WebProNews

Tag: Ajit Pai

  • Senators Want High-Speed Internet Threshold Quadrupled

    Senators Want High-Speed Internet Threshold Quadrupled

    In a letter to several government agencies, a bipartisan group of senators is calling for the definition of “high-speed” internet to be quadrupled.

    Under former Chairman Ajit Pai, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload as the definition of high-speed internet. To matters worse, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines high-speed access as 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps uploading.

    In comparison, the top five countries in the world, in terms of internet speed, range from an average of 226.6 to 175.22 Mbps. The FCC and USDA’s definition seems glacial when placed against that backdrop.

    Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Angus King (I-ME) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are calling on the FCC, USDA, Department of Commerce and National Economic Council to take action. As the senators point out in their letter, the global pandemic has exacerbated the situation, forcing record numbers of individuals to work and learn from home. The abysmal upload speeds, in particular, are a major bottleneck for videoconferencing and other necessary services.

    Ask any senior who connects with their physician via telemedicine, any farmer hoping to unlock the benefits of precision agriculture, any student who receives livestreamed instruction, or any family where both parents telework and multiple children are remote learning, and they will tell you that many networks fail to come close to “high-speed” in the year 2021. For any of these functions, upload speeds far greater than 3 Mbps are particularly critical.

    The senators make the case that government agencies should agreed to a common definition and — since federal funding is being used to improve the nation’s broadband — to significantly increase that definition to a usable threshold.

    Going forward, we should make every effort to spend limited federal dollars on broadband networks capable of providing sufficient download and upload speeds and quality, including low latency, high reliability, and low network jitter, for modern and emerging uses, like two-way videoconferencing, telehealth, remote learning, health IoT, and smart grid applications. Our goal for new deployment should be symmetrical speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), allowing for limited variation when dictated by geography, topography, or unreasonable cost.

  • On His Way Out, Ajit Pai Warns of China’s Threats to Telecoms

    On His Way Out, Ajit Pai Warns of China’s Threats to Telecoms

    Ajit Pai has stepped down as Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC), but he had some parting words of warning regarding China.

    For the last few years, the US and China have been engaged in a devastating trade war. US officials have also targeted a number of Chinese companies over cybersecurity and national security concerns.

    In an interview with Reuters, Pai warned of “injection of malware into networks here in the United States or around the world. There are a number of bad things that can happen when insecure equipment is used to handle sensitive information.”

    Those concerns led the Trump administration to ban Huawei and ZTE, as well as take action against China Telecom. US officials pressured allies to take similar action, many of whom did. It remains to be seen if the Biden administration will continue to restrict Chinese telecom firms, but Pai is warning against taking Beijing lightly in this arena.

    “The Chinese Communist Party has a very determined world view. They want to dominate this space and exert their will — even beyond their own borders,” Pai said Tuesday. “That is a serious threat not just to internet freedom but to national security for us and for many of our allies.”

  • Charter Ends Petition to Get Government Approval For Data Caps

    Charter Ends Petition to Get Government Approval For Data Caps

    Charter is ending its petition to get government approval for imposing broadband data limits on customers.

    Charter is somewhat unique in that it must get government approval before imposing data limits. While other internet service providers (ISPs) are free to do what the market will bear, Charter’s restrictions were imposed as terms of its purchase of Time Warner Cable.

    The company submitted its request in June 2020. The following month, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai requested public comment on Charter’s request. Since then, no forward progress has been made.

    In a very brief filing, Charter has withdrawn its request.

    Charter Communications, Inc. respectfully withdraws its petition in the above-referenced proceeding.

    While no reason was given, a likely motivation is the incoming Biden/Harris administration and, with it, a Democratic-controlled FCC. As a result, it’s likely Charter would have faced significant pushback in any efforts to impose data caps, especially during a pandemic when internet connectivity is more important than ever.

  • FCC Cracks Down on Robocalls, Enlists Telcos to Help

    FCC Cracks Down on Robocalls, Enlists Telcos to Help

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unveiled new rules cracking down on robocalls, requiring phone companies’ assistance.

    The FCC has been working to address robocalls, a growing problem for American consumers. Beyond simply being an annoyance, many robocalls are designed to take advantage of the unsuspecting, scamming them out of private information, money or both. Even legitimate, non-commercial, robocalls can be a nuisance when there are no limits on the volume.

