fcc

FCC drops all inquiries into Binge On and other zero-rating programs

Submitted by Daniel Bader on Fri, 02/03/2017 - 16:47

The FCC has dropped all inquiries into one of the most contested parts of net neutrality.

The FCC's new proposal could break you free from your cable box

Submitted by Joseph Keller on Thu, 01/28/2016 - 10:52

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has announced a new proposal that would allow tech companies to create new experiences around cable TV. The goal would be to give customers more choice in how they watch TV.

AT&T hit with $100 million fine from FCC over throttled data complaints on unlimited plans

Submitted by Jared DiPane on Wed, 06/17/2015 - 12:43

AT&T has been hit with a $100 million fine from the FCC in regards to the complaints about throttled data on unlimited plans.

FCC votes 3-2 to reclassify broadband as a utility, sets new net neutrality rules

Submitted by John Callaham on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 13:45

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The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 today to regulate broadband providers like telephone and cable utilities under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. The FCC will also enforce a set of net neutrality rules for those companies. The changes were first proposed earlier this month.

FCC Chairman states outright: they plan to classify internet access as a utility

Submitted by Derek Kessler on Wed, 02/04/2015 - 11:38

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It's official, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler wants to reclassify internet service providers as utility providers under the FCC's Title II authority. The move aims to preserve the principles of net neutrality in law, barring ISPs from blocking, throttling, or prioritizing traffic.

FCC set to propose strong net neutrality rules this week

Submitted by John Callaham on Mon, 02/02/2015 - 17:21

A new report says that the Federal Communications Commission could propose a set of regulations Thursday that would support net neutrality for both fixed and mobile broadband service providers. The proposal is likely to be similar to the ones that President Barack Obama announced in November 2014.

AT&T files motion to dismiss FTC's data throttling suit, invokes common carrier status

Submitted by Harish Jonnalagadda on Sat, 01/10/2015 - 07:34

Late last year, the FTC filed a lawsuit against AT&T, stating that the carrier was throttling data for users on unlimited plans, a practice that has allegedly been going on since 2011. AT&T is now looking to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit by invoking the Tier II "common carrier" clause, which exempts the carrier from FTC's jurisdiction and places it under the purview of the FCC.

T-Mobile will pay $90 million to settle "cramming" charges

Submitted by Derek Kessler on Fri, 12/19/2014 - 12:37

U.S. carrier T-Mobile has settled charges levied by the FTC and FCC that they charged customers for unwanted services, a settlement that comes to the tune of at least $90 million. The practice, known as "cramming", stemmed from third-party services from "premium SMS" providers for wallpapers, ringtones, horoscopes, celebrity gossip, and more.

T-Mobile wants better coverage inside your home and it's asking the FCC for help

Submitted by Chuong H Nguyen on Thu, 10/23/2014 - 15:54

T-Mobile wants its phones, tablets, and devices to work better in your homes and buildings, and to do so it is petitioning the FCC to make that happen. The Un-carrier wants to be able to buy more low-band spectrum to improve in-building coverage in the next FCC auction, and T-Mobile wants the FCC to alter a few rules to help it succeed.

AT&T agrees to pay $105 million to settle claims of unauthorized third-party charges

Submitted by John Callaham on Wed, 10/08/2014 - 14:15

AT&T has agreed to pay a total of $105 million to settle claims that the wireless carrier "billed customers millions of dollars in unauthorized third-party subscriptions and premium text messaging services."

Microsoft's Lumia 735 'selfie' phone could be Sprint's first Lumia ever

Submitted by Chuong H Nguyen on Fri, 09/26/2014 - 14:21

It looks like Sprint may be get its first Lumia smartphone on its 4G LTE network as FCC documents reveal that the Lumia 735 supports compatibility for Sprint's Spark network. Listed under the model name Nokia RM-1078 in regulatory filings, the phone sports similar dimensions to the Lumia 730 and Lumia 735 variants, and comes with a removable back battery cover, micro SIM card slot, and microSD card slot along with support for Sprint's LTE bands 25, 26, and 41

Crushed by a stampede of petitioners, the FCC extends net neutrality comment period

Submitted by Derek Kessler on Tue, 07/15/2014 - 15:00

Crushed by a flood of commenters, the FCC has extended the open comment period for their Open Internet proceedings until Friday. When we wrote about the importance of net neutrality back in May, the FCC had opened the door for open comment, and that window was due to close today. But after having been smashed yesterday and today by people like you registering their thoughts with the FCC about how best to address net neutrality, the FCC has extended that window to Friday.

