What net neutrality? FCC head Ajit Pai would rather regulate Facebook
In a hearing on May 12, Ajit Pai answered a question about net neutrality by calling Silicon Valley tech companies the biggest threat to internet freedom. That's definitely a conversation to be had, but is he right to dismiss net neutrality concerns?
Cell phone carriers now have the power to stop robocalls. When will they use it?
The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to allow cell phone companies to block robocalls by default, but the nation's major carriers would not give specifics on if or when they would use the newfound power to protect their customers from what's become a daily annoyance.
FCC filing reveals mysterious new Google device, but no one knows what it’s for
There's a new Google media device that has appeared in information on the FCC's website, but so far no one is quite sure what the device is or what it will do. The device is listed as A4RH2B and is presumed to be a Google Home device because of its similarity to previous model numbers.
FCC could require carriers to block robocalls. Here’s why they didn’t before
The FCC is considering making legal protections for carriers that want to block robocalls, and perhaps even require them to be blocked by default. In the past, carriers were worried about the legal implications of blocking legitimate robocalls, but these new protections could help make that less of an issue.
Robocalls: Don’t be fooled by the one-ring scam, FCC warns
If you hear your phone ring once in the night, you’d better not return the call unless you know who it's from. The advice comes courtesy of the FCC, which is warning of an uptick in the so-called one-ring scam that tricks people into calling expensive numbers, leaving them with a pricey phone bill.
The FCC and White House want to bring high-speed internet to rural areas
The FCC and the White House have unveiled new initiatives to bring high-speed internet to rural areas, including offering $20.4 billion in incentives to companies to build out infrastructure. The FCC also announced new initiatives to speed up the roll out of 5G -- including a new spectrum auction.
House votes to restore net neutrality rules, but effort faces long odds
The restoration of net neutrality gained a slim chance of moving forward when the Save the Internet Act received House approval this week. The net neutrality bill is an effort to restore protections established by the Obama administration’s Open Internet Order of 2015. It faces major hurdles in the Senate.
FCC to help first responders pinpoint 911 callers in multistory buildings
When someone calls 911 from their cell phone, wireless carriers provide operators with an approximate location. Now the Federal Communications Commission wants the carriers to use their technology to provide vertical location data to pinpoint emergency callers inside multi-story buildings.
FCC didn’t have the right to repeal net neutrality, court case argues
This week a major court case in support of net neutrality began, with a group of consumer advocates and internet trade organizations challenging the Federal Communications Commission's overturning of the Open Internet Order. They say the FCC did not have the right to repeal to OIO.
Sneak pre-‘View’: August’s new video doorbell leaks ahead of CES
CES is just around the corner, but a new smart doorbell camera from August has already been revealed before the show in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission. The August View Doorbell appears to offer a sleek new design and space gray finish meant to compete with Ring devices.
FCC filings show Ring is working on new security lights
Ring, the home security company gobbled up by Amazon, appears to have had some of its upcoming products revealed ahead of time by FCC filings. The documents show two upcoming security lights being made by the company. The filings seem to show that the lights won't include security cameras.
New Sonos S18 satellite speaker shows up in an FCC filing
Usually companies like to wait for conferences to announce products, but some new speakers from Sonos may have slipped in an FCC filing. The documents appear to show the company is planning on releasing new satellite speakers to add surround sound and voice control to its Playbar soundbar.
Can Microsoft’s Airband Initiative close broadband gap for 25M Americans?
A new report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that 25 million Americans do not have access to broadband internet -- more than 19 million living in rural communities. Broadband adoption in the U.S. has plateaued at 70 percent since 2010. Can Microsoft's Airband Initiative help?
U.S. government sues California to stop its new net neutrality regulations
After passing what many consider to be the gold standard in net neutrality protections, the U.S. Department of Justice is suing the State of California. The Justice Department claims that states do not have a right to regulate the internet, which falls under interstate commerce.
California’s pro-net neutrality bill awaits governor’s signature
California is close to restoring net neutrality rules. A bill to bring ease back to web surfers has passed both legislative chambers. It now awaits the governor's signature. Jerry Brown has 30 days to act on the bill.
