Wireless Telecommunications

There's a gap right now between what 5G phones can do and what US 5G networks can do. Both Verizon and AT&T absolutely flatlined on performance between 2020 and 2021, and despite 5G being around for over two years, carriers are letting us down. There are a number of answers for why this is happening; we're still reeling from former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai's mistakes. Pai didn’t prioritize making mid-band spectrum available for 5G, and that set us back by at least a year.

As you might imagine, we thought there would be exciting news to share today about broadband. Not so much. As we wait for a vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (could it come today?

A vocal proponent of Open RAN in wireless, Vodafone is now looking to apply the same principle of disaggregation to the broadband network gateway (BNG).

The Federal Communications Commission launched a rulemaking proceeding to improve the reliability of communications networks and help ensure that the public can communicate when disasters strike. Disaster recovery efforts in the wireless industry are currently supported by the Wireless Network Resiliency Cooperative Framework, a voluntary industry agreement to promote resilient communications and situational awareness during disasters through roaming agreements, mutual aid, and other measures.

To keep pace with increasing wireless connectivity demands, the Federal Communications Commission continuously examines spectrum needs and tries to ensure that our rules enable spectrum users to conduct their business and everyday activities. In adopting the 6 GHz Report and Order, the FCC expanded spectrum access for unlicensed devices to promote competition, innovation, and more widespread and robust connectivity. The new rules made broad swaths of the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz) available for unlicensed broadband operations.

Reps Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) introduced the Spectrum Innovation Act (H.R.5378) to free up new airwaves for wireless broadband use by the public. The Spectrum Innovation Act would ensure faster speeds and more responsive networks for consumers. In addition to up to 200 megahertz of spectrum auctioned for mobile broadband, this bill would help usher in new, innovative wireless uses through opportunistic and other flexible spectrum uses.

To get an idea of how the Dish/T-Mobile case went in front of the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), this one bit of testimony might shed some light: They literally started to shut off the lights in the building before all was said and done. The purpose of the hearing was to determine if the CPUC should penalize T-Mobile for lying to the Commission about its obligations in the merger with Sprint. The CPUC approved the transaction in April 2020 with conditions.

Federal Communications Commissioner Nathan Simington argued wireline technology might not be the best broadband solution for every use case. Commissioner Simington discussed the question of whether fiber should be rolled out to every American, explaining some have argued that the US should pursue universal fiber deployments in the same way the country went about electrification. The commissioner stated “obviously fiber is a very robust technology” but it’s not necessarily one that everyone wants or needs.

Non-profit wireless internet service provider DigitalC is using Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and leveraging federal funds and private donations to subsidize broadband service and infrastructure deployment to last-mile homes in Cleveland (OH).

T-Mobile has made rural America a clear aim, with a push on brand recognition alongside deployments, retail stores, and initiatives like its Hometown Grant program. The company announced 25 small town winners that are part of its five-year commitment to provide $25 million in grants for community projects, alongside earlier stated plans to hire 7,500 new employees in small towns and rural areas.