Telecom

Google Hopes 'Bard' Will Outsmart ChatGPT, Microsoft in AI

Google is girding for a battle of wits in the field of artificial intelligence with “Bard," a conversational service aimed... Read More

Google is girding for a battle of wits in the field of artificial intelligence with “Bard," a conversational service aimed at countering the popularity of the ChatGPT tool backed by Microsoft. Bard initially will be available exclusively to a group... Read More

T-Mobile Says Data on 37M Customers Stolen

BOSTON (AP) — The U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile said Thursday that an unidentified malicious intruder breached its network in late... Read More

BOSTON (AP) — The U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile said Thursday that an unidentified malicious intruder breached its network in late November and stole data on 37 million customers, including addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth. T-Mobile said in a... Read More

Poor, Less White Areas Get Worst Internet Deals

A couple of years into the pandemic, Shirley Neville had finally had enough of her shoddy internet service. “It was... Read More

A couple of years into the pandemic, Shirley Neville had finally had enough of her shoddy internet service. “It was just a headache,” said Neville, who lives in a middle-class neighborhood in New Orleans whose residents are almost all Black... Read More

2022-10-05 19:08:49
by Dan McCue
Companies Face Removal From Key Database for Skirting Anti-Robocall Rules

WASHINGTON — Seven voice service providers face removal from a key database managed by the Federal Trade Commission if they... Read More

WASHINGTON — Seven voice service providers face removal from a key database managed by the Federal Trade Commission if they fail to demonstrate they’re taking concrete steps to comply with the agency’s anti-robocall rules. The first-of-their-kind FCC Enforcement Bureau orders... Read More

2022-09-29 14:19:32
by Madeline Hughes
First Woman Selected to Lead UN’s Telecom Agency

BUCHAREST, Romania — An American was chosen to be the first woman to lead the United Nations’ telecommunications agency, the... Read More

BUCHAREST, Romania — An American was chosen to be the first woman to lead the United Nations’ telecommunications agency, the International Telecommunication Union, in its 157-year history after an overwhelming vote Thursday in Romania. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the new secretary general... Read More

2022-09-28 21:01:23
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Rule Change Poised to Help Deaf Inmates

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is looking at ways to help deaf incarcerated people connect better with their families... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is looking at ways to help deaf incarcerated people connect better with their families through improved telecommunications services, including video chatting, in prisons and jails throughout the country. “Incarcerated people face considerable barriers to... Read More

2022-09-21 17:59:21
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Cracks Down on Chinese Companies Posing National Security Threat

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission formally added Pacific Networks Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet and China Unicom... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission formally added Pacific Networks Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet and China Unicom (Americas) Operations Limited to its list of companies whose telecom equipment and service pose a national security threat. The commission... Read More

2022-09-20 17:27:19
by Madeline Hughes
Agencies Gather to Talk National Spectrum Policy

WASHINGTON — Spectrum was the talk of the town as dozens of officials from regulatory agencies and companies came together... Read More

WASHINGTON — Spectrum was the talk of the town as dozens of officials from regulatory agencies and companies came together for the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Spectrum Policy Symposium Monday. Its fifth summit held this year... Read More

2022-09-02 20:48:42
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Makes Progress on Broadband Maps

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission has taken a large step in creating its newest and most accurate broadband maps... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission has taken a large step in creating its newest and most accurate broadband maps that intend to lay out, location by location, the homes, businesses, civic centers and other places without internet.  “For the... Read More

2022-09-01 20:58:12
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Makes $427M From Spectrum Auction

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission just closed its 2.5 GHz spectrum auction, raking in $427 million for selling most... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission just closed its 2.5 GHz spectrum auction, raking in $427 million for selling most of its licenses. The auction, which was the first of its kind selling county-based licenses, kicked off in late July.... Read More

2022-08-25 19:55:47
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Launches Investigation Into Cellphone Companies

