1. Monthly archive
  2. July 2019

July 2019

Sens Capito, Schatz, Moran, Tester Urge FCC to Improve Accuracy of Broadband Coverage Maps

Sens Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Brian Schatz (D- HI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Jon Tester (D-MT) urged the Federal Communications Commission to take specific, concrete steps to improve the accuracy of broadband coverage maps. Their letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai encourages the FCC to look at legislative proposals introduced recently in Congress that include reforms requiring wired, fixed wireless, and satellite broadband providers to submit data like “shapefiles” that is more granular and precise to the commission.

President Trump's social media summit was a spectacle. Here are the real takeaways for Big Tech.

Beyond the circus-like atmosphere of the White House social media summit, the conference had serious implications for Silicon Valley. It highlighted how President Donald Trump's attacks on Big Tech are creating more political jeopardy for the tech companies in Washington:

Europe's 5G difference: Unlimited data without a big surcharge

Europe is host to a fiercely competitive environment of stakeholders all wanting to prove they can deploy 5G first. Obstacles such as spectrum auctions in some countries remain, but the region's networks have shown that when necessary, they can accelerate their own plans to catch up and keep pace with industry leaders around the world. One trend so far among European networks is the bundling of unlimited data with extra products or services, such as home broadband, or unlimited data reserved specifically for gaming or video streaming.

Lack of broadband puts tribal, rural areas ‘in jeopardy’

The Havasupai tribe is falling behind in education, health, and emergency needs because, like many rural communities, it lacks affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband, a tribal councilwoman told the House Agriculture Committee. Ophelia Watahomigie-Corliss was one of several witnesses who said rural areas are “in jeopardy” of being left behind without the high-speed internet access of broadband, which is used for everything from telemedicine to distance learning to up-to-the-minute market reports for farmers.

T-Mobile and Partners Hit 5G 600 MHz Milestone

T-Mobile, Qualcomm Technologies and Ericsson have completed what they say is the first 5G low-band data session on a commercial 5G modem. The 5G 600 MHz session was conducted at T-Mobile’s lab in Bellevue (WA). The 600 MHz spectrum band is what T-Mobile will use for its nationwide 5G rollout. “This is a key step toward achieving our vision of 5G for All,” said T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray. “This modem will power devices that tap into the 600 MHz low-band spectrum we’ll use to blanket the country with 5G."

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