    “Americans are sick and tired of unwanted and illegal robocalls, and today’s separate actions are like a one-two punch to ward them off,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “Today, we are putting much needed limitations on robocalls to our homes, and taking additional steps regarding call blocking that will yield significant improvements for consumers.”

    The new rules tackle robocalls normally exempted from existing robocall regulation, such as those from tax-exempt organization, political calls and market research. The FCC will now “limit the number of exempted calls to three calls to any residential phone from any caller within any consecutive 30-day period. Previously, there was no limit on the number of non-telemarketing robocalls that any caller could make to a residence. Callers are also now required to allow consumers to opt out of these calls.”

    In addition, the FCC will require telcos to do more to crack down on robocalls on their own networks, and cooperate with the FCC and law enforcement efforts to identify the source of robocalls.

    The rules will likely be welcomed by consumers who are sick of being harassed.

  • FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Will Resign in January

    FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Will Resign in January

    Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has announced he will step down on January 20.

    Chairman Pai has presided over the FCC for the last four years, enacting a number of controversial changes. Most notably, Pai oversaw the repeal of the Obama-era net neutrality rules, as well as pursued efforts to block states from implementing their own. At the same time, under Pai’s oversight, the FCC focused on closing the digital divide and paving the way for faster 5G adoption.

    Given the incoming Biden/Harris administration’s stand on net neutrality, and tech in general, it is not surprising that Chairman Pai is planning to resign. In is statement announcing his departure Pai highlighted his accomplishments, both personal and professional:

    It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve at the Federal Communications Commission, including as Chairman of the FCC over the past four years. I am grateful to President Trump for giving me the opportunity to lead the agency in 2017, to President Obama for appointing me as a Commissioner in 2012, and to Senate Majority Leader McConnell and the Senate for twice confirming me. To be the first Asian-American to chair the FCC has been a particular privilege. As I often say: only in America.

    I also deeply appreciate the chance to have worked alongside the FCC’s talented staff. They are the agency’s best assets, and they have performed heroically, especially during the pandemic. It’s also been an honor to work with my fellow Commissioners to execute a strong and broad agenda. Together, we’ve delivered for the American people over the past four years: closing the digital divide; promoting innovation and competition, from 5G on the ground to broadband from space; protecting consumers; and advancing public safety. And this FCC has not shied away from making tough choices. As a result, our nation’s communications networks are now faster, stronger, and more widely deployed than ever before.

    Although it seems likely the incoming administration will reinstate net neutrality rules, it remains to be seen what other changes or rollbacks may be in store for current FCC policies.

  • FCC Upholds ZTE’s ‘National Security Threat’ Status

    FCC Upholds ZTE’s ‘National Security Threat’ Status

    The Federal Communications Commission has denied ZTE’s request to reconsider the decision to label it a national security threat.

    ZTE, along with Huawei, has been labeled a threat to national security over security and espionage concerns. ZTE and Huawei are believed to open the door for Beijing’s spying efforts, through their telecom equipment.

    “We cannot treat Huawei and ZTE as anything less than a threat to our collective security,” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr stated when the FCC initially labeled the two companies. As a result of the decision, companies are unable to use federal funds to buy, maintain or support equipment from ZTE or Huawei, providing a major incentive to use equipment from other companies.

    There appears to be no relief in sight for ZTE, as the FCC has upheld its initial decision after the its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau found no sound basis to reconsider.

    “With today’s order, we are taking another important step in our ongoing efforts to protect U.S. communications networks from security risks,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “At the next Open Meeting on December 10, the Commission will vote on rules to implement the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement program to help carriers remove and replace untrusted equipment from their networks, months before the statutory deadline. Now it is more vital than ever that Congress appropriate funds so that our communications networks are protected from vendors that threaten our national security.”

  • FCC Reallocating Spectrum From Automotive Safety to Boost WiFi

    FCC Reallocating Spectrum From Automotive Safety to Boost WiFi

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to free up spectrum currently reserved for automotive safety to improve WiFi.

    The spectrum in question is the 5.9 GHz band. The spectrum was originally intended for vehicles to be able to communicate with each other, as well as to allow emergency vehicles to change traffic lights as needed. Despite the spectrum being reserved for that purpose since 1999, the automotive industry has yet to utilize the spectrum to its full potential.