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is launching an investigation into how the country’s top cellphone providers use geolocation data.... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is launching an investigation into how the country’s top cellphone providers use geolocation data. “Our mobile phones know a lot about us. That means carriers know who we are, who we call, and where... Read More

2022-08-18 18:01:56
by Madeline Hughes
Every State Wants ‘Internet for All’

WASHINGTON — Every state, U.S. territory and Washington, D.C., has asked for a portion of the $42.45 billion set aside... Read More

WASHINGTON — Every state, U.S. territory and Washington, D.C., has asked for a portion of the $42.45 billion set aside for broadband buildout from the federal government, according to the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. “The Internet... Read More

2022-08-16 17:51:25
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Asks Congress for Universal Service Fund Reform

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is asking Congress to help reform how it collects money to expand and provide... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is asking Congress to help reform how it collects money to expand and provide telecom services to every American. The reason? The Universal Service Fund is stuck in a “death spiral,” according to FCC... Read More

2022-08-12 18:13:45
by Madeline Hughes
DC Circuit Court Upholds FCC Spectrum Reallocation

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday solidified the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to reallocate spectrum that... Read More

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday solidified the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to reallocate spectrum that went largely unused. "I am pleased with the court's decision, which upholds the FCC's broad authority to manage the nation's... Read More

2022-07-29 22:47:15
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Opens Spectrum Auction

WASHINGTON — Friday morning the Federal Communications Commission kicked off a spectrum auction, allowing telecommunications companies to possibly buy more... Read More

WASHINGTON — Friday morning the Federal Communications Commission kicked off a spectrum auction, allowing telecommunications companies to possibly buy more than 8,000 licenses in the 2.5 GHz band. The licenses are mostly available in rural parts of the country, according... Read More

2022-07-29 21:13:41
by Madeline Hughes
Democrats Revive Fight for Net Neutrality

WASHINGTON — Two senators and a member of the House of Representatives are working to ensure internet providers deliver equitable... Read More

WASHINGTON — Two senators and a member of the House of Representatives are working to ensure internet providers deliver equitable service to customers, banning the practice of throttling service and blocking access to certain content. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and... Read More

2022-07-21 16:33:58
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Asks Cell Carriers About Use and Retention of Geolocation Data

WASHINGTON — Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is asking the country’s top cellphone carriers for information on how each... Read More

WASHINGTON — Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is asking the country’s top cellphone carriers for information on how each company uses and retains customer geolocation data. It’s important because “mobile internet service providers are uniquely situated to capture a... Read More

2022-07-20 23:16:59
by Madeline Hughes
Former FCC Chairs: Commissioner Needs to Be Confirmed

WASHINGTON — Throughout the various iterations of the Federal Communications Commission, its members have essentially had to answer one question:... Read More

WASHINGTON — Throughout the various iterations of the Federal Communications Commission, its members have essentially had to answer one question: “How do you make sure technology as it develops and evolves can be enjoyed by everyone in the country?” said... Read More

2022-07-19 23:05:07
by Madeline Hughes
Updating Broadband Speeds Could Help ‘Future-Proof’ Investment

WASHINGTON — The proposal to change the Federal Communications Commission’s definition of broadband speeds by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel last week... Read More

WASHINGTON — The proposal to change the Federal Communications Commission’s definition of broadband speeds by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel last week could help “future-proof” the country’s once-in-a-generation opportunity to build broadband infrastructure, said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of the Rural Broadband Association.... Read More

2022-07-14 17:17:33
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Issues $116M Fine to ‘ScammerBlaster’

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is fining the company responsible for about 10 million robocalls that directed customers to... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is fining the company responsible for about 10 million robocalls that directed customers to call “ScammerBlaster” — which scammed customers. The commissioners voted unanimously to fine the company $116 million at their monthly meeting... Read More

2022-07-12 21:23:47
by Madeline Hughes
DC Circuit Court Rules Against FCC

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated part of a rule from the Federal Communications Commission that sought... Read More

WASHINGTON — The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated part of a rule from the Federal Communications Commission that sought to require broadcasters to disclose if foreign governments purchase time on American television and radio airwaves in a Tuesday ruling.... Read More

