1. Monthly archive
  2. July 2020

July 2020

FCC Authorizes Amazon's "Project Kuiper" Satellite Constellation

The Federal Communications Commission grants the request of Kuiper Systems LLC (Kuiper or Amazon) to deploy a non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) system to provide service using certain Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) and Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS) Ka-band frequencies with conditions adopted. We conclude that grant of Kuiper’s application would advance the public interest by
authorizing a system designed to increase the availability of high-speed broadband service to consumers, government, and businesses.

Thanks to COVID-19 cash, faster internet is coming for parts of rural Mississippi

Fast internet is finally set to arrive in several of the most rural parts of Mississippi. The Mississippi Public Utilities Staff awarded $66 million in grants for areas that have few or no high-speed internet options. The bulk of the federal grant money went to rural electric cooperatives, which now will also serve as the primary internet providers in their regions. Rural Mississippians can thank the coronavirus pandemic for the sudden infusion of federal CARES Act funds that should — by the end of this year — create thousands more high-speed internet connections.

We need to address the digital divide causing an educational crisis

Millions of American students won't be heading back to the classroom this fall, at least not full time. From Los Angeles to New York, remote learning will continue into the fall. That leaves a staggering number of students at risk of falling behind or dropping out. Up to 30% of schoolchildren — as many as 16 million American kids — lack internet access or laptops for online learning. The digital divide has been with us for decades, and we're not going to solve it by August.

Altice USA adds 70,400 broadband subscriptions in Second Quarter 2020

Altice USA reported that total unique residential customer relationships grew +1.8% year over year during its second quarter 2020. That number drops to growth of 1.4% when adjusted to exclude customers greater than 90 days delinquent due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Altice reported its best-ever residential broadband net additions of 70,400 in Q2 2020 compared to 13,000 in Q2 2019.

Who From the Tech World Will End Up in the White House

Both presidential campaigns are facing calls to commit to keeping industry faces and corporate conflicts of interest out of the White House — as speculation swirls about who from the tech world could wind up in the winning administration. Nearly 50 groups -- including Revolving Door Project, Fight for the Future and the Open Markets Institute -- wrote to the candidates pressuring them “to commit not to appoint any individual to a senior policy role in an agency or department w

First-Ever Pre-Auction Spectrum Opportunity for Rural Tribes Is Extended for 30 Days Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Federal Communications Commission extended the Rural Tribal Priority Window for 2.5 GHz spectrum applications by 30 days in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This window opened on Feb 3, 2020, and to date, over 200 Tribal entities have submitted applications. As a result of July 31’s action, other eligible Tribal entities can continue to apply for licenses for currently unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum over their rural Tribal lands until 6:00 pm EDT on Sept 2, 2020.

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