1. Monthly archive
  2. July 2018

July 2018

True dominance of China's Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent revealed – and how their influence extends worldwide

China’s internet giants are competing with each other on multiple fronts either by nurturing their in-house products and services, or by investing in external players for access to technology and users in artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and media and content. The China Internet Report, an in-depth look at China’s internet landscape with its 772 million internet users, is the second such report after its introduction in 2017.

Smarter devices, faster smartphones will follow from FCC 5G spectrum auctions

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the FCC will vote in its Aug 2 meeting to conduct a Nov 2018 auction of spectrum in the 28 gigahertz band, with a subsequent 24 GHz band auction soon afterwards.  These so-called high-band spectrum swaths are necessary for wireless providers and other tech players because, even though they travel shorter distances than other spectrum, they can deliver more data and traffic more quickly.

Coming Home: August FCC Meeting Agenda

Leading off our August agenda will be 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity. We’ll finalize the rules for the auction of airwaves in the 28 GHz band and the auction of the 24 GHz band, which will follow immediately afterward.  These will be the first auctions of high-band spectrum for 5G services, but they won’t be the last.  Specifically, I’m excited to announce my plan to move forward with a single auction of three more millimeter-wave spectrum bands—the 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands—in the second half of 2019.

FCC wireless chief peppers Dish with wireless network buildout questions

The head of the Federal Communications Commission’s wireless bureau fired a wide range of questions at Dish Network about the carrier’s wireless network buildout plans. Importantly, the FCC’s Donald Stockdale stated that “I am contacting you to request updates and more detailed information on your buildout plans for the 53 megahertz of low- and mid-band spectrum that is apparently lying fallow in these bands.” The implication of Stockdale’s questions is that the FCC may begin to take action against Dish for collecting spectrum licenses but not using them.

FCC Commissioner Carr Announces $100 million 'Connected Care Pilot Program'

[Press release] In an op-ed with Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS), Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr announced that the FCC will seek to establish a new $100 million “Connected Care Pilot Program” to support telehealth for low-income Americans, especially those living in rural areas and veterans. The FCC will vote on a Notice of Inquiry at its August Open Meeting that seeks comment on:

FCC Proposes Rebuilding Comment System After Millions Were Found Fake

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai proposed an overhaul of the agency’s online comment system after millions of fake comments were posted about a recent FCC rule change.

Is the FCC Forcing Consumers to Pay $225 to File Complaints? It's Complicated

Having your voice heard at the Federal Communications Commission could soon cost you hundreds of dollars, according to congressional Democrats who oppose a looming rule change. But that may not be the case after all, a review of the FCC proposal shows.

The logic between “regulatory risk” and antitrust review of media mergers

The Antitrust Division of the Justice Department appears to have put its thumb on the scale in the ongoing battle between the Walt Disney Company and Comcast over the assets of 21st Century Fox. On June 27, the division approved the transfer to Disney (with conditions) despite the fact Comcast was still bidding. Disney had previously argued to the Fox board of directors that their merger faced less regulatory risk than Comcast’s. The Disney-Fox combination would produce a larger horizontally-integrated company and one that would typically pose the greater risk.

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