Mobile Providers Seek Increased Access to Cuba
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2010 - Nokia, AT&T and Verizon are petitioning the White House to loosen telecommunications export bans to Cuba. Keep Reading
Qatar Telecom Begins Fiber-to-the-Home Roll Out
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2010 - Qatar Telecom announced that it has begun its fiber-to-the-home network. Keep Reading
India Gives RIM Two More Months to Comply
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2010 - India's government has given BlackBerry-maker RIM two more months to comply with a request for increased access to e-mail from its users. Keep Reading
Intel Buys German LTE Chip Maker
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2010 - Intel has announced that it will purchase German firm Infineon’s wireless chip division. Infineon's wireless division primarily works with various LTE technologies. Keep Reading
Clearwire to Offer Pay-As-You-Go WiMax
WASHINGTON, August 30, 2010 - Clearwire has announced the first pay-as-you-go service for WiMax. Marketed as the Rover, it offers users unlimited usage for various time periods. The product is marketed toward younger people who are unable to afford recurring monthly charges. Keep Reading
Verizon Seeks to Offer an LTE Network in Alaska
WASHINGTON, August 30, 2010 - A recent filing by Verizon to the Federal Communications Commission shows that the firm may set up a long-term evolution network in Alaska. The filing was an application for the acquisition of the 700 megahertz band from Triad Keep Reading
Association Study Shows LTE Networks Continue to Expand Globally
WASHINGTON, August 30, 2010 - The Global Mobile Suppliers Association has published new data showing that 101 firm LTE network deployments are in progress or planned in 41 countries. The number of network commitments is 71 percent higher than GSA reported in a similar survey six months ago. Keep Reading
Hungary to Auction More Spectrum
WASHINGTON, August 27, 2010 - Hungary's newly formed National Media and Telecommunications Authority has announced the nation will hold new wireless auctions. The auctions will be for the 450 megahertz band and a portion of the 900 MHz band. Keep Reading
UAE Expects to Offer All Fiber Network by 2011
WASHINGTON, August 27, 2010 - The United Arab Emirites plans to have a fully fiber network by the end of 2011. The Pyramid Research group is reporting that this new network is expected to provide the nation with a growth of $1.01 billion by 2015. Keep Reading
Sprint to Purchase Wirefree Spectrum
WASHINGTON, August 27, 2010 - Sprint Nextel has announced that it will purchase 10 megahertz of spectrum from Wirefree Partners. The spectrum will span 16 markets including Austin, Texas as well as Seattle and Cincinnati. Keep Reading
TeliaSonera Launches LTE Network in Sweden
WASHINGTON, August 27, 2010 - TeliaSonera will launch an LTE network in Gothenburg, Sweden. The firm plans to roll out its network across 25 cities by the end of 2010 and 218 different locations by the end of 2011 Keep Reading
NTIA Institute Offers Training and Educational Videos for the Public
WASHINGTON, August 27, 2010 – Ever wanted to know how to build your own radar or the science of signal strength? The Institute of Telecommunications Sciences has released a collection of online training and educational videos for the public that explain various telecommunications topics. Keep Reading
GAO Report Addresses Benefits, Concerns of Wireless Industry Consolidation
WASHINGTON, August 26, 2010 - A new government report released publicly on Thursday reviews changes in the wireless industry since 2000 and addresses its effects, including carrier consolidation and competitiveness. Keep Reading
Court Overturns FCC Auction Rules
WASHINGTON, August 26, 2010 - The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has concluded that the Federal Communications Commission auction rules have violated the Administrative Procedures Act. The rules mandated that small businesses hold their spectrum for 10 years prior to selling it and prevented them from leasing more than 50 percent of the spectrum to third parties. Keep Reading
U.N. Meeting to Address Benefits of Broadband
WASHINGTON, August 24, 2010 - Broadband is one of the topics scheduled for discussion at a high-level United Nations meeting next month in New York. Keep Reading
FCC Heads to L.A. to Boost Broadband Awareness Among Asian Communities
WASHINGTON, August 24, 2010 - The Federal Communications Commission is headed out to Los Angeles next week to host a forum, a consumer awareness Fair and release translations of the National Broadband Plan's executive summary in six Asian languages. Keep Reading
California Rolls Out Telehealth Network
WASHINGTON, August 23, 2010 – The state of California last week officially launched its Telehealth Network, which is funded by $30 million in federal, state and private money. Keep Reading
Copps Takes Broadcasting, Cable and More Out to the Woodshed
WASHINGTON, August 20, 2010 - Michael Copps, a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, spoke in Minneapolis Thursday at a public hearing on the future of the internet, touting the important of broadband to the future of the United States and slamming the broadcasting and cable industries for bad behavior. Keep Reading
Grupo Televisa and Nextel Mexico Win Spectrum Auction
WASHINGTON, August 19, 2010 - Mexico has completed its most recent spectrum auction for the 1700 megahertz band. Keep Reading
RIM Agrees to Give India Access to Networks
WASHINGTON, August 19, 2010 - India is the latest nation to require Research in Motion to provide a government with access to the traffic across the RIM network. The nation gave the Canadian phone maker until the end of the month to comply with a request for access to its network. RIM has acquiesced and beginning Sept. 1 will give India access to the BlackBerry messenger service. Keep Reading
Industry Resumes Net Neutrality Talks Without FCC
