fcc

AT&T and T-Mobile Claim Locked Phones Are Good, Actually
23 Oct

AT&T and T-Mobile Claim Locked Phones Are Good, Actually

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T-Mobile and AT&T say US regulators should drop a plan to require unlocking of phones within 60 days of activation, claiming that locking phones to a carrier's network makes it possible to provide cheaper handsets to consumers. "If the Commission mandates a uniform unlocking policy, it is consumers—not providers—who stand to lose the most," T-Mobile wrote in an October 17 filing with the Federal Communications Commission.The proposed rule has support from consumer advocacy groups who say it will give users more choice and lower their costs. T-Mobile has been criticized for locking phones for up to a year, which makes…
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FCC now requires georouting for wireless calls to 988, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline
20 Oct

FCC now requires georouting for wireless calls to 988, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline

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The Federal Communications Commission has passed rules that will require all wireless calls to the 988 Lifeline to be georouted. Geographic routing ensures that attempts to reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline for intervention services will be sent to the location where the call is placed rather than to the location of the caller's area code and exchange.Once the rules take effect, national providers will have 30 days to implement georouting for these calls. Smaller, non-national providers have a timeline of 24 months to comply. The agency also issued a proposal that the same georouting policy be applied to texts…
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ESPN faces $146K fine for using emergency alert tones in NBA ads
19 Oct

ESPN faces $146K fine for using emergency alert tones in NBA ads

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could go all the way with a proposed fine against ESPN.The proposal calls for a penalty of $146,976 against ESPN for violating the Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules when the network aired ads to promote the 2023-2024 NBA season. The FCC said the tones were used “in the absence of an actual emergency.”Penalty! ESPN faces a proposed FCC fine for using an emergency alert tone in a promo ad. Using this tone is out of bounds - it's a public safety hazard to confuse or desensitize viewers to actual emergency alerts. As the refs for…
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The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together
17 Oct

The FCC will soon require all hearing aids and phones to work together

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On Thursday, the FCC approved new regulations requiring all phone makers to make their handsets compatible with hearing aids. With the number of Americans 65 and older expected to balloon by nearly 50 percent by 2050, the rules will ensure those with hearing loss don’t have to worry about which phones will work with their hearing aids.“Under the new rules, after a transition period, Americans with hearing loss will no longer be limited in their choice of technologies, features, and prices available in the mobile handset marketplace,” the FCC wrote in a press release.On the flip side, the FCC also…
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SpaceX Has a Plan for Starlink to Hit Gigabit Speeds
17 Oct

SpaceX Has a Plan for Starlink to Hit Gigabit Speeds

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SpaceX is seeking approval for changes to Starlink that the company says will enable gigabit-per-second broadband service. In an application submitted to the US Federal Communications Commission on October 11, SpaceX claims the requested "modification and its companion amendment will enable the Gen2 system to deliver gigabit-speed, truly low-latency broadband and ubiquitous mobile connectivity to all Americans and the billions of people globally who still lack access to adequate broadband."SpaceX said it is seeking "several small-but-meaningful updates to the orbital configuration and operational parameters for its Gen2 space station authorization to improve space sustainability, better respond to evolving demand, and…
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FCC launches a formal inquiry into why broadband data caps are terrible
15 Oct

FCC launches a formal inquiry into why broadband data caps are terrible

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The Federal Communications Commission that it will open a renewed investigation into broadband data caps and how they impact both consumer experience and company competition. The FCC is soliciting from consumers about their experiences with capped broadband service. The agency also opened a formal to collect public comment that will further inform its actions around broadband data caps."Restricting consumers' data can cut off small businesses from their customers, slap fees on low-income families and prevent people with disabilities from using the tools they rely on to communicate," FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said. "As the nation’s leading agency on communications, it’s…
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FCC proposes new rules for AI-generated robocalls and robotexts
08 Aug

FCC proposes new rules for AI-generated robocalls and robotexts

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The Federal Communications Commission has new rules governing the use of AI-generated phone calls and texts. Part of the proposal centers on create a clear definition for AI-generated calls, with the rest focuses on consumer protection by making companies disclose when AI is being used in calls or texts."This provides consumers with an opportunity to identify and avoid those calls or texts that contain an enhanced risk of fraud and other scams," the FCC said. The agency is also looking ensure that legitimate uses of AI to assist people with disabilities to communicate remains protected.Today's proposal is the latest action…
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Court blocks the FCC’s efforts to restore net neutrality… again
03 Aug

Court blocks the FCC’s efforts to restore net neutrality… again

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The Federal Communications Commission's voted to restore net neutrality protections back in April, but the process isn't as smooth-sailing as its proponents would like. According to Reuters and Fast Company, the Sixth Circuit US Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked the rules from taking effect because the broadband providers' legal case challenging their reinstatement will likely succeed. A group of cable, telecom and mobile internet providers sued the FCC shortly after its three Democrat commissioners voted to restore net neutrality protectionsUnder net neutrality rules, broadband services are classified as essential communications resources. That gives the FCC the power to regulate…
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The Affordable Connectivity Program Died—and Thousands of Households Have Already Lost Their Internet
30 Jul

The Affordable Connectivity Program Died—and Thousands of Households Have Already Lost Their Internet

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The death of the US government's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is starting to result in disconnection of internet service for Americans with low incomes. On Friday, Charter Communications reported a net loss of 154,000 internet subscribers that it said was mostly driven by customers canceling after losing the federal discount. About 100,000 of those subscribers were reportedly getting the discount, which in some cases made internet service free to the consumer.The $30 monthly broadband discounts provided by the ACP ended in May after Congress failed to allocate more funding. The Biden administration requested $6 billion to fund the ACP through December…
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