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Trump administration petitions FCC to reinterpret Section 230 rules
Back in May, the President signed an executive order — after Twitter fact-checked him — proposing to limit the protections social media platforms enjoy under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The Secretary of Commerce through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has filed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conjure up rules clarifying Section 230.
FCC makes 988 the 3-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
FCC designates 988 as the 3-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Telehealth got a huge boost from COVID-19. Now what?
During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, venturing outside in New York felt like preparing for battle. “Cancer doesn’t stop for COVID,” said Dr. Mara Weinstein, assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr. Weinstein told Engadget that she is still seeing patients every day in upstate New York.
What to expect from the next version of 5G
5G coverage may still be sparse, and the world is still trying to understand how it works or affects us, but the people that define networking standards won’t stop working on it. One of the many companies that contributes ideas and technologies that eventually get adopted into 5G protocols is Qualcomm, and it also published blog posts today about Rel-16. Of course, Qualcomm wants you to know all about its inventions that have been adopted and will be used by the telecomms industry, but this information does help us to understand how the upcoming changes will work.
FCC says Huawei and ZTE are national security threats
The FCC has officially declared Huawei and ZTE as national security threats, barring carriers from using fund money on the Chinese technology.
FCC to vote on designating ‘988’ as national suicide prevention hotline number
The FCC will vote on changing the hotline’s dialing code to “988,” Chairman Ajit Pai announced Tuesday. The report also found that from 1999 to 2016, suicide increased in 49 of the 50 states.
DoJ will reportedly limit social media companies' speech protections
The Justice Department reportedly plans to announce a proposal later today that will limit the Section 230 protections internet companies have enjoyed for decades.
SpaceX has a month to prove Starlink is worthy of rural broadband funding
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it has “serious doubts” that SpaceX will be able to deliver internet service with latency under 100 milliseconds. That would not only be bad for users, but means that SpaceX could be at a disadvantage in an auction to distribute $16 billion in federal funds to support rural broadband access.
FCC proposes record-setting $225 million fine against robocallers
The FCC has proposed fining robocallers a record $225 million for making 1 billion spoofed calls in just five months.
Trump signs executive order that could limit protections for social media companies (updated)
President Trump has signed an executive order that the White House claims could limit the protections Twitter and other social media companies have under current federal law.
US Senators propose giving $2 billion to healthcare facilities for broadband
At the start of April, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced the Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act.The legislation seems to be moving forward now.
FCC ordered to provide IP addresses tied to fake net neutrality comments
The FCC will have to hand over IP addresses connected to fake net neutrality comments despite claims of privacy violations.
FCC won't warn robocallers before fining them
The FCC will no longer warn robocallers before it issues penalties, and it'll have more time to take action.
FCC proposal would help fight one-ring call scams
The FCC may allow voice service providers to block one-ring robocall scams.
Comcast and Verizon extend no-disconnect pledge through June 30th
Comcast and Verizon have extended their promise to suspend internet and wireless disconnections through June 30th.
FCC rejects cities' extension request for comments on net neutrality rollback
The FCC has refused to grant an extension for comments on its plans for net neutrality rollback.
Swarm gets regulatory approval to sell its satellite hardware
This has been a years-long process, during which time Swarm violated FCC rules and was forced to pay a $900,000 penalty. In 2017, the FCC denied Swarm’s application to launch its satellites, saying they could pose a safety hazard to other spacecraft.
FCC, FTC give providers 48 hours to block COVID-19 scam robocalls
The US government's quest to fight robocalls is taking on added urgency in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The FCC and FTC have demanded that gateway providers cut off COVID-19-related scam robocalls of overseas origin within 48 hours or else face "serious consequences." Other phone companies will have permission to block all traffic from those providers if they don't heed the warning, the agencies said.
FCC approves $200 million plan to fund COVID-19 telehealth services
The FCC has approved $200 million in telehealth funding for healthcare providers responding to the coronavirus pandemic. With federal funding made available through the CARES Act, the COVID-19 Telehealth Program will help providers pay for the broadband connectivity and devices required to provide healthcare remotely.
FCC vote on 6 GHz WiFi will take place April 23rd
On April 23rd, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether to allow WiFi devices to access the 6 GHz band. The band is currently being used by companies like broadcast firms and utilities to beam video signals and monitor electric grids, among other things. But if the FCC allows WiFi devices to access it, then it will lead to internet connections for homes and offices that are over twice as fast.