WASHINGTON, August 19, 2010 - Even though the Federal Communications Commission has stopped its network neutrality talks, industry groups have resumed discussions on the matter without the FCC. Keep Reading
Commerce, Agriculture Departments Announce $1.8 Billion in New Broadband Grants
WASHINGTON, August 18, 2010 - The departments of Agriculture and Commerce announced a new set of broadband grants totaling $1.8 billion across 37 states. The 94 projects announced include the first satellite projects under this grant system. Keep Reading
WiMax Forum Agrees Upon WiMax2 Standard
WASHINGTON, August 17, 2010 - The WiMax Forum has announced that the WiMax 2 standard has been agreed upon. The official standard will be presented to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in November. Keep Reading
Sam’s Club to Offer Wi-Fi
WASHINGTON, August 17, 2010 - Sam’s Club has announced that will begin to provide Wi-Fi to its United States locations by the end of November. AT&T will provide the network. Keep Reading
Telefónica O2 to Launch Long-Term Evolution Network
WASHINGTON August 16, 2010 - Telefónica O2 has announced that it will launch a pilot long-term evolution network in September. The network hardware will be provided by Nokia Siemans, which already has contracts to build 25 other trials worldwide. Keep Reading
Complaints to the FCC Jumped 230 Percent in the First Quarter of 2010
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2010 – Complaints to the Federal Communication Commission about various issues increased 230 percent during the first quarter of this year over the fourth quarter of last year, largely thanks to broadcast indecency incidents. General inquires increased 7 percent during this timeframe. Keep Reading
House Leaders Call on FCC to Protect the Open Internet
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2010 - Democratic Representatives Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, Anna G. Eshoo of California, Jay Inslee of Washington and Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania urged that the Federal Communications Commission weigh in to preserve an open internet. The letter, they said, is a direct response to the recent Google-Verizon announcement that provides exceptions to the principle of network neutrality, or the notion that internet service should not be prioritized based on competitive advantage. Keep Reading
New Mexico to Receive $74.4 Million in Broadband Grants
WASHINGTON, August 16, 2010- New Mexico entities received a $10.6 million broadband stimulus grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and support for a $63.8 million project from the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture. The NTIA grant will be given to North Central New Mexico Economic Development District to deploy a middle-mile project across three counties and five tribal areas. The project will directly serve 123 community anchor institutions, 19,227 homes and 1,332 businesses. "Middle mile" projects aim to expand the availability of broadband interconnections to companies and organizations that offer service to end-users. Keep Reading
Verizon Successfully Tests Gigabit Network
WASHINGTON August 16, 2010- Verizon has completed its filed trials of their GPON network which will provide users 2.4 Gbps downstream and 1.2 Gbps upstream. Keep Reading
T-Mobile to Wait Two Years to Launch 4G
WASHINGTON August 16, 2010- T-Mobile will wait two years to upgrade to 4G but will upgrade their existing 3G network to double its speed. Keep Reading
FCC Establishes Office to Aid Tribal Lands, Native Communities
WASHINGTON, August 13, 2010 - The Federal Communications Commission recently established an office to better focus on communications infrastructures in tribal lands and native communities. The office will be headed by Geoffrey Blackwell, and will be part of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. Keep Reading
Qatar Telecom to Become Fastest in the Middle East
WASHINGTON August 13, 2010- Qatar Telecom enables 21Mbps wireless network. Keep Reading
Rostelecom to Launch LTE in Russia
WASHINGTON August 13, 2010- Russian telecom firm Rostelecom has announced plans to build an LTE network. Keep Reading
Free Press Tells Google ‘Don’t be Evil’
WASHINGTON August 12, 2010- In response to the recent Google Verizon statement on network neutrality Free Press along with others have organized a protest. Keep Reading
FCC Seeks Input as It Embarks on Crafting Cybersecurity Plan
WASHINGTON, August 12, 2010 - The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comment on a cybersecurity roadmap to identify vulnerabilities to communications networks or end users as it endeavors to help craft a national plan to protect the nation. Keep Reading
Telecom Italia to Expand Wireless Trial
WASHINGTON August 11, 2010- Telecom Italia has announced it will expand its testing of the Long Term Evolution technology, a fourth-generation wireless broadband standand, and which promises to provide speeds of up to 140 MBits. Keep Reading
Pew Internet Survey Shows that Broadband Adoption has Slowed
WASHINGTON August 11, 2010- The Pew Internet & American Life Project has released their Home Broadband survey. While adoption has generally been increasing this year adoption has slowed. The only group showing growth was African Americans. Keep Reading
Opelika Votes to Create Municipal Network
WASHINGTON August 11, 2010- The Alabama town of Opelika has decided to set up its own cable television and internet network. Keep Reading
Alaskan Senator’s Telecom Legacy Extends Beyond Fateful ‘Series of Tubes’ Comment
SAN FRANCISCO, August 11, 2010 - One of the more unfortunate pop-cultural legacies of Ted Stevens as far as telecommunications policy is concerned is his 2006 comment that the internet is like "a series of tubes." Keep Reading
House Cuts $302 Million from Broadband Stimulus
WASHINGTON August 10, 2010- The House has voted to pass HR 1586, which primarily provides funding for states for education funding and Medicaid. In order to offset the costs of the new funds, $302 million will be rescinded from broadband stimulus funds. The Senate has already passed the legislation. Keep Reading