Federal Communications Commission
Substantive Objections to a Government 5G Wholesale Network
Over the last few months, various ideas have been floated about the offering of 5G wireless services via a government-sponsored network. This entire effort seems convoluted and borders on the preposterous. Just the notion of the U.S.
Chairman Pai Testimony Before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
In written testimomny before the Senate Committee On Appropriations' Subcommittee On Financial Services And General Government, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai outlined the commission's priorities for the next year:
Chairman Response Regarding High Speed Broadband in Rural Communities
On March 13, 2019, Sens Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) wrote to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai requesting an investigation into the business practices of Frontier Communications Corporation, and its subsidiary Citizens Telecommunications Company of Minnesota, LLC. In 2018, hundreds of consumer complaints across the state prompted the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to request the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Department) to open an investigation into Frontier's quality of internet and telephone service, billing practices, and customer service.
Chairman Response Regarding Broadband Mapping
On February 14, 2019, 11 US senators wrote to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai with concerns about broadband mapping problems. They asked the following questions:
Chairman Response Regarding C-Band
On March 14, 2019, Sen John Kennedy (R-LA) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai with concerns about a proposal made by a consortium of foreign-owned satellite providers known as the C-Band Alliance (CBA). On April 25, Chairman Pai wrote Sen Kennedy saying, "In the C-band proceeding, we are aiming to balance a number of interests. One of those interests is American leadership in 50, the next generation of wireless connectivity. C-band spectrum could provide significant benefits as we enter the world of 5G.
FCC Designates Four More CAF II Auction Awardees as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers
The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau designated four petitioners -- Bloosurf, Hankins Information Technology, Northern Arapaho Tribal Industries (Wind River Internet), and Tombigbee Communications, Inc -- as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in eligible high-cost areas within the specified states. Designation is conditioned upon and limited to petitioners’ authorization to receive Connect America support awarded through the Connect America Fund Phase II auction (Auction 903) and effective only upon such authorization. One of these petitioners, Wind R