Policy

Verizon Communications released its transparency report for the first half of 2015 in which it details the demands for customer information from the U.S. and international governments. The carrier said it received 150,000 information requests from U.S. law enforcement, up about 10,000 from the …

FCC filing shows potential March 29 start date for complex auction proceedings The Federal Communications Commission appears committed to beginning its highly anticipated 600 MHz incentive auction during the first quarter of next year. According to the Broadcast Law Blog, …

WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission has approved a proposal to modernize its Enforcement Bureau, which includes the closure of 11 of FCC field offices across the country while simultaneously retooling its Enforcement Bureau into a more flexible and nimble operation. …

Shares of Dish Network have tumbled by 3.9% since it was reported last week that the Federal Communications Commission may reject a portion of the spectrum discounts received by two of its backed companies and that its pending merger with T-Mobile …

Pair of 2014 outages lasted 3 hours, impacted T-Mobile US’ nationwide network The Federal Communications Commission said it has reached a record $17.5 million settlement with T-Mobile US connected to a pair of 911 service outages last year. In addition …

The FCC adopted a Report and Order to reform its DE program following claims of fraud While the Federal Communications Commission pushed off specific rulemaking tied to the planned 600 MHz incentive auction scheduled for early next year, the FCC …

The recent historic agreement to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program could have fallout beyond a safer world. Part of the terms of the agreement include lifting sanctions on trade, which may open the door for the iPhone and other Apple products …

The Atlantic hurricane season, which has yet to yield any major storms – knock on wood – kicked off on June 1 and runs until Nov. 30. Regulators at the Federal Communications Commission have published a number of tips for …

Duplex gap concerns force FCC to postpone today’s vote on 600 MHz incentive auction rules The Federal Communications Commission has dropped plans to vote today on rules for the planned 600 MHz incentive auction. The vote was set to be …

CCA’s Steve Berry discusses competition in the wireless market, rules for the upcoming FCC auction and the duopolistiic nature of the space WASHINGTON – The Competitive Carriers Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association, advocates for wireless regional and independent providers …

WASHINGTON – In a tongue-in-check effort to highlight a perceived lack of competition in the broadband space, a group of telecom companies and trade groups launched a faux pharmaceutical campaign for Competify. The campaign, which included a full-page ad in …

WASHINGTON – A new poll by research group Gallup indicates that most Americans keep their smartphone with them every second of their life. According to the poll, which included 16,000 people across all 50 states, 81% said they kept their …

Telecom regulator ARCEP expects to award the spectrum by year end France formally launched plans toward auctioning 700 MHz spectrum band licenses, according to local press. Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and Secretary of State Axelle Lemaire are said to have …

Singapore regulators are poised to do what the Federal Communications Commission is reluctant to do in the U.S. In order to entice a fourth mobile operator to enter the market, Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority is proposing to lower the reserve …

WASHINGTON – In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit in Manhattan has ruled that the $450 million antitrust suit against technology giant Apple will stand. The lawsuit, which was originally brought by the U.S. Department of Justice …

FCC found TracFone violated device-unlocking rules for Lifeline customers TracFone Wireless ran afoul of the Federal Communications Commission’s device unlocking requirements tied to its Lifeline service offerings that could cost the prepaid provider more than $83 million. The FCC’s Enforcement …

FCC looks to gauge competition level between telecom carriers; big guys say it’s all good, little guys, not so much As it does every year, the Federal Communications Commission is taking comments for its Mobile Wireless Competition Report. So far, …

Researchers call out Google for skewing search results in its own favor amid European Union antitrust probe WASHINGTON – Researchers from Columbia Law School and Harvard Business School wrote in a new paper that Internet search giant Google skews search …

Pai and Wheeler split on how to pay for expanding broadband into underserved America WASHINGTON – From a podium in Omaha, Neb., FCC Republican Commissioner Ajit Pai, announced his vision of bringing broadband Internet services to rural America. Contrary to …

It’s finally done. As of 2 a.m. the EU has brokered a deal to ban all EU roaming charges by 2017. The deal is part of the Europe 2020 initiative and belongs to an effort entitled Connected Continent. The Latvians …

The Serbian government has launched an initiative to privatize state-controlled telecommunications company Telekom Srbija. According to local reports, the government asked the Ministry of Economy and the Privatization Agency to define a plan to privatize the operator. In February, Telekom …

Name checks Uber: ‘The largest taxi company in the country doesn’t own any vehicles …’ WASHINGTON – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler late last week delivered an address to the Brookings Institution, a well known liberal-leaning Washington, D.C., think tank, …

CWA says Verizon wants to cut pay to employees while top five execs earned $44M last year Verizon Communications’ opening contract negotiation gamut of offering raises has been blasted by Communication Workers of America reps as a “smokescreen” designed to …

WASHINGTON – When someone actively uses the Internet, it is a consensual relationship of giving data in exchange for services, but what about the passive collection of data on location, health and activities by devices? Federal Communications Commission’s Commissioner Michael O’Rielly discussed …

WASHINGTON – “The Internet is not a human right,” said Michael O’Rielly, Federal Communications Commission commissioner, in an address to the Internet Innovation Alliance panel. O’Rielly made the remark as part of a presentation titled “The Role for Regulators in an Expanding Broadband …