Government Shutdown May Delay Phone Approvals
Oct 2, 2013, 8:05 AM by Eric M. Zeman
The Federal Communications Commissions has outlined all the activities that it will cease to perform during the government shutdown. According to the FCC, "Equipment authorizations, including those bringing new electronic devices to American consumers, cannot be provided." This means the FCC staff that oversees the testing of wireless devices, including cellphones, will be furloughed and these authorizations cannot take place. Depending on the length of the government shutdown, this could delay the arrival of new cell phones in the U.S. Wireless devices may not be sold in the U.S. until they are first tested by the FCC and deemed to be safe for use by the public. The FCC also said that it cannot answer consumer complaints or its inquiry phone lines; it cannot perform consumer protection and local competition enforcement; it cannot perform licensing services, including broadcast, wireless, and wireline; and it cannot continue its management of radio spectrum. The FCC is keeping about 40 vital staffers on hand to "protect life and property," but is furloughing more than 1,700 other workers. The acting FCC chairperson, Mignon Clyburn, and two other commissioners will report to work because their compensation is financed by a resource other than annual appropriations.
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Government Shutdown?
John B.
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