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The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles reports on complaints filed with a library or school “requesting that a book or other material be restricted or removed because of its content or appropriateness.” For 2012, the office said it received 464 reports, up from 326 in 2011.

The books on the most frequently challenged list are “Fifty Shades of Grey” by EL James; “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” by Sherman Alexie; “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini; “Looking for Alaska,” by John Green; “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls; “Beloved” by Toni Morrison; “Thirteen Reasons Why,” by Jay Asher; the “Scary Stories” series by Alvin Schwartz; the “Captain Underpants” series by Dav Pilkey; and “And Tango Makes Three,” a young-adult book about two male penguins at the Central Park zoo who became a couple, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.

There are few who can argue against the rapid increase in data use in most countries around the world. This has led to an urgent need to improve mobile networks so that they can withstand the sharp increase in demand for internet on the move, particularly given the emergence of mobile devices as the main means for internet access. Although 5G has different meanings for different countries and organizations, the term can generally be taken to mean the next generation of high-speed and ultra-reliable internet access that can accommodate data-heavy applications such as high-definition video, as well as other future technologies not yet developed.

Ubiquitous and high-speed 5G services could, according to industry experts, support always-connected mobile devices that host multiple applications from high-definition video streaming to navigation aids and social media. Better networks will also continue to underpin the growth of smartphone and tablet use, as well as applications such as mobile TV and gaming. Much of the innovation associated with 5G will be unseen by consumers, with devices simply better able to utilize constrained spectrum in a way that will not only improve services but reduce the environmental impact of doing so. So-called “machine to machine” communication will also become more important, with utilities hooked up to constantly updated national networks, household appliances able to talk to owners and health monitoring systems connected to local hospitals.

MetroPCS Communications said its board has unanimously approved the amended terms of its proposed merger agreement with Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA.

MetroPCS will reduce the combined company debt issued to Deutsche Telekom by $3.8 billion to $11.2 billion, a move the carrier said creates additional financial flexibility and significantly increases the combined company's equity value. Deutsche Telekom has agreed to lower the interest rate on the T-Mobile debt by half a percentage point. The amendment also extends the lock-up period for Deutsche Telekom-owned stock to 18 months from six. A shareholder vote on the proposed merger is scheduled for April 24. Now Deutsche Telekom's strategy is to strengthen T-Mobile through the MetroPCS merger, which would give it new customers and valuable rights to the airwaves. The merged entity's publicly traded stock could give Deutsche Telekom an avenue to sell down its stake in T-Mobile over time.

Dish Network’s bid for Sprint presents Dan Hesse and Co. with an interesting choice.

Analysts point out that Softbank has more than enough money to counter Dish’s $25.5 billion bid, but money aside Dish would make a much better strategic fit for Sprint. Softbank offers much-needed investment to the still struggling No. 3 U.S. wireless operator. But Dish doesn’t just bring cash; it’s got 4G spectrum and a huge pay TV network to boot.

Informa Telecoms & Media Principal Analyst Mike Roberts lays out all of the advantages of a Sprint-Dish marriage: “First and most importantly, Dish could combine its 2GHz LTE spectrum with the LTE spectrum of Sprint and Clearwire to build one of the strongest LTE spectrum portfolios in US, which would be the foundation for a powerful new competitor in the US telecoms market. Second, using Sprint’s newly-modernized mobile network would give Dish a cost-effective way to deploy LTE in its 2GHz spectrum and meet the FCC’s rollout requirements. Third, if the deal goes ahead, Dish and Sprint could quickly offer TV, broadband and mobile bundles to compete more effectively with larger integrated telecoms players such as Verizon and AT&T.”