WASHINGTON, October 7, 2014 – Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and wireless industry pioneer Marty Cooper took to the opinion page of the San Jose Mercury News to offer their thoughts on the future of wireless spectrum. As they emphasized the importance and centrality of mobile devices and Internet access, the two highlighted the limited… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, October 2, 2014 - Federal Trade Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen warned that reclassifying broadband under public utility regulation including in Title II of the Communications Act would put ISPs beyond the legal reach of the FTC, the Washington Post reported. The item was previously reported in Broadband Breakfast. Currently, the FTC is not able to… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 29, 2014 – Whether or not mobile Internet providers will be subject to the same net neutrality rules as wired broadband providers has become an increasingly prominent factor in the current debate over net neutrality rules. The proposal laid out by the Federal Communications Commission in May would only be applicable to wired… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 23, 2014 - In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission noted that some of its regulatory authority would be lost if the FCC decided to regulate broadband as a public utility. The FTC protects the privacy and security of consumer data by imposing obligations on broadband service providers… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 22, 2014 – The Internet Association asked the Federal Communications Commission to carefully consider blocking state laws that inhibit municipalities from enlarging their government run Internet networks, The Hill reported. The association, while abstaining from directly asking the federal government to strike down laws in Tennessee and North Carolina, did say that the… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2014 - Speakers at a Minority Media Telecommunications Council conference here on Monday advocated for expanded minority-based involvement with and access to broadband capital. "Broadband is the 21st Century's civil right and our laws must reflect the digital shift," said Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C, at the MMTC’s twelfth annual telecom policy conference.… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 29, 2014 – An alliance designed to serve the wireless broadband needs of rural America has partnered with Sprint to provide fourth-generation LTE service to members of the NTCA that are calling themselves the Rural Broadband Alliance, according to details unveiled in a webinar on Thursday, July 24. In a webinar hosted by… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 3, 2014 - Leaders of the Baltimore Broadband Campaign are saying that Comcast has a monopoly over fast internet services in the city of Baltimore. Over a course of two years, Comcast customers pay about $1,000 for standard "triple play service, write Philip Spevak, Stan Wilson and Anthony Gill in an Op-Ed in… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2014 -Following the Supreme Court's blow last week against Aereo, the video streaming service has shut down indefinitely as it drags back into the lower courts. Aereo CEO Chet Kanojia wrote a letter to consumers explaining the decision. "We have decided to pause our operations temporarily as we consult with the court… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2014 - Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, have raised concerns over the proposed Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, according to Broadcasting & Cable. At issue is the potential for a reduction in outlets for traditional video programming, innovation in broadband, and price… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 - Most internet service providers are delivering upload and download broadband speeds as advertised, according to the Federal Communications Commission, although there is room for improvement in consistency of speed. In its "Measuring Broadband America" report released Thursday, the FCC said that, on average, ISPs are delivering 101 percent of advertised… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 - A new study by Wireless Association CTIA reported that between 2012 and 2013, mobile traffic and data increased by 120 percent. That's 383 times the data usage from 2008. The result was $331 billion worth of investments into wireless networks last year, according to the association. On the communications merger… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 - In a blog post on Friday, AT&T gave its assurance that paid prioritization was not part of the telecommnications gianits plans. "Not a single [internet service provider] has asserted a desire or right to engage in any of these practices to create 'fast lanes and slow lanes.' AT&T certainly has… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 5, 2014 - Another significant telecommunications merger proposition is underway between Sprint and T-Mobile. The Wall Street Journal reported that the acquisition would cost Sprint $32 billion, or about $40 per share in cash and stock. Sprint and T-Mobile are the third and fourth largest wireless operators in the United States, respectively. The… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2014 - ABC News reported that Germany plans to limit their exports of surveillance technology to states "that fail to respect their human rights." The action is a response to recent allegations made against intelligence agencies, claiming that surveillance programs have been unwarranted and non-transparent. Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he wanted to keep… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 - AT&T announced that it would acquire DirecTV in a $48.5 billion deal, according to multiple sources. The agreement may allow AT&T to position itself in a way to rival cable firms. AT& would acquire about 20 million of DirecTV's customers. The Washington Post recounts that the stated goal of the… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 – The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s last two efforts to enshrine network neutrality. So what makes current chairman Tom Wheeler feel as though he can succeed where two of his predecessors failed? The answers lie in the details of the 85-page order – called a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” in the legalese of Washington telecommunications bureaucrats – released late on Thursday. At its core, Wheeler aims to regulate broadband providers without having to treat them as regulated entities. [...] Keep Reading
Wall Street and K Street are separated by a mere 225 miles, but for many companies they are worlds apart. In particular, industry observers would do well to compare everything said to policymakers with statements by the same competitors made to Wall Street investors. Defense companies, for example, warned policymakers that sequestration would spell the… Keep Reading
LAS VEGAS, January 8, 2014 - Coming to the International Consumer Electronics Show year after year enables a technology observer to see the evolutionary power continuously wrought by the digital revolution.
Herewith follows Broadband Breakfast's impressionistic list of five top trends emerging from the mammoth trade show here.
As the trade show isn't even half-over, we're not aiming for definitiveness with this list. Rather, we aim to glimpse the future of technology in a context that changes with the start of every year.
LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2014 - Just six months on the job, the new CEO of Silicon Valley computing giant Intel came to the International Consumer Electronics Show here to hail the power of tiny.
"Most of my career, computing has been something that you hold in your hand, in your pocket, or that sits on a desk," said CEO Brian Krzanich. "That idea is about to be transformed."
"We are entering this tiny world," he said, referring to the Intel Tri-Gate three-dimensional 22 nanometer transistor, and "tiny could not be better." Future advances toward 14 nanometer transistors are in the works, he said.
