FCC announces winners of $313m from Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

The FCC has announced the latest winning bidders of a $313 million pot from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.

The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund aims to fund new broadband deployments in areas across the US with limited or no connectivity.

Now in its eighth round, the fund has provided over $5 billion in funding to date for new deployments across 47 states—bringing broadband to over 2.8 million locations.

The winning bidders from the latest round...

25 March 2022 | Broadband

China: Attacks from US IP addresses are using resources to target Russia

According to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), a large number of cyberattacks the country has received from US IP addresses are now using compromised resources to target Russia.

In a post on the CAC’s website, the agency wrote:

“Since late February, my country’s internet has been continuously attacked by overseas cyberattacks.

Overseas organizations controlled computers in China through attacks, and then carried out cyberattacks on Russia,...

14 March 2022 | Security

LightBox releases a US broadband map while the FCC fixes its own

The FCC’s more accurate US national broadband map is expected to be a year away, but LightBox is providing one in the meantime.

A previous map of broadband availability used by the FCC was criticised as being inaccurate and greatly overestimating both the coverage and speeds available to Americans.

The inaccuracies – hindering critical decisions like funding allocations – were due to a reliance on data from ISPs themselves who were incentivised to overstate their...

9 September 2021 | Broadband

T-Mobile ordered to prove it didn’t lie to get Sprint merger approval

T-Mobile has been ordered to prove it didn’t lie to government regulators about its 3G shutdown plans to win approval for its Sprint merger.

In a ruling by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), T-Mobile is ordered “to show cause why it should not be sanctioned by the Commission for violating Rule 1.1 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure for false, misleading, or omitted statements.”

CPUC accuses T-Mobile of making false statements...

17 August 2021 | Legislation & Government

FCC is re-establishing its 5G security council which disbanded in March

The FCC is re-establishing its Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), with a primary focus on improving 5G network security.

CSRIC VII was disbanded in March. Recent cyberattacks such as the high-profile SolarWinds breach have demonstrated the need for CSRIC to re-establish and continue its crucial work.

Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting Chairwoman of the FCC, said:

“I am committed to working with our federal partners and the...

16 April 2021 | Legislation & Government

FCC wants the public to help measure actual broadband speeds

The FCC is encouraging the public to download and use its Speed Test app to help the regulator gain a greater understanding of the speeds consumers are actually receiving.

Data used by regulators is often not representative of real-world experiences. The FCC’s broadband coverage maps, for example, have come under repeated scrutiny for being inaccurate—predominately due to what internet access advocates claim is a weak definition of coverage by the FCC which allows carriers to...

13 April 2021 | Broadband

US plans ‘aggressive’ cyber offensive against Russia in retaliation for SolarWinds attack

The Biden administration is planning an “aggressive” cyber offensive against Russia in retaliation for the devastating SolarWinds attack that was traced back to the Kremlin.

According to The Telegraph, the attack is expected within the next fortnight and will not target civilian structures or networks.

Both US government agencies and private companies were infiltrated as part of the large SolarWinds attack that was detected late last year—the full extent of which...

22 March 2021 | Legislation & Government

Verizon expands its 5G UWB to cover more homes and phones

Verizon has announced the expansion of its 5G Ultra-Wideband (UWB) network to cover a greater number of homes and phones.

"We create the networks that move the world forward, and our 5G network brings incredible capabilities that will drive us all as we move into the new year," said Ronan Dunne, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group.

"We're committed to providing our customers with access to the newest technologies and experiences that will shape our future."

Customers...

8 January 2021 | Networks

Verizon’s plan to shutter its 3G network is put on hold

Verizon is putting its plan to shutter its legacy 3G network on indefinite hold.

Speaking to Light Reading this week, Verizon spokesperson Kevin King said that the company’s “3G network is operational” and that it doesn’t “have a plan to shut it down at this time.”

Verizon has announced vague plans to shutter its 3G network on several occasions. Naturally, this started in 2012 after Verizon deployed its 4G network.

A few years after the deployment...

6 January 2021 | Networks

FCC considers revoking China Telecom’s license to provide US services

The FCC has announced that it’s launched a review into whether to revoke China Telecom’s license to provide services in the United States.

The US telecoms regulator says the proceedings will “determine whether to end China Telecom (Americas) Corporation’s authority to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States under section 214 of the Communications Act.”

According to the FCC, the action seeks to safeguard...

11 December 2020 | China Telecom