavitt Communications |
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24 GHz Auction Raises $284,144,450 in Round One Gross BidsThe first round of the nation’s second-ever millimeter wave spectrum auction ended yesterday afternoon. The auction resumes today at 10 a.m. EDT. The total amount of provisionally accepted bids on spectrum licenses at the end of round one was $284,144,450. That compares to $36,428,510 in provisional bids for round one in the previous auction of 28 GHz spectrum. Licenses in New York City generated the highest bids at $5,047,000 each, followed Los Angeles, which generated bids at $3,882,000 each. Licenses in Chicago generated bids at $1,873,000 each. Auction 102 offers 2,909 licenses in the 24 GHz band. The lower segment of the 24 GHz band (24.25–24.45 GHz) will be licensed as two, 100-megahertz blocks, and the upper segment (24.75–25.25 GHz) will be licensed as five, 100-megahertz blocks. |
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| Source: | Inside Towers newsletter | Courtesy of the editor of Inside Towers. |
| BloostonLaw Newsletter |
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Selected portions [sometimes more — sometimes less] of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update and/or the BloostonLaw Private Users Update — newsletters from the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP — are reproduced in this section of The Wireless Messaging News with kind permission from the firm. The firm's contact information is included at the end of this section of the newsletter.
Access By Persons with Disabilities Record-keeping Certification and Reporting Requirements DueThe FCC released a public notice reminding service providers and equipment manufacturers that are subject to the access by persons with disabilities record-keeping compliance certification and contact information reporting requirements pursuant to sections 255, 716, and 718 of the Act, that they are required to file their annual record keeping and compliance certifications and required contact information no later than April 1, 2019, in the Record keeping Compliance Certification and Contact Information Registry (RCCCI Registry). The FCC states that entities should go to https://apps.fcc.gov/rccci-registry/ to submit a record-keeping compliance certification or to enter or update contact information. Step-by-step filing instructions are available at https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-16-248A1.pdf. BloostonLaw Contact: Sal Taillefer HeadlinesFCC Seeks Comment on Petition for Expedited Clarification or Declaratory Ruling Regarding Fax AdvertisingThe FCC seeks comment on a petition for expedited clarification or declaratory ruling filed by Akin Gump Strauss & Feld LLP (Akin Gump) concerning the Telephone Consumer Protection Act's (TCPA) facsimile provisions. (CG Docket Nos. 02-278 and 05-338) In the Petition, Akin Gump asks the FCC to clarify the definition of “sender” under the facsimile advertising provisions of the TCPA and clarify that “a fax broadcaster is the sole liable ‘sender,’ when it both commits TCPA violations and engages in deception or fraud against the advertiser (or blatantly violates its contract with the advertiser) such that the advertiser cannot control the fax campaign or prevent TCPA violations.” Comments on the Petition are due by April 8, 2019 and reply comments are due by April 23, 2019. BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy and Mary Sisak Enforcement Reminder: Facilities in the 3650-3700 MHz Band Must Be Registered Before Commencing OperationWith the recent issuing of a violation notice by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, we want to remind our clients that the nationwide, non-exclusive 3650-3700 MHz license does not provide authority to operate any facilities in the 3650-3700 MHz band. That license is only the first step in the process to operate facilities. The second step, which is sometimes overlooked, is registration of each and every individual fixed station that will be operated in the band. This is because the FCC needs to ensure that proposed operations will comply with its rules and will not cause harmful interference to other licensed operations. Likewise, if operation of registered [portion missing]. In a recent case, the FCC received an interference complaint from the operator of a fixed satellite earth station operating in the 3700-4200 MHz band. Investigation of the interference complaint revealed that the source of the interference was a constant radio transmission on the frequency 3723-3732 MHz from Brevard Wireless’s wireless access point in Jacksonville, Florida which caused harmful interference to the licensed satellite earth station’s downlink transmissions in the 3700-4200 MHz band. Additionally, the station inspection revealed that Brevard Wireless was also operating an unregistered transmitter on the frequency 3650-3690 MHz at another location in Florida. Operating unregistered transmitters in the 3650-3700 MHz band can be treated as unlicensed operation, which can result in substantial fines. The FCC has undertaken an aggressive program to identify unlicensed operations because of the potential for interference to licensed radio operations that can result in interference to communications that are necessary to protect the safety of life and property. If you are operating a 3650-3700 MHz transmitter that has not been registered with the FCC, please contact our office so that we can assist you in bringing the station into regulatory compliance. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Richard Rubino FCC Seeks Comment on Additional Analysis and Information from T-Mobile and SprintThe FCC has received additional information concerning the T-Mobile/Sprint network integration plans for 2019-2021 and additional information regarding their claims related to in connection with the pending applications for FCC consent to T-Mobile’s proposed acquisition of Sprint. As a result, the FCC has once again stopped its processing clock as of March 7, 2019 and is requesting that interested parties file comments no later than March 28, 2019. In pausing the processing clock and seeking comment, the FCC notes that the T-Mobile/Sprint filings contain substantial new material and reach conclusions about the proposed transaction that were not previously in the record. The FCC’s action is consistent with other large transactions where the parties have previously submitted substantial information after the application was filed in order to allow time for FCC staff and public review. When the FCC resumes its processing clock on April 4, 2019, the processing clock will be at day 122. Comments are due March 28, 2019. BloostonLaw Contacts: John Prendergast and Cary Mitchell E-Rate and Rural Health Care Funding Caps Announced for 2019The FCC has announced the E-Rate and Rural Health Care (RHC) programs’ funding caps for funding year 2019. The E-Rate program funding cap for funding year 2019 is $4,151,395,400, a 2.2% inflation-adjusted increase from funding year 2018. The RHC Program funding cap for funding year 2019 is $593,782,000, a 2.2% inflation-adjusted increase from funding year 2018. FCC Grants Partial Waiver of Biennial Lifeline AuditsThe FCC granted in part a Petition for Waiver filed by USTelecom – The Broadband Association, CTIA, and ITTA – The Voice of America’s Broadband Providers (collectively, the Petitioners) requesting a waiver of the FCC’s rules requiring a biennial audit of Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) that are also subject to a forensic audit by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for calendar year 2017. Petitioners contend that the audits are duplicative and impose an unnecessary burden on ETCs that are subject to both audits. The FCC concluded that the two audit requirements are not wholly duplicative; however there is some overlap in the audit requirements. Accordingly, the FCC granted a partial waiver of the following provisions of the Biennial Audit Plan for ETCs that are also subject to a USAC forensic audit covering the same time period: "Form 497/NLAD analyses (Objective II, 2 and 3); review of eligibility documentation, recertification, and certification forms for completeness and compliance with Lifeline rules (Objective III, 2); and analysis of data reported on the Form 555 (Objective IV, 4-6)." The FCC states that impacted ETCs "are still required to complete a biennial audit that addresses the other provisions of the Biennial Audit Plan, in addition to their obligation to comply with USAC’s forensic audits. Further, this waiver only applies to those ETCs that are required to complete both a biennial audit and forensic audit that covers ETC operations in calendar year 2017 and does not apply to any future audit reporting years." BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy USF Offered to Price Cap Carriers and Fixed Competitive ETCs After CAF Phase II AuctionsThe Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) announced the legacy universal service support amounts available for price cap carriers and fixed competitive eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) after the authorization of Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auction support. The legacy support amounts that price cap carriers currently receive for each census block and the census blocks for which CAF Phase II auction support was awarded and may ultimately be authorized, after which legacy support for those blocks will cease, are shown at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC- 356505A1.xlsx. The report also shows the legacy phase-down support for a price cap carrier in non-awarded, auction eligible census blocks. The legacy support amounts for fixed Competitive ETCs are shown at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-356510A1.xlsx. A fixed competitive ETC will begin receiving legacy support at a reduced level (initially, two-thirds of the current legacy support amounts) beginning the first day of the month after the first authorization of any CAF Phase II auction support nationwide. Any price cap carrier or fixed competitive ETC that wishes to decline the phase-down support must notify the WCB by April 11, 2019, on a state-by-state basis of such election. If a carrier fails to submit such a letter it will be deemed to have accepted phase-down support. BloostonLaw Contact: Gerry Duffy Law & RegulationBi-Partisan Alternative Net Neutrality Effort Forming in SenatePolitico reports that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is joining with Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker(R-Miss.) to lead a working group aimed at crafting net neutrality legislation. Sinema is the lone Senate Democrat to not back the Save the Internet Act, S. 682, which as reported in last week’s Update, would restore Obama-era net neutrality rules repealed by the FCC in 2017. "We need a modern, Internet-specific framework that encourages the freedom and innovation that make the Internet the vital tool it is today—and consumers and providers need stability," Sinema said in a statement. "We will only achieve those goals by working across party lines to find a bipartisan solution." Sinema has previously sided with Republicans objecting to the Obama-era rules' basis in communications law generally reserved for traditional phone service, but has now joined in the bi-partisan effort to try to end the back and forth stalemates on this issue. The working group hopes "to put partisan politics aside in order to provide permanent Internet protections," Wicker said. House telecom subcommittee chairman Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) today argued that the Save the Internet Act would actually address a leading GOP concern. Republicans had warned a future FCC could regulate broadband rates and related service terms, by reversing the prior Commission's decision to “forbear” from applying full Title II regulation of the Internet. The current House bill would purportedly codify that “light touch” regulation, thereby blocking its erosion by a future commission. "I think that's the part that a lot of [Republicans] may not be hearing," Doyle told reporters. "We believe some Republicans will support this bill." However, the bill is already under attack, including criticism from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The Save the Internet Act would purportedly restore several aspects of Title II regulation, including: Prohibition of “unjust and unreasonable practices” (Sections 201 and 202); Investigation of consumer complaints under section 208 and related enforcement provisions (Sections 206, 207, 209, 216 and 217); Protection for consumer privacy (Section 222); Fair access to poles and conduits (Section 224); Protection for people with disabilities (Sections 225 and 255); and Universal service fund support for broadband service in the future (partial application of Section 254). BloostonLaw contacts: Ben Dickens and John Prendergast IndustryGPS Network May Suffer from Quirk in "Week Number" RollbackThe US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) indicates that the GPS network may encounter a bug in April when the network's "week number" rolls back to zero. This known issue especially could affect those who use GPS to obtain accurate Coordinated Universal Time (known as “UTC”). In the GPS network, the number of the current week is encoded into the message the GPS receives using a 10-bit field. This allows for weeks ranging from zero to 1023. The current period began on August 1, 1999. On April 6, 2019, the week number rolls over to zero and starts counting back up to 1023. This should not affect later-model GPS receivers that conform to IS-GPS-200 and provide universal time, but testing carried out by the DHS has raised the possibility that some units may misinterpret the rollover, shifting the date back to January 6, 1980, or possibly to another date. As a result, the time accuracy that is critical to precise GPS location data could be compromised. A nanosecond error in GPS time can equate to 1 foot of position (ranging) error, according to the DHS link below that explains the issue in greater detail: https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Memorandum_on_GPS_2019.pdf DeadlinesMARCH 8: FCC FORM 477, LOCAL COMPETITION & BROADBAND REPORTING FORM. This annual form is due March 1 and September 1 annually, but the deadline for March this year was extended to March 8. The FCC requires facilities-based wired, terrestrial fixed wireless, and satellite broadband service providers to report on FCC Form 477 the number of broadband subscribers they have in each census tract they serve. The Census Bureau changed the boundaries of some census tracts as part of the 2010 Census. Specifically, three types of entities must file this form:
BloostonLaw contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy. APRIL 1: FCC FORM 499-A, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. This form must be filed by all contributors to the Universal Service Fund (USF) sup-port mechanisms, the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the cost recovery mechanism for the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP). Contributors include every telecommunications carrier that provides interstate, intrastate, and international telecommunications, and certain other entities that provide interstate telecommunications for a fee. Even common carriers that qualify for the de minimis exemption must file Form 499-A. Entities whose universal service contributions will be less than $10,000 qualify for the de minimis exemption. De minimis entities do not have to file the quarterly report (FCC Form 499-Q), which was due February 1, and will again be due May 1. Form 499-Q relates to universal and LNP mechanisms. Form 499-A relates to all of these mechanisms and, hence, applies to all providers of interstate, intrastate, and international telecommunications services. Form 499-A contains revenue information for January 1 through December 31 of the prior calendar year. And Form 499-Q contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. (Note: the revised 499-A and 499-Q forms are now available.) Block 2-B of the Form 499-A requires each carrier to designate an agent in the District of Columbia upon whom all notices, process, orders, and decisions by the FCC may be served on behalf of that carrier in proceedings before the Commission. Carriers receiving this newsletter may specify our law firm as their D.C. agent for service of process using the information in our masthead. There is no charge for this service. BloostonLaw Contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, Ben Dickens, and Gerry Duffy. APRIL 1: ANNUAL ACCESS TO ADVANCED SERVICES CERTIFICATION. All providers of telecommunications services and telecommunications carriers subject to Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act are required to file with the FCC an annual certification that:
BloostonLaw Contacts: Gerry Duffy, Mary Sisak, Sal Taillefer. MAY 1: FCC FORM 499-Q, TELECOMMUNICATIONS REPORTING WORKSHEET. All telecommunications common carriers that expect to contribute more than $10,000 to federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support mechanisms must file this quarterly form. The FCC has modified this form in light of its recent decision to establish interim measures for USF contribution assessments. The form contains revenue information from the prior quarter plus projections for the next quarter. Form 499-Q relates only to USF contributions. It does not relate to the cost recovery mechanisms for the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), and the shared costs of local number portability (LNP), which are covered in the annual form (Form 499-A) that was due April 1. BloostonLaw Contacts: Ben Dickens and Gerry Duffy. MAY 31: FCC FORM 395, EMPLOYMENT REPORT. Common carriers, including wireless carriers, with 16 or more full-time employees must file their annual Common Carrier Employment Reports (FCC Form 395) by May 31. This report tracks carrier compliance with rules requiring recruitment of minority employees. Further, the FCC requires all common carriers to report any employment discrimination complaints they received during the past year. That information is also due on May 31. The FCC encourages carriers to complete the discrimination report requirement by filling out Section V of Form 395, rather than submitting a separate report. BloostonLaw Contact: Richard Rubino. Calendar At-a-GlanceMarch April May
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The above is just like the old men who have stickers on the rear window of their pickup trucks.
| THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK |
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“It is never right to do wrong —Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. |
| VIDEO OF THE WEEK |
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| Source: | YouTube |
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