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WASHINGTON, December 16, 2013 - Last Thursday's testimony, by the full group of Federal Communications Commissioners at the House Energy and Commerce Committee, restores the pulse of the nation's technology and communications policy issues to a "low-tension" state. We've seen this perennial cycle before: first, an issue stirs immense conflict among the agency's five members.… Keep Reading
October 15, 2013 - The Broadband Breakfast Club posted the video of its virtual discussion, "How Will FirstNet Improve Public Safety Communications?" featuring William Vallee, State Broadband Policy Coordinator, Office of Consumer Counsel, State of Connecticut; Brett Kilbourn, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs, Utilities Telecom Council; and Penny Rubow, Program Manager for the FirstNet program in the State of Arkansas. PLEASE BEGIN WATCHING THE VIDEO AT THE 5:00 MINUTE MARK: technical difficulties led to preview content being recorded. Keep Reading
October 11, 2013 - The Broadband Breakfast Club's second virtual event, a FREE webinar on the topic of "How Will FirstNet Improve Public Safety Communications?" to take place on Tuesday, October 15, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT., will feature Michael Britt, Program Manager, State of Arizona CIO's Strategic Enterprise Technology Office; Brett Kilbourn, Vice… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 25, 2013 - Following the successful launch of its first Broadband Breakfast Club virtual event, the company announced its second FREE webinar, to take place on Tuesday, October 15, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT. The event will feature a discussion on the topic of "How Will FirstNet Improve Public Safety Communications?" REGISTER NOW for the Broadband Breakfast Club Virtual Event Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, September 6, 2013 - The National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Commerce Department on Friday announced that it had awarded planning grants for seven states and two territories to help prepare for the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet. The awards, to Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 24, 2013 — The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing Tuesday on the upcoming spectrum auction, focusing primarily on possible restrictions on larger carriers and efforts to ensure that broadcasters are treated fairly. The question of whether or not to impose restrictions on AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. dominated much… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2013 – A panel discussion held Wednesday afternoon addressed advances in smart grid technology as well as the challenge ahead for the future, at the 10th annual National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid. Jason Wilson, Senior Vice President of Business Management and Product Development for On-Ramp Wireless, said that… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2013 – A group of experts gave a presentation on the role of smart cities in advancing smart grid and other energy efficient technology at the National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid on Thursday morning. Eugenie Birch, Chair of the Graduate Group in City Planning at the University of… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2013 - The Institute for Local Self-Reliance released a fact sheet describing the basic principles behind wireless internet technology and policy on June 17. The fact sheet defines the basic terminology associated with wireless internet such as fixed wireless and data caps. It describes the differences between licensed and unlicensed spectrum and… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2013 – On Monday the Gigabit Libraries Network announced a pilot project that will equip libraries across the country with a new technology dubbed “super Wi-Fi.” The Gigabit Libraries Network will undergo a selection process to choose which libraries will be included in the program. Those selected will receive a base station… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 28, 2013 - The status of the development of the national smart grid and its relationship to broadband buildouts was the center of discussion at the June 2013 Broadband Breakfast Club. The concept of smart grid is a marriage of intelligence and communications, said David Wollman, Deputy Director of the Smart Grid and… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2013 - Witnesses from government agencies and private industry underscored the importance of making more efficient use of radio-frequency spectrum, including sharing and utilization of new technology, at a hearing on Thursday afternoon. In his opening remarks at the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rep.… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2013 – Spectrum policy, technology training and elevating the levels of broadband adoption and usage dominated a panel discussion here Wednesday, dubbed “The X-Factors of Tech Policy Today: Keeping Pace in the Broadband Race,” and hosted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. During the panel at the event, Rick… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2013 - The Consumer Electronics Association announced the formation of a group that will work to establish industry standards for designing devices in ways that will minimize distraction while operating vehicles earlier this week. The group, created by the CEA’s Portable Handheld and In-Vehicle Electronics Committee, will work to suggest standards for… Keep Reading
June 17, 2013 - The smart grid and broadband go together like mashed potatoes and gravy. And yet why is it so hard to get electric utilities and broadband experts to dialogue on the role that electric companies can play in expanding super-fast broadband? Tomorrow's June 2013 Broadband Breakfast Club, on Advanced Energy, Smart Grid… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2013 – President Barack Obama on Friday introduced several new initiatives to facilitate more efficient use of radio-frequency spectrum in order to encourage further development of wireless broadband. In addition to investments totaling to $100 million in the development of spectrum-sharing technologies and advanced communications, Obama also directed federal agencies to make… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2013 - Concerns over spectrum policy and data privacy dominated the conversation between AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson and Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., at a Wednesday panel on “Accelerating the Mobile Technology Revolution” at the Brookings Institution. Stephenson praised the approach that the Federal Communications Commission has taken with the incentive… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 5, 2013 - The new Federal Communications Commission chairman needs to eliminate or modernize outdated regulations, according to a consensus of panelists at a Tuesday seminar, “If I Were the FCC Chairman,” hosted by the conservative Free State Foundation. The panel consisted of Gail MacKinnon, executive vice president and chief government relations officer… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2013 -- Wireless provider MetroPCS moved last Friday to dismiss its claims in the lawsuit challenging the Federal Communication Commission’s net neutrality laws. In the motion, MetroPCS, which recently merged with T-Mobile, noted that the FCC and the Department of Justice had already consented to the dismissal. Additionally, Verizon Communications, which is… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2013 – Addressing spectrum demands and encouraging mobile innovation are the two keys to advancement in communications, said Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association 2013 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday. Clyburn highlighted a number of strategies the FCC has enacted or plans to… Keep Reading