New Microsoft mobile phone gets FCC approval

Submitted by John Callaham on Mon, 07/07/2014 - 14:43

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A new mobile phone from Microsoft has been spotted getting the approval of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, but so far the details of what it might be remain a mystery.

FCC votes to limit AT&T, Verizon involvement in mid-2015 spectrum auction

Submitted by Andrew Martonik on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 15:07

Even with threats from AT&T and Verizon, the FCC has gone forward and voted in favor of previously-proposed restrictions on the 2015 spectrum auction that will offer up valuable low-band airwaves to wireless carriers. The restrictions put in place will reserve portions of the spectrum going up for auction for carriers that don't already have large chunks of low-band spectrum, largely cutting out AT&T and Verizon from participating in many markets.

Tech giants blast FCC's net neutrality proposal

Submitted by Chuong H Nguyen on Wed, 05/07/2014 - 19:02

In an open letter to the Federal Communications Commission, major Internet and technology companies are united in their fight to keep the Internet free and open. Companies that include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Netflix among others, are standing together to fight the FCC's plans to split the Internet into faster and slower speed lanes as part of a new upcoming vote.

Verizon pushes FCC to reconsider restrictions on upcoming spectrum auction

Submitted by Andrew Martonik on Thu, 05/01/2014 - 17:23

Verizon isn't taking too kindly to proposed regulations on an upcoming spectrum auction, and is hoping the FCC will change its ways before the sale opens next year. The auction, which will have extremely valuable 600MHz spectrum up for grabs in mid-2015, is expected to have restrictions imposed on it to limit big players like Verizon and AT&T from taking it all for themselves.

The FCC is proposing that the auction have rules that will limit any one company from picking up more than a third of the spectrum available in any given market. The goal is to open up the doors for smaller players like T-Mobile, Sprint and regional carriers to pick up the much-needed low-band spectrum, which is usually unobtainable because of the high bids larger carriers can put in.

Surface Wireless Display Adapter revealed in FCC filings

Submitted by Sam Sabri on Tue, 03/04/2014 - 18:30

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We’re big fans of the Surface 2. Everything about the hardware is gorgeous. And the internals of the Surface 2 can actually run Windows decently, unlike the first-generation Surface. Which is why we’re stoked to learn that Microsoft is bringing a new accessory for the Surface family. Recent FCC filings reveal a wireless display dongle that will be coming soon.

Samsung’s upcoming Windows Phone stops by the FCC, Verizon next

Submitted by Sam Sabri on Sat, 02/08/2014 - 03:12

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Samsung has an upcoming Windows Phone handset. It’s the SM-W750V, but will most likely be known colloquially as the Huron. We first heard about the device last month and it’s now decided to stop by the FCC. Details below.

Nokia Lumia 1320 passes through the FCC

Submitted by Mark Guim on Thu, 12/05/2013 - 07:41

The Nokia Lumia 1320 is getting ready to hit the market. The mid-range Lumia device with 6-inch display has just been spotted on the FCC website. The documents don’t reveal any information we haven’t already uncovered from Nokia World earlier this year. The approved device appears to be the Global variant since it supports LTE bands 3, 7 and 20. The carriers in the United States use none of those.

Lumia 1520 passes through FCC, destined for AT&T

Submitted by Sam Sabri on Mon, 09/30/2013 - 19:16

Ah yes, the FCC. The Federal Communications Commission is responsible for a lot of things here in the United States. They’re primarily responsible for regulating interstate and international communications over radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. There are many bureaus within the FCC, with various offices to support those bureaus.

One office we’re big fans of is the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET). The OET is responsible for overseeing the authorization of various equipment that use electromagnetic energy and maintains this database, which the public can access. That’s where we come in and find out when cool products like the Nokia Lumia 1520 visit the FCC and get ready for market here in the United States. Which it just did.

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