Tag Archives: FCC

The FCC Is Ignoring The People Who Need Them The Most

Posted on by Leave a comment
In the report, the researchers note that about half of that 13% was labeled as being served by at least one locally-sourced ISP, which the researchers took at face value—though again, that’s if you’re accepting the FCC’s own estimates. Even with the 13% sliced in half, the researchers noted that there are more than 21 million Americans in that chunk of data alone, on top of the figures the FCC’s already put forward. – Shoshana Wodinsky, Gizmodo » https://ift.tt/2Sr9o0O [photo: Orin Zebest/Flickr]

FCC tries to bury finding that Verizon and T-Mobile exaggerated 4G coverage

Posted on by Leave a comment
Verizon, T-Mobile, and US Cellular exaggerated their 4G coverage in official filings to the Federal Communications Commission, an FCC investigation found. But FCC officials confirmed that Chairman Ajit Pai does not plan to punish the three carriers in any way. Instead, the FCC intends to issue an enforcement advisory to the broader industry, reminding carriers “of the penalties associated with filings that violate federal law.” – Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica » https://trib.al/kGPa56A

AT&T to Pay $60 Million Settlement Over Accusations of Data Throttling

Posted on by Leave a comment
AT&T Logo
According to an FTC press release, the $60 million that AT&T is set to pay as part of the settlement will be used to issue partial refunds to victims of its alleged data-throttling scheme who signed up for unlimited plans before 2011. (The agency noted that those customers won’t need to file a formal claim to receive their partial refund.) Additionally, the company will be required to provide clear and prominent disclosures about its mobile data plans and any associated restrictions on those plans. – Catie Keck, Gizmodo » http://gizmo.do/iK6uxS5

Court rules the FCC can’t block state net neutrality laws

Posted on by Leave a comment
The FCC has won a key bid to uphold its repeal of net neutrality, but at a significant cost. A federal appeals court handling a Mozilla complaint has ruled that most of the repeal can stand, but that the FCC had “not shown legal authority” to ban states from implementing their own laws. The regulator was trying to “categorically abolish” states’ established power to regulate communications within their borders, according to the court. – Jon Fingas, Engadget » https://engt.co/2oWgXl0 [photo:Orin Zebest/Flickr]

Ajit Pai admits FCC got broadband growth figures wrong

Posted on by Leave a comment

That mistake led the agency to announce that the number of Americans lacking access to a fixed broadband connection was down to 19.4 million by the end of 2017 from 26.1 million the year before. Turns out, the correct figure is 21.3 million — a big difference, for sure, but not big enough for Pai to backpedal on his declaration that the changes he implemented led to massive broadband growth… – Mariella Moon, Engadget » https://engt.co/2GXp0ng

FCC Says Gutting ISP Oversight Was Great For Broadband

Posted on by Leave a comment

With many of the nation’s phone companies refusing to upgrade or even repair their aging DSL lines, cable giants like Comcast are securing a greater monopoly over faster broadband across huge swaths of the country. That in turn is resulting in higher rates and little incentive to improve terrible customer service. The telecom lobby works tirelessly to keep this status quo intact. – Karl Bode, MOTHERBOARD » https://ift.tt/2TfLUhF

House Democrats tell Ajit Pai: Stop screwing over the public

Posted on by Leave a comment

On Thursday this week, the Communications Subcommittee will hold a hearing about the impact of Pai’s net neutrality repeal on consumers, small businesses, and free speech. Witnesses who have been invited to testify at the hearing include former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, cable industry chief lobbyist Michael Powell (who is also a former FCC chairman), and representatives of Mozilla, Free Press, and Eastern Oregon Telecom. – Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica » http://bit.ly/2HZDcQ6

FCC struggles to convince judge that broadband isn’t “telecommunications”

Posted on by Leave a comment

Of the three judges, Circuit Judge Patricia Millett expressed the most skepticism of Johnson’s arguments, repeatedly challenging the FCC’s definition of broadband and its disregard for arguments made by public safety agencies. She also questioned the FCC’s claim that the net neutrality rules harmed broadband investment. Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins also expressed some skepticism of FCC arguments, while Senior Circuit Judge Stephen Williams seemed more amenable to FCC arguments. (Williams previously dissented in part from a 2016 ruling that upheld the Obama-era net neutrality rules. Now the same court is considering FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s repeal of those rules.) – Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica » http://bit.ly/2Uzx6HI

What to expect from tomorrow’s big net neutrality court hearing

Posted on by Leave a comment

[W]hat may be the most likely shot at restoring net neutrality regulations will come from a petition against the FCC filed by several supporters of the dismantled rules. The case, Mozilla Corporation v. FCC, will be heard by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the court will decide whether the FCC, led by Chairman Ajit Pai, was within its rights to end the protections. – Colin Lecher, The Verge » http://bit.ly/2DLSeEW
« Older Entries