FCC proposal could help Google Fiber roll out to more cities
The FCC is considering a change on how utility poles are managed. Instead of requiring new service providers consult with existing utilities on a pole to make changes, the new proposal shifts the work burden to new providers, like Google Fiber. This change could help accelerate the deployment of gigabit internet.
Need the FCC to handle a problem? A formal complaint will cost you $225
The FCC voted on a new rule intended to streamline informal and formal complaints. The change sees informal complaints referred back to the original company and formal complaints costing $225. Critics argue that the agency is simply trying to skirt its obligations to protect consumers.
Net neutrality is dead, but it could make a comeback
The repeal of net neutrality has been enacted and the principle has been effectively killed off at the federal level. However, there is a glimmer of hope for its fans, as many local government officials have been pushing legislation and making demands that could help enshrine its principles for the foreseeable future.
FCC adopts news rules to stop phone companies from ‘slamming’ and ‘cramming’
The FCC has issued new rules meant to provide safeguards for consumers against deceptive practices by mobile carriers. More specifically, the organization is taking aim at what is known as "slamming" and "cramming."
Net neutrality bomb threat suspect has a history of hoax calls
A federal jury has charged Tyler Barriss with calling in two bomb threat hoaxes in December 2017, including one that delayed the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality vote. Barriss is already in custody, however, for a deadly "swatting" incident that same month.
FLI Charge’s conductive wireless charging could revolutionize classroom tech
Juice Mobile Power has won FCC approval and ETL certification to roll into classrooms and offices across the country. In partnership with Bretford, FLI Charge has built its conductive wireless charging technology into a mobile solution that turns a single outlet into a power source for up to 20 devices.
U.S. Senate votes to overturn FCC’s repeal of net neutrality protections
The U. Senate voted 52 to 47 to reverse the FCC's recent decision to end protection for net neutrality regulation. All Democrats and three Republicans voted in favor, and the bill is now headed to the House of Representative for a vote.
Net Neutrality remains on life support as senators rally to save it
Data-freedom loving politicians attempt to find workaround to save net neutrality, hard times hit ZTE in China as trade war spools up, the hills are alive with the sounds of luxury coming from the new Rolls Royce SUV.
AT&T and Verizon lobbying for increased pricing power over smaller ISPs
Some of the U.S.'s largest communications companies are calling the FCC to end rules that require them to sell their network services to smaller ISPs for a set price. While USTelecom argues that this would pay off in the long run, the smaller ISPs warn it could increase consumer bills.
FCC’s net neutrality rules officially end, but 18 ISPs promise to stay honest
The Federal Register showed that the Federal Communication Commission's net neutrality rules officially came to an end on Monday, April 23. That means internet service providers no longer fall under the government-regulated "utility" umbrella. We'll have to see what happens next.
T-Mobile slapped with $40 million fine for playing fake ringtones on rural calls
T-Mobile has agreed to pay $40 million after the Federal Communication Commission found that despite promising to end the practice, T-Mobile was still playing fake ringtones on calls to rural areas in an effort to make customers believe that the call had been connected -- when in fact it had not.
Stealth startup launches four unauthorized rogue satellites into orbit
Despite being denied approval by the FCC, a startup called Swarm Technologies went ahead anyway, launching four tiny satellites into orbit last month.
Oregon is the latest state to jump on the net neutrality bandwagon
Oregon is the latest state taking net neutrality into its own hands, as a proposed bill just passed the House on Monday and heads to the Senate.
FCC interactive map shows broadband coverage down to your local neighborhood
Finding out the high-speed internet options in your area just got a lot easier with an interactive map compiled from FCC data.
Vermont becomes fifth state to sign order supporting net neutrality
The state of Vermont has become the fifth state to sign an executive order mandating support for the principle of net neutrality
States are waging guerrilla warfare to save net neutrality. Here’s how
Many states are taking on the fight for net neutrality by enacting their own state-level laws and executive orders. Can these efforts work, or will the FCC crack down on them?
Internet Association pressures Senate to reverse FCC’s net neutrality repeal
The fight against the FCC's net neutrality repeal continues, with the Internet Association continuing to pressure the U.S. Senate into opposing it. But can it be swayed?
U.S. government will investigate fraudulent net neutrality comments
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has agreed to investigate claims of massive comment fraud during the lead-up to the December 2017 net neutrality repeal.