Today, I was not able to check some facts regarding a news release from the FCC because the government was shut down. With no government we may experience anarchy but what's even worse it may also affect this nation's profits and launches of the latest tech for wireless smartphones, tablets and devices. Many tech/greed-addicts may go in withdrawal and a downward spiral.
There is this warning from the FCC "We regret the disruption, but during the Federal Government-wide shutdown, the FCC is limited to performing duties that are immediately necessary for the safety of life or the protection of property. FCC online systems will not be available until further notice."
So what does this mean to our holiday shopping for the smartest new devices available? All devices on U.S. carriers have to be approved by the FCC, it the devices are not approved they can not be sold.
The only documents available at the FCC are ones that explain the shutdown.
"In the event of a Government-wide lapse in funding, the Commission’s filing window, mail room, and all electronic filing systems, with the exception of the Network Outage Reporting System (NORS), will be unavailable until normal government operations resume. In addition, we expect that in the event of a suspension of regular Commission operations, materials sent to the Commission by private delivery services may be returned to the sender."
We would love to talk to someone from the FCC but they are closed. The last device we saw go through the FCC was a Nokia tablet. Hey wait, if the iPad 5 isn't through approval, yet then iPadaddicts will have a very unhappy fall and winter. Most new devices are launched about a month or two after FCC approval.
FCC documents that could be for the Nexus 5 did pass through the FCC in early September, Nexus freaks may be appeased.
The FCC also fined AT&T for $600,000 for unlawful expansion but the document is not available on the FCC website. I think it was $600k but when I went back to check the document was gone from Google and Bing.
Are you tired of those unwanted phone calls and want to list your number with the Do Not Call Registry?
"Due to the Government shutdown, we are unable to offer this website service at this time. We will resume normal operations when the government is funded.
Debido al cierre del gobierno no podemos ofrecer este servicio telefónico en este momento. Nosotros reanudaremos el funcionamiento normal cuando el gobierno este fianciado."
If Apple wants to block imports of Samsung, Microsoft or HTC or vice a versa at the United States International Trade Commission. They can't do it "The U.S. International Trade Commission will shut down its investigative activities for the duration of the absence of appropriation."
If big companies want to merge they will have to file notifications in person, only if they are worth of $70.9 million.
"The FTC Premerger Notification Office will be open to accept HSR filingvs". The FTC and DOJ split reviews under the Hart-Scott Rodino Act, which dictates that mergers or acquisitions worth over $70.9 million must notify the federal government.
Consumers may file FOlA requests, but they will not be processed.All public FTC workshops, roundtables, hearings and conferences are postponed until further notice.
There were some suggestions that the closures would affect spectrum auctions over time and the carriers can't expand.
All the roaring Republicans who own Apple stock could lose lots of money if the FFC can't approve the latest iPad 5. The representatives who want the latest iPad 5 won't be able to get them.
Besides closing down all the government agency websites, the agencies are not longer posting to Twitter.
Maybe Twitter should block all of the House of Representatives Twitter accounts until we get our government back. Or even better cut off their porn, Instagram and any other technology distractions...
If Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint cut off their cell and data service like they cut off the our government services, now that would be turn about fair play.
Whatever you do House of Representatives, we're warning you, don't take away our technology, it's what makes America great and profitable.
Authors Note:
Since the Copyright Office is also disabled, those of you who steal my idea and text from this article, please at least have the courtesy to link back to the original post..