    As a result, the FCC has voted to use a portion of the spectrum to improve WiFi connectivity.

    Specifically, the new band plan designates the lower 45 megahertz (5.850-5.895 GHz) for unlicensed uses and the upper 30 megahertz (5.895-5.925 GHz) for enhanced automobile safety using Cellular Vehicle-to- Everything (C-V2X) technology.

    In announcing the decision, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai discussed how the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for reliable broadband internet.

    First, there is a pressing need for us to allocate additional spectrum for unlicensed operations.2 The pandemic has underscored that consumers need access and more bandwidth to be able to engage in telework, remote learning, telehealth, and other broadband-related services. And we have proof—not a concept, but actual evidence—that 5.9 GHz spectrum can help quickly address this need.

    Pai also emphasized how the automotive industry has shifted its focus. While the 5.9 GHz spectrum was originally reserved for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) services and designated Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC), the industry has recently moved toward C-V2X technology.

    Second, the automotive industry has pivoted from DSRC to Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology. C-V2X is more reliable and resilient than DSRC and can take advantage of cellular- based connectivity to offload non-safety-of-life communications. C-V2X has momentum both domestically and internationally, with automakers such as Ford, Audi, Daimler, BMW, and Jaguar Land Rover pursuing deployment of C-V2X equipment.

    The decision has already been met with criticism, although it remains to be seen if there will be any serious challenges to it.

  • Net Neutrality and a Biden Presidency

    Net Neutrality and a Biden Presidency

    A Biden presidency could have an enormous impact on net neutrality, one of the most contested rules in recent years.

    Net neutrality laws were implemented under President Obama. The purpose of the regulation was to ensure platforms had equal footing, regardless of size or reach. Proponents of net neutrality say it is vital to ensure internet service providers can’t choke out a competitor by charging it or its customers more for access. A perfect example is AT&T recently favoring its own HBO Max service over Netflix, by now counting HBO Max access against customers’ mobile data usage.

    Opponents of the regulation say it unnecessarily regulates the internet and stifles investment. These companies, including at one point AT&T, Comcast and Verizon, point to the long and successful history of the internet without any such regulation existing.

    Shortly after Ajit Pai was appointed FCC Chairman, the FCC rolled back the net neutrality rules, despite its broad support from Microsoft, Google, Mozilla, Netflix and others. Supporters of net neutrality unsuccessfully sued to prevent the rollback. While the courts said the FCC was within its rights, it did not allow the FCC to block individual states from implementing their own net neutrality rules, as some have done.

    Throughout the campaign, Joe Biden said very little about net neutrality, although its restoration is part of the Democratic platform. As a result, it’s a safe bet we haven’t heard the last of net neutrality on a national scale.

  • T-Mobile Inherits Sprint’s Spectrum…And Its Fines

    T-Mobile Inherits Sprint’s Spectrum…And Its Fines

    T-Mobile and the Federal Communications Commission have reached a $200 million agreement over Sprint’s Lifeline abuses.

    T-Mobile merged with Sprint and quickly rose to the second-largest carrier in the US. One of T-Mobile’s biggest motivations for the merger was to gain access to Sprint’s wealth of mid-band spectrum, ideal for 5G deployment. It appears T-Mobile also got stuck with Sprint’s legal issues as well.

    An Enforcement Bureau investigation determined that Sprint “was claiming monthly subsidies for serving approximately 885,000 Lifeline subscribers even though those subscribers were not using the service, in potential violation of the Commission’s ‘non-usage’ rule.” Lifeline is a program designed to help low-income families afford phone and broadband service.

    Sprint had previously agreed to pay $200 million and enter a compliance program to ensure there were no future issues.

    “Lifeline is key to our commitment to bringing digital opportunity to low-income Americans, and it is especially critical that we make the best use of taxpayer dollars for this vital program,” said Chairman Ajit Pai. “I’m pleased that we were able to resolve this investigation in a manner that sends a strong message about the importance of complying with rules designed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline program. In addition to the great work of our Enforcement Bureau team, I would like to thank the Oregon Public Utility Commission for its efforts in this case. States play an important role in helping low-income consumers get access to affordable communications through Lifeline and making sure the program is run efficiently.”

