Policy

FCC circulates draft of 600 MHz auction rules counter to T-Mobile US push Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler today said he has circulated a draft Order on Reconsideration connected to the upcoming 600 MHz incentive auction that maintains the …

Lobbying groups say, ‘feed the beast,’ as rules, reserve being set for spectrum auction WASHINGTON – As the wrangling over rules for the upcoming spectrum auction continues, most stakeholders agree on the acute need for more spectrum, but not on …

Commercial Network Services asks for FCC intervention in Time Warner Cable interconnect dispute Beloved service provider Time Warner Cable appears to have earned the dubious distinction of being the first company to garner a complaint for violating recently implemented net …

The French government affirmed the potential acquisition would affect investment in the mobile market and planned spectrum auction France’s second-largest telecommunications operator Numericable-SFR has made an offer to buy smaller rival Bouygues Telecom for approximately $11.4 billion in cash, according …

Federal subsidy expansion gets FCC nod to include rural broadband Internet for low-income Americans WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission appears set to go ahead with plans to offer $1.7 billion in subsidies to connect poor Americans to the Internet. …

Goal of wireless legislation is to reallocate federal spectrum for commercial uses WASHINGTON – On June 18, a group of Republican senators reintroduced the Wireless Innovation Act, which is meant to reallocate federally held wireless spectrum to push innovation. Sens. Marco Rubio …

FCC wants to reserve UHF channels for unlicensed use, NAB cries foul WASHINGTON – The FCC has proposed that, after the next incentive auction, one UHF channel in each market be set aside for unlicensed white space devices like wireless …

Quarter-billion-dollar investment is coming from FCC’s Connect America Fund WASHINGTON – Frontier Communications has announced the receipt of $238 million from the Federal Communications Commission’s Connect America Fund to expand broadband Internet access to 1.3 million rural Americans across 28 …

Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica also in the mix for 700 MHz spectrum After 181 rounds of bidding spread over 16 days, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica emerged as the high bidders vying for access to 700 MHz spectrum covering Germany. …

Wireless service tax cut to slice 1.73% off cellphone bills Florida’s wireless customers are set to see a tax break on future bills as the state’s Legislature this week passed a $400 million tax plan that includes a stipulation that …

Report suggests Wheeler against T-Mobile US request for 40 megahertz spectrum reserve The Federal Communications Commission is reportedly set to dismiss a request from T-Mobile US to increase the amount of reserved spectrum set aside for the upcoming 600 MHz …

Potential merger still has to pass muster with foreign regulators WASHINGTON – Following months of speculation and a long and complex process, a merger between Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent is one very large step closer to being finalized. The companies have …

Discord among FCC commissioners; Pai sites Kafka while O’Rielly defends AT&T’s actions The Federal Communications Commission today announced plans to fine AT&T Mobility $100 million for misleading customers about its unlimited data plan offering. Specifically, FCC investigators allege that AT&T …

Appeals court ruling paves way for 600 MHz incentive auction to proceed The Federal Communications Commission scored a significant victory in its attempt to conduct its controversial 600 MHz incentive auction, with an appeals court striking down a challenge by …

FCC has gained ground in text-to-911 and improving location accuracy for vital public safety system WASHINGTON – The 911 system is responsible for providing emergency dispatch for 300 million people. If it goes down for even a few hours, as …

WASHINGTON – Decades after they were invented and became a staple of everyday life, mobile phones are finally finding a clear legal footing in U.S. courts. Mobile technology has spurred a multiyear global debate touching on issues such as privacy, …

The Federal Communication Commission’s net neutrality rules became law today, after a federal court rejected an industry attempt to avoid Title II regulation. However, Internet service providers have said they will continue to fight, and it looks like they will …

Proposed funding requires strict regulations related to FCC regulatory power WASHINGTON – The proposed federal budget recently released by the U.S. House of Representatives cuts Federal Communications Commission funding and effectively puts the brakes on the net neutrality debate, at least until …

Canadian Parliament is considering so-called right to know legislation WASHINGTON – Despite a preponderance of scientific evidence, there are still pockets of people holding onto the notion that radio frequency energy could present public health concerns. In Berkeley, Calif., the city council …

“Rebuilding the Internet in space,” is how SpaceX describes its plan to provide the entire world with Internet service via satellite. In a Federal Communications Commission filing, the company said that it wants to launch 4,000 low-orbit satellites that circle …

Argument that FCC has essentially reclassified VoIP services WASHINGTON – Net neutrality is rapidly becoming an issue that is very good for lawyers. On June 8, TechFreedom, CARI.net and self-described leading Internet entrepreneurs Jeff Pulver, Scott Banister, Charles Giancarlo, David …

Using technology to drive inclusion is good for people and business WASHINGTON – Access to mobile technology is changing the world around us, but it’s more than being able to watch cat videos while riding the bus. The recent M-Enabling …

Lawyer: Berkeley ordinance violates the First Amendment WASHINGTON – A major telecom lobbying group has filed suit to strike down a Berkeley, Calif., city ordinance that requires retailers to warn customers about dangers associated with RF radiation. Berkeley city officials …

The Federal Communications Commission has been examining the possibility of doing away with its call-forwarding requirements for non-service-initialized (NSI) phones  as part of its on going efforts to modernize national emergency telecom infrastructure. The regulatory agency is soliciting comment. From …

The “Un-carrier” wants regulators to increase reserve for upcoming 600 MHz auction In a June 2 letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler, T-Mobile US pushed for the feds to include a larger reserve of 600 MHz spectrum in …