The official 3G dead-zone map, courtesy of the FCC

FCC announces creation of mobility fund: In a press release Friday morning, the FCC reaffirmed its commitment to increasing broadband and mobile coverage in rural areas. The agency announced the creation of a new Mobility Fund, a new addition to the Connect America Fund, created to “accelerate our nation’s ongoing efforts to close gaps in mobile wireless service.” Included in the press release was a reminder that the agency will soon host a $300 million reverse auction, with the winner receiving $300 million to provide rural broadband coverage. They also revealed an interactive map of the nation’s worst coverage areas, created with online map-making tool MapBox. source

Posted by Scott Craft • 0 Comments • Permalink

January After a long year of hand-wringing, including much complaining by consumer groups, the FCC approved the merger of NBC Universal and Comcast by 4-1. There was much teeth-grinding.
May One of the four commissioners who voted for the merger, Meredith Attwell Baker, has a new job. Wanna guess where? It rhymes with “bombast.” Or, perhaps, “total conflict of interest.” source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

Every time and in every way that the telecommunications careers have had power or control, we the people wind up getting screwed. Every audience that I speak this statement and phrase to bursts into applause.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak • Offering up his take on the whole net neutrality battle, an argument he explains in great detail by noting how he, being the inventive guy he is, has run up against the big telecommunications companies multiple times in his life, first with his dial-a-joke service (which he had to stop because the cost proved to be way too expensive), and then, years later, with his nice-guy attempt to wire up his entire neighborhood with free cable access (no, really). The Woz’s main argument in this case? “Local ISP’s should provide connection to the Internet but then it should be treated as though you own those wires and can choose what to do with them when and how you want to,” he writes, “as long as you don’t destruct them.” That’s something that a lot of people can certainly get behind, for sure. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

If the ETF is meant to recoup the wholesale cost of the phone over the life of the contract, why does a $120 ETF apply?
The FCC • In a letter to Verizon asking them why their recently-changed early termination fees are so high. They also asked about these finicky $1.99 charges for accessing the Web our boy David Pogue brought up (along with these fees) in an article last month. This warms our heart because it proves the FCC is actually listening to concerns like these as they come up. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is pushing for it. It’s good news for the average internet user. It’s great news for Google and free speech. It’s awful news for AT&T, Verizon, Comcast or any other ISP. But it’s got the support of the FCC, which will propose new regulations on Monday. “It will be a big win for consumers if the FCC delivers strong net neutrality rules that apply across all technologies,”said Free Press policy director Ben Scott. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2012 15:04