  • T-Mobile Explains Outage: ‘We Didn’t Meet Our Own Bar For Excellence’

    T-Mobile Explains Outage: ‘We Didn’t Meet Our Own Bar For Excellence’

    T-Mobile experienced a major outage Monday, impacting thousands of customers around the world as voice and text services were down.

    The issues began around 12:00 PM Monday, with users having trouble making and receiving calls and texts. President of Technology Neville Ray took to Twitter to reassure users the company’s engineers were working on the issue.

    Despite their efforts, however, the problems continued for roughly 12 hours. They were so widespread that users of other networks reported having issues as well, as we reported. FCC chairman Ajit Pai even got in on the action, tweeting that T-Mobile’s “network outage is unacceptable,” and vowing the FCC would demand answers.

    It appears T-Mobile is providing those answers, with Ray explaining what caused the issue, as well as what the company is doing to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.

    “The trigger event is known to be a leased fiber circuit failure from a third party provider in the Southeast,” writes Ray. “This is something that happens on every mobile network, so we’ve worked with our vendors to build redundancy and resiliency to make sure that these types of circuit failures don’t affect customers. This redundancy failed us and resulted in an overload situation that was then compounded by other factors. This overload resulted in an IP traffic storm that spread from the Southeast to create significant capacity issues across the IMS (IP multimedia Subsystem) core network that supports VoLTE calls.

    “We have worked with our IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) and IP vendors to add permanent additional safeguards to prevent this from happening again and we’re continuing to work on determining the cause of the initial overload failure.”

    Ray personally apologized for the problem, while acknowledging T-Mobile and his team did not meet their own bar for excellence.

  • FCC Prepares to Open 6 GHz Spectrum

    FCC Prepares to Open 6 GHz Spectrum

    The FCC is preparing to vote on making 1,200 megahertz of spectrum available for unlicensed use in the 6GHz band.

    In a blog post on the FCC’s site, Chairman Ajit Pai laid out his plan:

    “Specifically, I have proposed a set of rules to make 1,200 megahertz of spectrum available for unlicensed use in four segments of the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz). This band is currently populated by, among others, microwave services that are used to support utilities, public safety, and wireless backhaul. So unlicensed devices will share this spectrum with incumbent licensed services under rules that are carefully crafted to protect those licensed services and to enable both unlicensed and licensed operations to thrive throughout the band. Ultimately, I expect that 6 GHz unlicensed devices will become a part of consumers’ everyday lives. For the rules we will vote on would play a major role in the growth of the Internet of Things, connecting appliances, machines, meters, wearables, and other consumer electronics, as well as industrial sensors for manufacturing.”

    The newly available spectrum will be a boon for numerous industries, not the least of which is 5G. With the FCC voting in April, it shouldn’t be long before devices using the 6 GHz band start showing up.

  • FCC Sets Deadline For Carriers to Fight Robocallers

    FCC Sets Deadline For Carriers to Fight Robocallers

    The FCC has set a deadline for phone carriers to support the STIR/SHAKEN protocol, in an effort to fight robocalls.

    The STIR/SHAKEN protocol helps combat number spoofing, a favorite tactic of robocallers, whereby they make their number appear as though it is in the same exchange or area code as the recipient. When a call is placed, the carrier uses the protocol to confirm the authenticity of the call. If the call is placed to a number on another network, the carrier passes that verification on to the next carrier, who performs their own verification. Ultimately, when the receiving phone receives the call, if the number is verified, it will display that in the caller ID.

    The FCC had previously asked carriers to implement the protocol, but Chairman Ajit Pai was not happy with the level of adoption. As a result, the FCC has adopted new rules requiring carriers to implement the protocol no later than June 30, 2021.

    “The FCC estimates that the benefits of eliminating the wasted time and nuisance caused by illegal scam robocalls will exceed $3 billion annually, and STIR/SHAKEN is an important part of realizing those cost savings,” reads the press release. “Additionally, when paired with call analytics, STIR/SHAKEN will help protect American consumers from fraudulent robocall schemes that cost Americans approximately $10 billion annually. Improved caller ID authentication will also benefit public safety by reducing spoofed robocalls that disrupt healthcare and emergency communications systems. Further, implementation of STIR/SHAKEN will restore consumer trust in caller ID information and encourage consumers to answer the phone, to the benefit of consumers, businesses, healthcare providers, and non-profit organizations.”

