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FCC lays out rules for replacing Huawei and ZTE telecoms equipment
The agency affirmed its stance that Huawei is a national security threat.
Senate confirms Trump nominee to the FCC
On Wednesday, the Senate today voted 49-46 to confirm Nathan Simington to a five-year term at the Federal Communications Commission.
Ajit Pai is stepping down as FCC chairman. What happens next?
Last week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai signaled his intent to resign on January 20th, freeing his seat to be filled by the incoming Biden administration. For those keeping count, Pai's term was originally set to expire in June 2021, but it is customary for the commission's chairman to step down when a president of another party takes office. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve at the Federal Communications Commission, including as Chairman of the FCC over the past four years,” Pai said in a statement at the time, before expressing particular pride on being the first Asian-American to chair the FCC.
SpaceX Starlink wins $885 million from the FCC to serve rural areas
The FCC has revealed the results for the first phase of its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction, and one of the biggest winners is SpaceX. In addition, SpaceX will have to adhere to “periodic buildout requirements” in those 35 locations to get access to the FCC’s funds.
Bose's unannounced Sport Open Earbuds leak via FCC filings
They appear to be a version of the company's Sport Earbuds, but with a hook.
Comcast is expanding its 1.2TB cap to its entire 39-state footprint in January
Starting next year, Comcast will implement a 1.2TB data cap on broadband usage in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
T-Mobile activates 988 for emergency mental health services
Providers have until 2022 to add support for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number.
T-Mobile will pay $200 million to settle Sprint's alleged Lifeline abuse
T-Mobile is paying $200 million to settle FCC assertions that Sprint abused Lifeline claims.
FCC funding aims to guarantee 100 Mbps internet throughout Puerto Rico
On Monday, the FCC’s Wireless Competition Board announced that newly allocated financing part of Stage Two of the Uniendo a Puerto Rico fund will ensure that every location across Puerto Rico will have access to broadband internet with download speeds of at least 100 Mbps, with one-third of the territory getting 1 Gbps internet. The milestone will come from $127.1 million in funding the FCC will provide over 10 years to two firms: Liberty Communications and Claro Puerto Rico. Of that $127.1 million, $71.54 will go to Liberty Communications, which will take care of connecting 43 of Puerto Rico’s 78 municipios — the equivalent to counties on the mainland.
The iPhone 12 could support reverse charging in the future, FCC filing hints
The iPhone 12 may have an unannounced and currently dormant feature: the ability to charge your accessories wirelessly. It’s pretty vague, but as Mark Gurman notes in his tweet with a copy of the document, it could mean that the iPhone 12 may have a hidden reverse charging feature.
FCC launches a $9 billion fund to expand 5G in rural areas
The goal is to close the digital divide over the next 10 years.
FCC's Ajit Pai wants to 'clarify' the meaning of Section 230
Pai's statement comes after President Trump again called for Section 230 to be revoked
The FCC's new anti-robocall rules prevent surprise charges for consumers
Back in March, the FCC ordered all carriers and phone companies to adopt the STIR/SHAKEN protocol by June 30th, 2021 as an effort to combat robocalls. Now, the commission has announced new rules to clarify carriers’ obligations regarding the technology’s implementation. One of those new rules, for instance, protects consumers from surprise charges.
FCC chairman cited false broadband data in spite of warnings
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai used false broadband data for progress claims despite staff pointing out problems years earlier.
FCC estimates it'll cost carriers $1.8 billion to replace Huawei, ZTE hardware
Restrictions on the companies' equipment have put small providers in a tough spot.
Verizon spends big in FCC auction ahead of mid-band 5G launch
Verizon (Engadget’s parent company) was the biggest winner in the FCC’s recently concluded auction for licenses in the 3.5 GHz band.
Tesla wants to use radar sensors to detect kids left in hot cars
Future Tesla cars may come with a built-in feature that can make sure no kids are inadvertently left behind in hot cars. According to the company’s filing (via The Verge), the device uses millimeter-wave radar technology to detect movements within a vehicle and to classify its occupants. The company noted that over 50 children died inside hot cars in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Google asks to test a new type of wireless broadband
Google has asked the FCC for permission to run secret wireless broad tests using the 6Ghz spectrum in multiple cities across the US. That could point to future internet services using the recently released spectrum, possibly under its new Fiber WebPass banner.
White House withdraws FCC commissioner renomination
The Trump administration has changed its tune about backing what was supposed to be Mike O’Rielly’s third term as an FCC Commissioner. According to Reuters and Bloomberg, the White House has withdrawn O’Rielly’s renomination and has notified the Senate on Monday. While the administration didn’t say why it’s no longer nominating O’Rielly for another term, the Commissioner recently expressed doubts about the White House’s plans to limit the protections social media platforms enjoy under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
Amazon gets FCC approval for its Project Kuiper broadband satellites
The FCC has unanimously approved Amazon’s Project Kuiper, giving the tech giant the go-ahead to deploy and operate a constellation of 3,236 satellites. Amazon asked the FCC for permission to launch thousands of Low Earth Orbit satellites in July 2019, just a few months months after announcing the project. Similar to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, Kuiper’s purpose is to provide satellite-based broadband services.