The FCC, DOJ, carriers and wireless organizations strongly voiced their opinions last week to the U.S. Supreme Court that the high court should not consider the City of Portland, Oregon’s request to reopen challenges to the FCC’s 2018 orders that allowed the nation’s wireless operators to standardize the installation of 5G small cells on the local level in municipal rights …
FCC Commish Carr says big tech should pony up after decades of enjoying a free ride
In a Newsweek op-ed, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr outlined a new approach to funding the federal government’s efforts to close the digital divide. The FCC’s current model for funding Internet builds and ensuring affordable access—the Universal Service Fund (USF)—relies on a charge that operates as tax on consumers’ monthly bills for traditional telephone services. USF is on the verge of …
Frontier lied about internet speeds, FTC, 6 states allege in their lawsuit
The Federal Trade Commission, along with law enforcement agencies from six states, sued internet service provider Frontier Communications this week, alleging that the company did not provide many consumers with internet service at the speeds it promised them, and charged many of them for more expensive and higher-speed service than Frontier actually provided. In a complaint, the FTC and its state …
COVID-5G conspiracist and serial litigator wants 10th Circuit to revisit New Mexico 5G cell tower ruling
The Tenth Circuit abandoned its judicial duty when it shot down most of the constitutional claims in March in a lawsuit accusing Santa Fe, NM of exposing residents to dangerous radiation levels by installing telecom equipment in public rights-of-way, a local alliance group has told the court. The Santa Fe Alliance for Public Health and Safety along with Monika Steinhoff, …
CCA: FCC is poised to misspend up to $1 billion of rural funds in wealthy, densely populated areas
In a study filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) asked the Commission to reconsider awarding Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I grants to wealthy, densely populated areas that already have access to broadband, and instead direct support to genuinely unserved communities. In a statement, CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry said, “Pervasive errors in …
Broadband trade groups sue NY over $15 internet mandate. Gov. Cuomo says, ‘Bring it on’
Trade groups representing internet service providers sued the state of New York on Friday, alleging that a new mandate requiring ISPs to offer low-income internet plans capped at $15 each signed two weeks ago oversteps the state’s regulation authority. The lawsuit was filed by industry associations including the New York State Telecommunications Association, CTIA- The Wireless Association, ACA Connects – …
New construction cut out of FCC’s proposed $7.17 billion student broadband program
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on Friday laid out the proposed rules for the Emergency Connectivity fund that excludes new network construction from a $7.17 billion program meant to help students get and stay online as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, planning to limit purchases to laptops, tablets and Wi-Fi hot spots. New phones were also excluded in the fund …
Former FCC Chair Pai joins private equity firm Searchlight as its TMT rainmaker
Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (Searchlight), a leading global private investment firm, announced the appointment of Ajit Pai, former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission as its 13th partner and a prospective board member of a number of Searchlight’s existing investments in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sectors. Searchlight’s U.S.-based TMT investment companies include Consolidated Communications, Global Eagle, Hemisphere Media …
FCC knows the check won’t be in the mail after fining Tele Circuit $4.1M for cramming and slamming
The Federal Communications Commission has fined Norcross, GA-based Tele Circuit Network Corporation $4,145,000 for switching consumers from their preferred carrier to Tele Circuit without permission and adding unauthorized charges to consumers’ bills. Their actions specifically harmed elderly and infirm consumers who, in some cases, were left without telephone service for extended periods while the company refused to reinstate service until …
The FCC needs you to test your internet speeds with its app that will let you assess your carrier’s claims
As part of the Commission’s Broadband Data Collection effort to collect comprehensive data on broadband availability across the United States, the FCC is encouraging the public to download the FCC’s Speed Test app, which is currently used to collect speed test data as part of the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America program. The app provides a way for consumers to test …
Contractors say rip and replace funding is profitable, but will be shaved at their level
The Federal Communications Commission has released a new report with an in-depth look at the costs for telecoms to rip and replace eligible Huawei and ZTE equipment, which will aid in the development of a new reimbursement program and its administration. The agency commissioned consulting firm Widelity to “produce a report detailing the anticipated steps in removing, replacing, and disposing …
Third strike against small Colorado telco requires it to reimburse the U.S. $6.75 million
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled March 15, 2021 that a rural telecommunications carrier based in Alamosa, Colorado owes the FCC $6.75 million for improperly claimed Universal Service Funds (USF) it received between 2005 and 2010. In 2016, the FCC demanded that Blanca repay the $6,748,280 in funds it received which it was not entitled. Blanca …
FCC initiates proceeding to revoke authority of telecom carriers controlled by Communist China
The Federal Communications Commission yesterday took the next step in its efforts to ensure the security of U.S. telecom networks. After issuing show cause orders last year to three telecom companies with ties to the communist regime in China, the FCC determined that those carriers’ responses failed to address the serious national security threats posed by their continued operation in the …
OSHA, NATE and the FCC ink long-sought strategic safety partnership
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a national strategic partnership with NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve worker safety in the communications tower erection industry. The goal of the three-year partnership is to eliminate worker injuries and fatalities while performing wireless and telecommunications, tower erection …
CenturyLink skates with a questionably low $500K fine for its 2018 outage
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has fined CenturyLink Inc. a half-million dollars for their December 27-28, 2018 multi-state outage caused by one of the company’s transport networks which, affected delivery of some 911 calls. In August, 2019, the bureau in cooperation with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a scathing report detailing the cause and impact of the nationwide network outage …
It’s now officially FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington
Nathan Simington officially became an FCC Commissioner yesterday after he was sworn in by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The ceremony was a virtual event since the FCC continues to work remotely due to COVID-19 concerns. His five year term was back-dated to July 1, 2019 when Commissioner Michael O’Rielly’s term was scheduled to end. O’Reilly was nominated for another five …
New FCC review team member’s telecom policy assets for the position: zippo
President-elect Joseph Biden’s transition committee added another member to its experienced FCC Review Team last week, Christiana Ho, who appears to lack any experience in telecom policy. Ho graduated from Scripps College with a B.A. in creative writing and dance and found her political calling working for the Hillary for America campaign in 2015, later transitioning to the Colorado Democratic …
Senate confirms Simington as FCC Commissioner over strong objections from Democrats
Yesterday, the Senate voted 49-46 to confirm the contentious nomination of Republican Nathan Simington to the FCC, despite appeals from Democrats and advocacy groups to hold off on a vote until early next year. The confirmation handed the Biden administration a possible deadlocked FCC since FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is stepping down from the agency on inauguration day, January 20, …
The gavel is likely to go to Rosenworcel following FCC chief Pai’s departure next month
FCC chairman Ajit Pai has announced that he’s leaving the Commission as of January 20, 2021, when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in. It was widely expected since appointees often resign as a new administration takes over such as in 2017 when former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler left his position when the Trump administration took over. His announcement implies that …
Navajo Nation celebrates move to provide more towers, broadband access
Navajo leaders met in Chinle, Arizona last week at a new tower site to celebrate the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority’s plans to build more than a hundred broadband towers across the tribal nation. The projects were funded with a $32 million CARES Act allocation approved by the 24th Navajo Nation Council and signed into law by President Johnathan Nez and Vice President …
