FCC looks to change rules governing the Wireless Emergency Alert system
WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission held its monthly open meeting on Nov. 19. The meeting was brief and without controversy, although public safety discussion was colored by recent terror attacks in Paris, Beirut and...
WASHINGTON – Federal Chief Information Officer: "We are facing a crisis ..."
The U.S. government, despite commanding a $3.8 trillion budget, is lagging behind many other developed countries in IT and "Internet of Things" investment.
When most people think of the federal government, they focus...
Washington, Nebraska, New York, Illinois and Missouri have the highest wireless tax rates
Research group the Tax Foundation, in a new report, found that the average wireless consumer in the U.S. pays a combined 18% rate in federal, state and local taxes, plus associated fees.
All told,...
DALLAS – The demand for small cells is pressing, and carriers, venue owners and other stakeholders are racing to deploy. But scalability remains a challenge as it's inherently difficult to define a broad process when each small cell use case has its own set...
The Wi-Fi calling feature comes on the heels of FCC waiver grant
On the heels of gaining a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission regarding teletypewriter functionality, AT&T Mobility announced the availability of Wi-Fi calling on select devices starting Oct. 8.
The Wi-Fi calling feature looks...
CCA CEO Steve Berry discusses final challenges ahead of 600 MHz incentive auction
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The speaker and topic lineup for this week’s Competitive Carriers Association Annual Convention showed a strong leaning toward regulatory challenges facing the trade association and its members. CCA...
Says FCC support of municipal infrastructure is “borderline socialism”
FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly recently spoke to the Prosperity Caucus, a DC-based organization founded in 1986 by Regan-era Republicans, about how the regulatory agency lacks economic pragmatism.
During the Commissioner’s remarks in what is encouraged to be...
Goal is for more accurate reporting and tracking of outage information
WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission has voted to propose new rules designed to tighten the outage reporting rules with new requirements for submarine cables.
The goal, as stated by the FCC, is to “help safeguard...
AT&T purchase of DirecTV becomes official; John Stankey tapped to run new Entertainment & Internet business
AT&T finally received official approval from the Federal Communications Commission on its $48.5 billion acquisition of DirecTV, ending more than a year of consideration by the government regulator.
In giving...
AT&T offers low-cost broadband commitment to consumers
AT&T is offering up low-cost broadband options as an incentive to government regulators currently debating the telecom giant’s year-long attempt to acquire DirecTV.
In a filing earlier this month with the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T said that should the...
T-Mobile US said majority of the requests came from law enforcement and included phone conversations, text messages and voicemails
T-Mobile US said last year it received nearly 352,000 requests for customer and network information, with a vast majority coming from federal, state or local law enforcement...
Defining unlimited; and T-Mobile US in the driver's seat
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to fine AT&T Mobility $100 million for allegedly misleading customers about unlimited data plans. Despite many news outlets calling this the first of many “net neutrality fines,” the...
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, freedom of speech, civil rights...
Court claims more details needed before it will approve Sprint, CFPB bill-cramming proposal
A federal judge is holding up a $50 million settlement between Sprint and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over bill cramming until both sides explain why the proposal is “fair, reasonable and...
Licensed spectrum is a $500B resource
WASHINGTON – A senior telecommunications lobbyist, talking about the need for public policy opening up more broadband spectrum, boiled the situation down: “We have to keep feeding the beast.”
That’s from Tom Power, general counsel and SVP of the Cellular Telephone...
Coders podcast:
In this episode of Coders, I'm talking to Joseph Hall, chief technologist for the Center for Democracy and Technology in Washington, D.C.
Hall points out some policy items to be aware of when it comes to privacy and building apps, plus the current...
Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
Paging not...
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”...
Sprint fined for law enforcement requests between 2007 and 2010
Sprint has been docked $15.5 million by the federal government for overcharging law enforcement agencies to carry out court-ordered wiretaps, pen registers and trap devices.
The fine followed a joint investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office...
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...
One of the very first lessons taught to telecommunications students is that radio frequency spectrum is a scarce resource. This limitation forces governments and other market players to seek alternatives aimed at maximizing its efficient use with the purpose of promoting wider coverage and...
AT&T/DirecTV, Comcast/TWC deals impacted by confidentiality review
AT&T’s attempt to acquire DirecTV hit yet another snag as the Federal Communications Commission late last week stopped its review process due to a pending review of confidentially agreements.
The latest delay comes as the FCC said it is...
CCA to rebrand annual event to focus on new business opportunities for mobile carriers
The Competitive Carriers Association is looking to infuse a new focus into one of its annual trade shows, announcing plans for a mobile carrier-focused event beginning next year.
The trade association said...
The FCC Report and Order that wasn’t
On March 12, the Federal Communications Commission released the 400-page Open Internet Report and Order. Think of this as part one of a dramatic miniseries on Internet regulation, which you would prefer to turn off after the first hour...
