WebProNews

Tag: FCC

  • 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.

  • California AG Comes to Terms With T-Mobile Over Sprint Merger

    California AG Comes to Terms With T-Mobile Over Sprint Merger

    After a failed attempt to stop the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, the California Attorney General has come to terms with the company and will not pursue an appeal.

    Despite the merger receiving approval from both the FCC and the DOJ, California and New York led a coalition of states attempting to block the merger. As the process carried on, several states negotiated with the two carriers and won enough concessions and guarantees to drop out of the lawsuit. The suit continued on, however, and stood poised to set a precedent for the role states have in contesting and stopping a decision federal agencies supported.

    Ultimately, T-Mobile and Sprint won, but California was still able to get some additional concessions in the aftermath. In the press release, Attorney General Xavier Becerra listed the concessions T-Mobile agreed to, including:

    • Make low-cost plans available in California for at least 5 years, including a plan offering 2 GB of high-speed data at $15 per month and 5 GB of high speed data at $25 per month;
    • Extend for at least an additional two years the rate plans offered by T-Mobile pursuant to its earlier FCC commitment, ensuring Californians can retain T-Mobile plans held in February 2019 for a total of five years;
    • Offer 100 GB of no-cost broadband internet service per year for five years and a free mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device to 10 million qualifying low-income households not currently connected to broadband nationwide, as well as the option to purchase select Wi-Fi enabled tablets at the company’s cost for each qualifying household;
    • Protect California jobs by offering all California T-Mobile and Sprint retail employees in good standing an offer of substantially similar employment. T-Mobile also commits that three years after the closing date, the total number of new T-Mobile employees will be equal to or greater than the total number of employees of the unmerged Sprint and T-Mobile companies;
    • Create approximately 1,000 new jobs in California with a customer service center in Kingsburg;
    • Increase diversity by increasing the participation rate in its employee Diversity and Inclusion program to 60 percent participation within three years; and
    • Reimburse California and other coalition states up to $15 million for the costs of the investigation and litigation challenging the merger.

    “Our coalition vigorously challenged the T-Mobile/Sprint telecom merger over concerns that it would thwart competition and leave consumers with higher prices,” said Attorney General Becerra. “We took our case to court to ensure that, no matter its outcome, we’d protect innovation and fair prices. Though the district court approved the merger, its decision also made clear to companies that local markets matter in assessing the competitive impact of a merger and that no one should underestimate the role of state enforcers. Most importantly, today’s settlement locks in new jobs and protections for vulnerable consumers, and it extends access to telecom services for our most underserved and rural communities.”

    With an appeal by California off the table, the two companies should be moving full speed ahead to close the deal.

  • 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.

  • Congress Approves $1 Billion to Help Small Carriers Remove Huawei/ZTE

    Congress Approves $1 Billion to Help Small Carriers Remove Huawei/ZTE

    The U.S. House and Senate have approved legislation that will create a $1 billion fund to help small carriers remove and replace network equipment from Huawei and ZTE.

    The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act doesn’t specifically mention Huawei or ZTE. As Ars Technica reports, the legislation “says the FCC must produce a list of equipment providers ‘posing national security risks’ and prohibits ISPs and phone companies from using FCC funding to purchase, rent, lease, or maintain equipment and services made by those companies.”

    In November, the FCC unanimously voted to block carriers from using money from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to purchase equipment from either Huawei or ZTE. As a result, while the new legislation doesn’t specifically mention the two carriers, by deferring to the FCC’s ruling it effectively targets them and provides a way for small carriers to replace their equipment without it being a financial burden.

    The legislation is specifically targeted at telecom providers who have less than two million subscribers. The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) voiced its own support of the legislation, along with anticipation of President Trump signing it into law:

    “The passage of this legislation comes at a critical time. Without this crucial funding, rural carriers would lack the financial means to effectuate rapid replacement of the banned equipment.

