March 2023

T-Mobile told to quit advertising ‘most reliable’ 5G

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs advised T-Mobile to stop advertising that its wireless service has the most reliable 5G network based on tests by umlaut, a third-party testing company. The claims in question were made on T-Mobile’s website and in press releases.

ABI: 5G fixed wireless access set to rival wired broadband

ABI Research’s latest report on the state of the fixed wireless access (FWA) market forecasts that 5G FWA subscriptions will reach 72 million by 2027, representing 35% of the total FWA market five years from now. LTE FWA services are already widely deployed worldwide, but they often can’t provide the speeds required to compete with wired broadband connections.

Mid-Band Spectrum Update

This white paper provides an overview of current and potential new mid-band and extended mid-band spectrum availability in the United States over the next several years, including technical characteristics and challenges, as well as policy and regulatory landscape. The realization of new bands in these spectrum ranges depends on several developments, including studies and solutions for coexistence with incumbent services. There are currently no bands in the spectrum pipeline in the US.

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Salutes 'Ringing Ratification' of USF

Coming from one of the more conservative courts in the country, this decision is a ringing ratification of the system Congress established to ensure that all Americans have affordable access to telecommunications service and advanced services like broadband. This should not come as a surprise, but once the USF was subjected to a legal challenge, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society joined with public allies to defend this critical mechanism for ensuring universal broadband.

FCC dodges disaster as court approves handling of broadband subsidies

The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the decades-old funding mechanisms governing Federal Communications Commission subsidies, a decision that assures the delivery of billions of dollars in broadband aid across a variety of government programs. The FCC, for more than a quarter-century, has operated this pot of subsidies known as the Universal Service Fund, amounting to roughly $9 billion annually.

SpaceX accuses Dish, RS Access of pivot in 12 GHz tussle

A SpaceX filing with the Federal Communications Commission prompted the 5G for 12 GHz Coalition to say “hold on a minute” and reiterate its mission to make spectrum in the lower 12 GHz available for terrestrial 5G services. Citing reports by New Street Research, SpaceX said in a March 21 filing that Dish and RS Access, the latter of which it described as “Michael Dell’s Personal Family Trust,” have “abandoned their quest to have the [FCC] hand them new rights for high-powered terrestrial mobile services in the 12.2-12.7 GHz (12 GHz) band.” Bu

Baltimore Mayor Scott promised to close Baltimore’s digital divide, but 2 years in, the city still can’t say how it gets there

In a hearing before City Council in June 2022, Baltimore’s then-chief broadband official Jason Hardebeck outlined a vision to bring next-generation internet connection to one of the poorest parts of town, the public housing project Gilmor Homes, within a matter of weeks. He pitched the idea as step one in an aggressive campaign to establish 100 communal Wi-Fi hotspots across West Baltimore, all within a year. But within two months of outlining his proposal for Gilmor Homes to the City Council, Hardebeck was fired from his post without reason given, he says.