    This is good news for everyone sick of being on the receiving end of robocalls and scam attempts.

  • Coronavirus: FCC Grants Verizon Temporary Spectrum

    Coronavirus: FCC Grants Verizon Temporary Spectrum

    In an effort to help keep up with increased demand and strain on their network, the FCC has temporarily granted Verizon additional spectrum.

    As increasing numbers of companies send workers home, individuals are relying on their wireless connections more than ever, both for telecommuting and everyday life. To help wireless companies keep up with demand, the FCC has already granted additional spectrum to T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular.

    “Wireless services are a vital part of connectivity, and this has never been truer than during this crisis, when so many people are turning to telework, remote learning, and telehealth options,” said Chairman Pai. “I want to thank Northstar and SNR for their willingness to allow this use of the spectrum for which they hold licenses. I’m also grateful to Verizon for seeking out ways to meet increased consumer demand. And I want to give a special thanks to our partners at the Department of Defense and NTIA for their efforts in working with us to ensure that this emergency authority could be granted quickly.”

    This is likely not the last time the FCC will need to help carriers deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Coronavirus: Wireless and Internet Providers Join ‘Keep Americans Connected Pledge’

    Coronavirus: Wireless and Internet Providers Join ‘Keep Americans Connected Pledge’

    Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, multiple wireless and internet providers have joined the FCC’s “Keep Americans Connected Pledge.”

    With an unprecedented number of individuals working from home or laid off, wireless and home internet options are the lifelines people and companies are relying on to maintain some semblance of normalcy. In view of that, according to a statement on the FCC’s website, “in multiple phone calls with broadband and telephone service providers and trade associations, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai emphasized the importance of keeping Americans connected as the country experiences serious disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. And in order to ensure that Americans do not lose their broadband or telephone connectivity as a result of these exceptional circumstances, he specifically asked them to take the Keep Americans Connected Pledge.”

    The pledge calls on providers to “not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.” The pledge also says providers will “waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic.” Any company taking the pledge also agrees to “open its Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.”

    Within 24 hours of Chairman Pai’s calls, dozens of companies have joined the pledge, including the four main wireless carriers, The Rural Broadband Association, Charter, Comcast, Windstream and a slew of regional companies.

  • FCC Moving to Require Carriers to Fight Robocalls

    FCC Moving to Require Carriers to Fight Robocalls

    FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has unveiled a proposal to require carriers and telephone providers to fight robocalls, after being disappointed some did not voluntarily do so.

    “All of us are fed up with robocalls—including me,” said Chairman Pai. “We’ve taken many steps to stem the tide of spoofed robocalls. I’m excited about the proposal I’m advancing today: requiring phone companies to adopt a caller ID authentication framework called STIR/SHAKEN. Widespread implementation will give American consumers a lot more peace of mind when they pick up the phone. Last year, I demanded that major phone companies voluntarily deploy STIR/SHAKEN, and a number of them did. But it’s clear that FCC action is needed to spur across-the-board deployment of this important technology. There is no silver bullet when it comes to eradicating robocalls, but this is a critical shot at the target.”

    Spoofing is a favorite of robocallers who will make their number appear as if it is from the same area code or exchange as the person they’re calling, making it more likely the receiver will pick up. STIR/SHAKEN is a protocol that helps carriers verify the identify of a caller to ensure the number is not being spoofed. If the call spans carriers, the originating carrier passes on the verification to the receiving carrier, and a “Call Verified” badge will show up on the receiver’s caller ID.

    The FCC had previously recommended that carriers begin implementing STIR/SHAKEN but, based on Chairman Pai’s proposal, some of them did not comply. Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T have all committed to supporting the protocol.

  • FCC Announces Carrier Fines For Selling Customer Data

    FCC Announces Carrier Fines For Selling Customer Data

    The FCC has officially unveiled its proposed fines for wireless carriers over selling customer data to third parties, with T-Mobile receiving the highest fines.

    The FCC’s announcement (PDF) comes after all four major carriers were found guilty of selling customer location data to third parties without consent. This arrangement violated the requirement that telecom companies be the sole gateway for the government to conduct lawful surveillance.