2022-06-28 18:43:40
by Madeline Hughes
Using 5G to Help Protect the Environment

WASHINGTON — What does a threat sound like? In rainforests across the world it can sound like a chainsaw or... Read More

WASHINGTON — What does a threat sound like? In rainforests across the world it can sound like a chainsaw or a gunshot. Thanks to the nonprofit Rainforest Connection, recording devices around the world are listening for these sounds to alert... Read More

2022-06-27 18:14:37
by Madeline Hughes
$77M in Funding Will Help Bring Broadband to Tribal Lands

WASHINGTON — Native American tribes across the country are set to receive $77 million in funding to help build new... Read More

WASHINGTON — Native American tribes across the country are set to receive $77 million in funding to help build new broadband networks and strengthen existing ones, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.  This round of funding will go... Read More

2022-06-19 15:37:55
by Dan McCue
Verizon, AT&T Agree to Delay Some of 5G Deployment Until Mid-2023

WASHINGTON — Verizon Communications and AT&T have voluntarily agreed to delay some deployment of their long-awaited C-band 5G usage until... Read More

WASHINGTON — Verizon Communications and AT&T have voluntarily agreed to delay some deployment of their long-awaited C-band 5G usage until July 2023 as air carriers continue to work to retrofit passenger and cargo aircraft to ensure they do not encounter... Read More

2022-06-07 15:11:16
by Dan McCue
Four States to Share $500M in Broadband Expansion Funding

WASHINGTON — Four states — Louisiana, New Hampshire, Virginia and West Virginia — will receive more than $500 million in... Read More

WASHINGTON — Four states — Louisiana, New Hampshire, Virginia and West Virginia — will receive more than $500 million in funding for broadband expansion projects under the auspices of the $10 billion Capital Projects Fund created as part of the... Read More

2022-05-31 22:02:07
by Madeline Hughes
Broadband Buildout Will Be Slow to Reach Everyone

WASHINGTON — Slow and steady will be the approach for getting everyone connected to the internet while the government disperses... Read More

WASHINGTON — Slow and steady will be the approach for getting everyone connected to the internet while the government disperses billions of dollars to build out broadband over the next few years. “We are going to go as quickly as... Read More

2022-05-24 21:44:55
by Madeline Hughes
Geolocation Sought for National Suicide Hotline

WASHINGTON — As telecom and mental health professionals across the country prep for a new national suicide prevention number, one... Read More

WASHINGTON — As telecom and mental health professionals across the country prep for a new national suicide prevention number, one hurdle persists: locating people who call or text the hotline. Time is critical when people call local and national suicide... Read More

2022-05-19 21:13:53
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Increases Speed for Rural Broadband Program

WASHINGTON — Higher internet speeds are coming to the most rural places in America, as the Federal Communications Commission changed... Read More

WASHINGTON — Higher internet speeds are coming to the most rural places in America, as the Federal Communications Commission changed the definition of “high-speed” internet at its meeting Thursday. The four commissioners voted unanimously and across partisan lines to change... Read More

2022-05-19 19:13:37
by Madeline Hughes
FCC Rule Cracks Down on Foreign Robocalls

WASHINGTON — Americans will soon get fewer robocalls from abroad because of a new Federal Communications Commission rule.  “Robocalls are... Read More

WASHINGTON — Americans will soon get fewer robocalls from abroad because of a new Federal Communications Commission rule.  “Robocalls are aggravating. What is worse is when we crack down on these junk calls, the scam artists behind them find new... Read More

2022-05-05 21:12:18
by Madeline Hughes
FTC Reaches Settlement With Internet Company for Slow Speeds

WASHINGTON — The Connecticut-based internet provider Frontier Communications must increase its speeds or allow customers to cancel service without associated... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Connecticut-based internet provider Frontier Communications must increase its speeds or allow customers to cancel service without associated fees, according to an order from the Federal Trade Commission.  “Frontier lied about its speeds and ripped off customers by... Read More

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