OVERNIGHT TECH: Wireless industry pushes for more FCC funding

By Brendan Sasso - 10/18/11 06:05 PM ET

THE LEDE: CTIA-the Wireless Association urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Tuesday to expand the size of the proposed Mobility Fund that would subsidize wireless broadband access.

The Mobility Fund is part of Genachowski's plan to overhaul the agency's Universal Service Fund (USF), which is paid for by monthly charges on consumer phone bills. The high-cost portion of the USF was originally designed to subsidize landline phone access, but Genachowski wants to transition the fund to pay for expanding high-speed Internet. Under his plan, $300 million, or 7 percent of the program, would go to the Mobility Fund to expand wireless broadband.

"As CTIA has previously shown, this amount is not sufficient to meet the ubiquitous mobile broadband challenge," CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent wrote. "We therefore urge the Commission to ensure that its order correctly reflects the importance of mobility to today's broadband communications ecosystem."

The FCC is scheduled to vote on Genachowski's USF proposal next Thursday.

Apple earnings miss expectations: Apple's fourth-quarter earnings, announced Tuesday evening, fell below analysts' expectations for the first time in years, The Wall Street Journal reports. Apple reported third-quarter earnings of $7.05 a share, on revenue of $28.3 billion. Analysts, on average, predicted Apple to earn $7.22 a share on revenue of $29.5 billion. Apple sold 17.07 million iPhones despite expectations that it would sell 20 million in the quarter. Intel, Yahoo and Google beat expectations for the quarter.

Labor Secretary to announce jobs initiative with Facebook: Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will announce a partnership with Facebook on Thursday, Oct. 20 to help Americans find jobs. The event will include the National Association of Colleges and Employers, DirectEmployers Association and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies.

Panel discusses impact of broadband access for seniors: A panel, hosted by nonprofit Project GOAL (Get Older Adults online), discussed how broadband Internet access can help seniors on Tuesday. The panel included representatives from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, AARP and the Phoenix Center.

"Research has shown that broadband use adoption has a significant positive impact on depression and mental health in general among the aged community — which means it’s imperative that policymakers find ways to incentivize the expansion of high-speed Internet access and adoption in communities across America," said Debra Berlyn, Project GOAL's executive director.

ICYMI:

Public Knowledge asked the FCC to press T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom, on the viability of the firm if AT&T's proposed takeover fails.

Former Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said the proposed overhaul of the Universal Service Fund could jeopardize telecom service in rural areas.

The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest labor union, supports an effort to pass the Protect IP Act, an online copyright measure.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers said the government should have to obtain a warrant before using an electronic device to track someone.