Federal Communications Commission - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Sticker shock looms over Dish's mobile strategy

  Wireless spectrum is likely to get about US$3.3 billion more pricey for Dish Network, the U.S. satellite TV operator that's angling to get into the mobile business.

• California turns to jamming tech to disable pesky drones

  Legislators in California are considering jamming technology to disable drones that interfere with firefighting work even though federal regulations prohibit its use.

• Sprint drops 600 Kbps video-streaming limit after outcry

  Sprint this week quickly reversed plans to impose a 600 Kbps limit on streaming video as part of a promotion called "All-In" that charges $80 a month for unlimited talk, text and high-speed data.

• Sen. Nelson questions use of StingRays for phone surveillance

  A U.S. Senator is questioning why the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved of a controversial cell phone surveillance device that both federal and state law enforcement agencies are using to track suspects, often without court orders to do so.

• U.S. carriers meet voluntary deadline for unlocking mobile phones

  Unlocking a mobile phone from a single U.S. carrier has caused consumers headaches in recent years, but seven major carriers on Wednesday met a voluntary, industry-created deadline to set conditions for unlocking to occur.

• Muni broadband providers clash over Title II net neutrality reforms

  Nothing comes easy in the net neutrality battle. Take how different municipal broadband providers disagree over FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal to reclassify broadband providers as public utilities under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.

• FCC says net neutrality plan is on a 'firm legal foundation'

  Lawsuits are widely expected that would attack the sweeping net neutrality reforms proposed Wednesday by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler.

• Big visions for 5G before the FCC

  Drones, robots, high-altitude balloons and low-altitude satellites are all envisioned to provide fifth-generation (5G) wireless connections as early as 2020, according to recent FCC filings from 55 companies, including Google, Samsung, Intel and Qualcomm.

• Cities cheer Obama's push for municipal broadband

  Dozens of U.S. cities are cheering President Obama's proposal this week for the Federal Communications Commission to allow municipalities to provide their own Internet broadband services even in states that have banned such services.

• FCC Chair calls for 'just and reasonable' rules for broadband

  LAS VEGAS --- FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on Wednesday called for an open Internet that protects innovators and consumers while also making sure Internet service providers (ISPs) retain economic incentives to continue building better networks.

• A fresh look at communications regulation

  The last time that Congress enacted major telecommunications regulation reform, in 1996, the state of technology was very different than it is today: Fewer than 15% of Americans had a mobile phone, under one-third of U.S. households were online, and virtually all of those that were online had only slow, dial-up connections. Amazon.com and eBay were small startups (both were launched in 1995), and Mark Zuckerberg was still living at home with his parents, preparing for his bar mitzvah.

• AT&T backs off threat to halt its fiber rollout

  AT&T now says it will continue its already-announced fiber optic network expansion to 100 cities, backtracking on comments by AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson after President Obama voiced support for net neutrality last month.

• FCC seeks fiber-optic delay data from AT&T

  The Federal Communications Commission on Friday formally requested that AT&T provide all documents and data related to its planned fiber-optic cable buildouts nationwide.

• Cisco joins chorus against Obama's net neutrality plan

  President Barack Obama's call for ISPs to be regulated like traditional telecommunications carriers continued to send shockwaves through the Internet industry on Wednesday as the head of Cisco Systems warned that the idea could hurt his company's business.

• FCC to take more time on net neutrality following Obama's position

  Following President Obama's statement today backing net neutrality rules, the Federal Communications Commission said it won't consider the issue at its December meeting and will put off rules changes until 2015.