Press Release

Verizon is launching Verizon 5G Home, the world’s first commercial 5G broadband internet service, on Oct 1. And beginning Sept 13, US consumers can visit FirstOn5G.com to learn more about the service and sign up to be a “First On 5G” Member. Verizon 5G Home will initially be available in parts of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento. It is built on Verizon’s Ultra Wideband 5G network. Verizon is the first company to bring 5G broadband internet service to consumers and is expected to be the first to offer 5G mobile service.

The Federal Trade Commission will hold the second session of its 21st Century Hearings initiative with a full-day event on Sept 21 at the FTC’s Constitution Center facilities in Washington (DC). The event will be webcast live. FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter will make opening remarks. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz will deliver an opening address on the state of competition in the United States, and former FTC Chairman William E. Kovacic will deliver remarks on the evolution of US antitrust law.

The Rural Utilities Service has sought comment on identifying rural areas eligible for funding, and specifically, how to evaluate whether an area already has "sufficient access" to broadband, and how to very broadband availability data in a proposed service area. In response to this Notice of Inquiry, I respectfully offer some guidance based on my experience from working on the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to connect rural and remote parts of the country. 

Sens Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) called on the Federal Communications Commission, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile to guarantee service to first responders during emergencies and clarify policies regarding unlimited data plans. During the Mendocino Complex Fire, Verizon restricted data speeds for the Santa Clara Fire Department (SCFD), despite the fact the department had purchased an unlimited data plan.

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has reappointed Edward Horowitz to the FirstNet Board and named him Chair of the Board for a two-year term. There are six seats to fill on the FirstNet Board. To ensure continuity and a quorum for the Board, three members whose terms expired last month – Neil E. Cox, Kevin McGinnis and Annise D. Parker – have agreed to extend their terms. Additional announcements on the Board’s open seats will be forthcoming.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the following items are tentatively on the agenda for the September Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, 2018:

Students heading back to school this fall that lack access to high-speed broadband will continue to rely upon libraries for homework assignments. Over the past few years, the U.S. has made significant gains in efforts to connect K-12 schools with high-speed broadband connections of 100Mbps per 1000 students.

Innovative technologies such as the “internet of things” (IoT) and artificial intelligence enhance convenience, efficiency and economic growth. At the same time, these and other technologies increasingly require complex networking environments and use detailed data about individuals that can make protecting their privacy harder.

Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18) sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission demanding an explanation for reports that Verizon throttled the Santa Clara County Fire Department’s ‘unlimited’ data plan during the Mendocino Complex Fire. In their letter, the lawmakers ask what steps the FCC is taking to address such critical threats to public safety in the wake its decision to repeal strong net neutrality rules.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue unveiled a new webpage featuring information about the importance of rural e-Connectivity and the ways the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing to help deploy high-speed broadband infrastructure in rural America. In the coming months, USDA will almost double longstanding programs with at least $600 million of additional funds for expanding rural broadband infrastructure in unserved rural areas and tribal lands.