    In at least one instance, “a Missouri Sheriff, Cory Hutcheson, used a ‘location-finding service’ operated by Securus, a provider of communications services to correctional facilities, to access the location information of the wireless carriers’ customers without their consent between 2014 and 2017. In some cases, Hutcheson provided Securus with irrelevant documents like his health insurance policy, his auto insurance policy, and pages from Sheriff training manuals as evidence of his authorization to access wireless customer location data.”

    In response to public outcry from journalists, privacy advocates and lawmakers, the FCC investigated, resulting in the proposed fines. The FCC proposes fining T-Mobile $91 million, AT&T $57 million, Verizon $48 million and Sprint more than $12 million. While the proposed fines are a significant amount of money, critics have already denounced them as not going far enough.

    Senator Ron Wyden, a well-known privacy advocate, was scathing in his response:

    If reports are true, then Ajit Pai has failed to protect consumers at every turn. This issue came to light after my office and dedicated journalists discovered how wireless carriers shared Americans’ locations without consent. He investigated only after public pressure mounted.

    — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) February 27, 2020

    It remains to be seen if the carriers will appeal the fines. Given the reaction that is already building, they may do well to simply pay the fines and move on. Meanwhile, other companies should take a lesson that it’s never a good idea to try to double-dip by surreptitiously selling the data of paying customers who expect far better for the money they’re spending.

  • FCC Set to Fine Carriers For Sharing Location Data

    FCC Set to Fine Carriers For Sharing Location Data

    Following an investigation in which the FCC found carriers broke the law by selling customer location data, the agency is poised to levy significant fines.

    It first came to light in 2018 that carriers were selling customer location data to third-party companies that turned around and resold it again, or even gave it away. Privacy advocates and lawmakers alike raised the alarm, especially since it provided a legal loophole around the requirement that carriers be the sole gateway for the government to access such information.

    As a result of the outcry, Verizon was the first to stop sharing customer data, with the other three carriers following suit shortly thereafter. Even so, the FCC launched an investigation into the practice, concluding “that one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal law.”

    Now, according to Reuters, the FCC is expected to announce fines on Friday, with the total amount likely to exceed $200 million. The carriers, of course, may appeal the fines or negotiate to reduce the amount.

  • FCC Finds Carriers Broke the Law by Selling Location Data

    FCC Finds Carriers Broke the Law by Selling Location Data

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has found that wireless carriers violated federal law in selling customer location data to third-parties.

    FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has sent a letter to several lawmakers informing them of the results of the agency’s investigation. According to Engadget, in 2018 it first came to light that wireless carriers were selling “their customers’ real-time location data to aggregators, which then resold it to other companies or even gave it away.”

    Senator Ron Wyden brought to Chairman Pai’s attention the case of prison phone company Securus Technologies. Securus was buying wireless location data and providing “that information, via a self-service web portal, to the government for nothing more than the legal equivalent of a pinky promise. This practice skirts wireless carrier’s legal obligation to be the sole conduit by which the government conducts surveillance of Americans’ phone records, and needless exposes million of Americans to potential abuse and surveillance by the government.”

    Once the information came to light, Verizon was the first to promise to stop the practice, with the other three carriers following suit. Even so, the FCC launched an investigation to determine if federal laws were broken, and it appears they were.

    In the letters, Chairman Pai said:

    “Fulfilling the commitment I made in that letter, I wish to inform you that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has completed its extensive investigation and that it has concluded that one or more wireless carriers apparently violated federal law.

    “I am committed to ensuring that all entities subject to our jurisdiction comply with the Communications Act and the FCC’s rules, including those that protect consumers’ sensitive information, such as real-time location data. Accordingly, in the coming days, I intend to circulate to my fellow Commissioners for their consideration one or more Notice(s) of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in connection with the apparent violation(s).”

    That last part, in particular, is an indication the FCC will take some form of action against the offending parties.

    It’s one thing when companies offering a free service look for ways to profit off of their customers’ data—with the proper disclosures, of course. It’s quite another when companies that already charge for the service they offer then proceed to double-dip by selling their customers’ data, let alone doing it without properly disclosing it. It’s nice to see the FCC agrees such behavior is illegal, not to mention unethical.

  • FCC Announces $9 Billion 5G Fund For Rural America

    FCC Announces $9 Billion 5G Fund For Rural America

    Rural America has traditionally lagged behind the rest of the country when it comes to wireless access. Get far enough off the beaten track and wireless coverage pales in comparison to urban environments.

