FM chip on smartphone is usually not active but could be valuable in an emergency
Remember FM radio? The National Association of Broadcasters certainly does and, because many mobile manufacturers disable FM on smartphones, there’s tension brewing.
Samsung, Apple and LG phones, for example, could function...
In a first-of-its-kind move, FDIC will back Google Wallet
WASHINGTON – In a landmark announcement, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. will now insure money held in Google Wallet accounts.
The federally run program insures all deposits in U.S. banks up to $250,000. The move will be...
Mobile operators are set to gain access to spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band.
The Federal Communications Commission is making 150 megahertz of contiguous spectrum available for mobile broadband and other uses through a spectrum sharing policy. The agency says it is creating a three-tiered...
Fines against Google could hit $6B; EU also probes Android OS
WASHINGTON – The European Union Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, officially filed a "statement of objection" against the Internet search giant Google.
She told the press in Brussels, Belgium, "I'm concerned that Google has artificially...
Wheeler speech at NAB show touts 600 MHz auction benefits for broadcasters
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler took to the stage at this week’s National Association of Broadcasters event in an attempt to drum up support from television broadcasters to participate in the FCC’s...
OSHA seeks public comment on how to reduce accidents at tower sites
Federal safety regulators are seeking public input on how to best protect the men and women who work on telecommunications towers from injury or incident.
Published on April 15, the Occupational Safety and Health...
Republicans blast FCC net neutrality decision; Pelosi calls rules 'foundation of freedom'
WASHINGTON – Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) introduced an eight-line resolution Monday that, if passed, will block the Federal Communications Commission from implementing its Open Internet Order.
The resolution states, “Congress disapproves of the rules”...
$6B fine is apparently possible in EU probe of Google
WASHINGTON – American technology powerhouse Google will face charges of violating antitrust regulations from the European Union’s Competition Commissioner, according to reports.
Margrethe Vestager, former prime minister of Denmark, is expected to make an announcement Wednesday,...
Canada’s 2.5 GHz spectrum auction latest attempt to increase competition
Canada’s quest for deeper mobile competition continues today as the country’s telecom regulator begins what is expected to be a short auction of spectrum licenses in the 2.5 GHz band.
The auction is set to include...
US Telecom Association challenging FCC’s net neutrality rules
WASHINGTON – In a move that surprised nobody, trade group US Telecom Association, which represents carriers Verizon and AT&T among others, filed suit against the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet order less than 12 hours after the...
As I think back over the recent Competitive Carriers Association 2015 Global Expo in Atlanta for this Generation Wireless column, I begin to see three major trends: leveraging big data to make smarter networks; capitalizing on existing spectrum assets; and preparing for changes in...
U.S. Department of Energy selects Intel, Cray to deliver Aurora
WASHINGTON – Intel announced that the U.S. Department of Energy selected the California-based chipmaker to build a supercomputer for the Argonne National Laboratory.
Dubbed Aurora, the computer is set for delivery in 2018 and is “the largest...
Verizon supercookies under review for violating consumer privacy and data laws
WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing whether Verizon Communication’s use of "supercookie" tracking software on its devices and website violated consumer privacy and data laws.
Supercookies are an identification number used to track...
25,000 users join Europe v. Facebook suit
An Austrian law graduate and 25,000 other Facebook users in Europe are taking on the social media giant claiming the company invaded their privacy by participating in the NSA’s PRISM dragnet surveillance program, among other invasions.
The case is being...
911 outage drew a $17.4M fine for operators responsible
WASHINGTON – Following the steepest fines ever levied for 911 outages, federal regulators are taking steps to expand the database of public safety operators equipped to handle text-to-911.
The Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice on...
Social Security numbers part of customer data stolen at 3 AT&T centers tied to mobile device trafficking
AT&T was hit with a $25 million fine tied to the unauthorized disclosure of personal information of nearly 280,000 U.S. customers. The Federal Communications Commission noted the data breaches...
Government agents have been collecting Americans' phone records since 1992, according to USA Today. The U.S. Justice Department's Drug Enforcement Administration asked carriers for logs of almost all calls made from the U.S. to as many as 116 countries.
The logs were used for 20...
Standard General and Sprint acquire RadioShack in bankruptcy auction
General Wireless has received federal court approval to take over 1,743 RadioShack stores after the struggling retailer declared bankruptcy in February.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court oversaw the auction that resulted in General Wireless, a subsidiary of Standard...
South Korean authorities also investigating Qualcomm for antitrust issues
WASHINGTON – Qualcomm is looking to reestablish its importance in China following a $975 million fine imposed by China’s National Development and Reform Commission.
Qualcomm President Derek Aberle told the Financial Times during the Boao Economic Forum...
The small town of Chanute, Kan., has hit a bit of a roadblock in its effort to install a 1 Gbps fiber network in the town.
AT&T, the provider of Chanute’s 6 Mbps DSL network, is using a 1947 Kansas law that requires permission from the...
FCC: Domestic violence, overdose among failed calls
WASHINGTON – Imagine a loved one seizing up with a heart attack or waking up in the middle of the night from the sound of an intruder in your home. Most people would likely reach for their phone to...
ZTE is part of Chinese initiative to clean-up transportation
WASHINGTON – ZTE, one of the largest global telecom manufacturers, is expanding into electric car charging.
The South China Morning Post reports that ZTE is expecting to gain contracts to provide charging equipment for 10 of China’s...
Federal judge tosses AT&T’s claim that carrier isn’t subject to FTC authority in data throttling lawsuit
The Federal Trade Commission can continue its data throttling lawsuit against AT&T, according to a March 31 decision handed down by the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
The...
Verizon’s advertising tracking tags drew Congressional rebuke
Making good on a January promise, Verizon Wireless customers, as of March 31, can opt out of a targeted advertising program powered by so-called supercookies.
Supercookies are an identification number used to track and tag Internet users for advertisement...
