FCC
FCC proposes rules requiring telcos remove Huawei, ZTE equipment
The Federal Communications Commission said it will move ahead with proposals to ban telecommunications giants from using Huawei and ZTE networking equipment, which the agency says poses a “national security…
Today, the Federal Communications Commission formally approved the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile in a 3-2 vote falling along party lines, The Verge reports. We’ve reached out to the FCC…
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Court says FCC’s ‘unhinged’ net neutrality repeal can’t stop state laws
The FCC’s repeal of net neutrality rules has been significantly weakened by a federal appeals court, which ruled that the Commission could not preempt state laws like those pending in California. And although the repeal largely survived otherwise, one judge called the logic on which it is based “unhinged from the realities of modern broadband…
FCC approves $4.9B in funding for rural broadband improvements
The FCC has just approved nearly five billion dollars in subsidies for rural broadband operators to be paid out over the next ten years. Recipients of this windfall will have…
Ajit Pai formally recommends T-Mobile/Sprint merger approval
Ajit Pai has long signaled that he would approve a T-Mobile/Sprint merger, but today the FCC chairman made it official. In spite of widespread opposition suggesting that the combining of…
The FCC is taking measures to make the launches of small satellites (but not large constellations) easier on the growing private space industry. The new licensing process should be simpler,…
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How US national security agencies hold the internet hostage
Team Telecom, a shadowy US national security unit tasked with protecting America’s telecommunications systems, is delaying plans by Google, Facebook and other tech companies for the next generation of international fiber optic cables. Team Telecom comprises representatives from the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice (including the FBI), who assess foreign investments in American…
FCC proposal would let it punish international robocallers
While the FCC and Congress hammer out new rules to (hopefully) banish robocalls forever, there are some short-term solutions that can help in the meantime — and one may arrive…
Verizon gets FCC approval for a 60 day network lockdown on new phones
Verizon (disclosure: the company that owns the company that owns TC) celebrated an FCC victory this week, as the agency approved a request for a temporary network lockdown on new…
FCC passes measure urging carriers to block robocalls by default
The FCC voted today to adopt an anti-robocall measure, but it may or may not lead to any abatement of this maddening practice — and it might not be free,…
FCC’s broadband deployment report called ‘fundamentally at odds with reality’
The FCC has officially issued this year’s Broadband Deployment Report, summarizing the extent to which the agency and industry have closed the digital divide in this country. But one Commissioner…
It’s been more than a year since T-Mobile and Sprint formally announced a merger agreement. This morning, members of FCC leadership have issued statements voicing their support for the $26…
A year after outcry, carriers are finally stopping sale of location data, letters to FCC show
Reports emerged a year ago that all the major cellular carriers in the U.S. were selling location data to third-party companies, which in turn sold them to pretty much anyone…
New FCC proposal would make it easier for carriers to block robocalls
The current FCC commissioners’ stances haven’t always made them the most popular with consumers (see: net neutrality), but new, stricter robocall rules could help them win over some fans. Ajit…
FCC looks to slap down China Mobile’s attempt to join US telecom system
The FCC has proposed to deny an application from China Mobile, a state-owned telecom, to provide interconnect and mobile services here in the U.S., citing security concerns. It’s another setback…
In a press conference today in the White House’s Roosevelt Room, the president laid out a number of initiatives focused on helping accelerate the U.S. role in the 5G race.…
Microsoft says its data shows FCC reports massively overstate broadband adoption
The broadband divide in the U.S. is real, but if you want to know how real, don’t ask the FCC. Its yearly broadband deployment report, already under fire for serious…
FCC ‘looking into’ reported error throwing broadband deployment numbers off by millions
It’s the FCC’s official duty to promote connectivity throughout the U.S., and as part of that it issues a yearly report on improvements to broadband deployment. The latest report, however,…
Net neutrality battle gets a new day in court tomorrow
More than a year after net neutrality was essentially abolished by a divided Federal Communications Commission, a major legal challenge supported by dozens of companies and advocates has its day…
Shutdown could delay challenge of FCC’s net neutrality rollback
Update: Unfortunately for the FCC, the judge has denied its motion to postpone. The ongoing shutdown of the federal government has already had adverse effects on millions nationwide, and now…
Senate confirms new FCC Commissioners Carr and Starks
The Senate has officially confirmed the incoming FCC commissioners, Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks have been officially confirmed by the Senate for their five-year terms. This completes the five-seat commission,…
FCC Chairman Pai celebrates Congress failing to bring back net neutrality
As one Congress ends and another begins, many are looking forward to a rebalancing of power — especially in the House of Representatives, which Democrats handily retook in November. But…
Google has won U.S. regulatory approval to go ahead with a radar-based motion sensor that could make touchscreens look obsolete in the coming years. Known as the Soli Project, the…
FCC fines Swarm Technologies $900K over unauthorized satellite launch
Back in March came the surprising news that a satellite communications company still more or less in stealth mode had launched several tiny craft into orbit — against the explicit…
FCC approval of Europe’s Galileo satellite signals may give your phone’s GPS a boost
The FCC’s space-focused meeting today had actions taken on SpaceX satellites and orbital debris reduction, but the decision most likely to affect users has to do with Galileo. No, not…
FCC tells carriers they must adopt a system to detect scam robocalls by next year
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is calling on the telecom industry to help put an end to scam robocalls. On Monday, FCC chairman Ajit Pai sent letters to the heads…
California delays its net neutrality law while FCC’s new rules are challenged
California’s much-anticipated net neutrality rules, which were signed into law last month, are being put on ice until a challenge to the FCC’s own rules at the federal level is…
White House belatedly begins planning for 5G with memo asking for policy recommendations
The White House has issued a memorandum outlining the need for a new national wireless connectivity strategy; the document doesn’t really establish anything new, but does request lots of reports…
FCC puts gigabit Wi-Fi on the roadmap by opening up new wireless spectrum
More and more, the internet is delivered wirelessly, but as bandwidth demand grows in each home — multiple TVs, smart devices, tablets and phones — current Wi-Fi standards are starting…
FCC resorts to the usual malarkey defending itself against Mozilla lawsuit
Mozilla filed a lawsuit in August alleging the FCC had unlawfully overturned 2015’s net neutrality rules, by among other things “fundamentally mischaracteriz[ing] how internet access works.” The FCC has filed…