    According to an announcement by the Federal Communications Commission, however, the 5G rollout may finally help close that gap. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai plans on establishing the 5G Fund to provide $9 billion to help carriers deploy 5G in rural areas, especially “areas with sparse populations and/or rugged terrain.” The fund will also use at least $1 billion for precision agricultural needs.

    “5G has the potential to bring many benefits to American consumers and businesses, including wireless networks that are more responsive, more secure, and up to 100 times faster than today’s 4G LTE networks,” said Chairman Pai. “We want to make sure that rural Americans enjoy these benefits, just as residents of large urban areas will. In order to do that, the Universal Service Fund must be forward-looking and support the networks of tomorrow. Moreover, America’s farms and ranches have unique wireless connectivity needs, as I’ve seen across the country. That’s why I will move forward as quickly as possible to establish a 5G Fund that would bring next-generation 5G services to rural areas and would reserve some of that funding for 5G networks that promote precision agriculture. We must ensure that 5G narrows rather than widens the digital divide and that rural Americans receive the benefits that come from wireless innovation.”

    If the FCC succeeds in narrowing the digital divide, it would be a boon for rural communities and households, where even wired high-speed internet lags behind. Widespread 5G access could open a world of economic possibilities for these areas.

  • FCC Approves T-Mobile and Sprint Merger But Opposition Remains

    FCC Approves T-Mobile and Sprint Merger But Opposition Remains

    CNBC is reporting that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to approve the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint. While the deal had earlier received approval from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FCC’s approval is one of the final steps needed before the merger is finalized.

    The FCC’s commissioners voted along party lines to approve the deal. Chairman Ajit Pai voted with the two Republican commissioners in favor of the deal, with the two Democratic commissioners voting against.

    Jessica Rosenworcel, one of the Democratic commissioners, released a statement voicing her objections.

    “We’ve all seen what happens when markets become more concentrated after a merger like this one,” Rosenworcel said, using airline baggage fees and pharmaceutical drug prices as a point of comparison. “There’s no reason to think this time will be different. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that the T-Mobile-Sprint merger will reduce competition, raise prices, lower quality, and slow innovation.”

    Despite the two agencies signing off on the deal, there is still substantial opposition. Nearly 20 states joined in filing a lawsuit to prevent the deal from going forward, arguing that consolidating the wireless industry around three main players will result in higher prices and less choices for consumers. T-Mobile, on the other hand, has said that combining with Sprint will give it a much better chance of competing with Verizon and AT&T, each of whom have nearly double the number of subscribers as T-Mobile. The combined company would be much closer in size, and have significantly more bandwidth to use for 5G rollout.

    T-Mobile has already made substantial concessions in order to gain support for the merger, resulting in Mississippi withdrawing from the lawsuit once their concerns were met. If T-Mobile is able to continue addressing concerns, there’s a real possibility that remaining opposition may melt away in the wake of the FCC’s decision.

  • FCC Chairman to Robocallers: This Is Not Going To Stand!

    FCC Chairman to Robocallers: This Is Not Going To Stand!

    FCC Chairman Ajit Pai blasted robocallers today in an interview on Fox Business. He said that the FCC has taken aggressive regulatory action and has told the Justice Department that robocalling in one of the FCC’s top consumer protection priorities: “We need you to make this an issue to send a signal to all of the robocallers out there, even the ones who are beyond our shores, that this is not going to stand for America consumers.”

    Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, discusses how the FCC is aggressively fighting the annoying and time wasting robocall industry in an interview on Fox Business:

    FCC To Robocallers: This is Not Going To Stand

    There are two different parts of our plan (to combat robocalls). First, is taking aggressive regulatory action. We have told the industry that we expect them to adopt what is called call authentication. That is essentially a digital fingerprint for every phone call this year. If they don’t, the FCC will take action to make sure that they do.

    Secondly, in terms of enforcement, we have imposed fines (totalling $205 million since 2015) and we have referred those cases to the Department of Justice which is in charge of collecting those fines. We have emphasized to the Department of Justice that this is one of our top consumer protection priorities. We need you to make this an issue to send a signal to all of the robocallers out there, even the ones who are beyond our shores, that this is not going to stand for America consumers.

    FCC Chairman to Robocallers: This Is Not Going To Stand!