    “RWA acknowledges the valiant effort made by Congress to ensure the continuous operation of rural networks while protecting national security. Now with a funding mechanism almost in place, rural carriers can begin planning for the removal of banned Chinese equipment from their networks. RWA now awaits President Trump’s signature for official enactment of the legislation and the appropriation of funds to ensure a path forward.”

  • 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.

  • NY Attorney General Will Not Appeal T-Mobile Ruling

    NY Attorney General Will Not Appeal T-Mobile Ruling

    In more good news for T-Mobile, New York Attorney General Letitia James says she will not appeal the T-Mobile/Sprint merger ruling.

    Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero ruled in T-Mobile and Sprint’s favor, giving the go-ahead on their proposed merger. Both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) had already approved the merger, but a coalition of states led by New York had filed a lawsuit to prevent it. The states had claimed that going from four to three major, national carriers would hurt competition, lead to higher prices and ultimately hurt consumers.

    After losing their case, AG James has said she will not appeal the ruling in a statement on her office’s website.

    “I’d like to thank California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the 12 additional attorneys general from around the nation for their partnership throughout this lawsuit. After a thorough analysis, New York has decided not to move forward with an appeal in this case. Instead, we hope to work with all the parties to ensure that consumers get the best pricing and service possible, that networks are built out throughout our state, and that good-paying jobs are created here in New York. We are gratified that this process has yielded commitments from T-Mobile to create jobs in Rochester and engage in robust national diversity initiatives that will connect our communities with good jobs and technology. We are committed to continuing to fight for affordability and access for all of New York’s mobile customers.”

    In issuing his ruling, Judge Marrero made it clear it was not a single argument that caused him to rule the way he did, but rather the combination of all the arguments made. Cases like that are notoriously difficult to appeal, likely a factor in James’ decision not to.

    Either way, the only remaining hurdles for the merger are passing Tunney Act antitrust review and getting approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), neither of which are expected to be an issue.

  • T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Expected to Gain Approval

    T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Expected to Gain Approval

    The Wall Street Journal is reporting that people familiar with the matter expect U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero to rule in favor of the planned T-Mobile/Sprint merger.

    The third and fourth wireless carriers have been fighting to gain approval for a merger for months, with both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) supporting the merger. In spite of that, a coalition of states sued to prevent the merger, citing the belief that it would negatively impact the competitive landscape.

    T-Mobile and Sprint have both argued the merger was necessary to take on larger rivals, Verizon and AT&T, and have insisted consumers would ultimately benefit. Especially as carriers work to roll out 5G networks, the combination of the third and fourth largest carriers would give the combined company the scale necessary to offer customers the best 5G experience.

    There are also significant legal ramifications for the case. If the states prevail in their argument, it will give individual states unprecedented power to stop mergers—despite federal approval.

    We will continue to provide updates as the story develops.

  • Appeals Court Won’t Revisit Net Neutrality Repeal

    Appeals Court Won’t Revisit Net Neutrality Repeal

    Reuters is reporting that a U.S. appeals court has refused to revisit an October ruling that upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality.

    In 2017, the FCC repealed net neutrality rules that had been implemented under the Obama administration. The net neutrality rules prohibited companies from blocking or throttling traffic, or charging extra for so called “fast lanes.” Without net neutrality, companies like Comcast—which provides internet service and owns cable TV channels and a movie studio—could throttle traffic to competing companies, such as Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime. Alternatively, companies could charge more to access those competing services.

    Such a scenario would end up being costly to consumers and could unfairly prevent media startups from having a chance of success. After all, if consumers can’t access their sites, apps or services without paying more, new companies may be doomed from the get-go.

    As a result, consumer groups, industry groups and tech companies all opposed the repeal, warning of the potentially disastrous consequences. Today’s ruling, however, represents a big win for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who pushed for the repeal.

    Now, net neutrality’s future is in the hands of individual states, some of whom have already passed their own rules. While the FCC initially said states could not pass net neutrality laws on their own, the October ruling said the FCC overstepped and had no authority to prevent states from taking such measures.

  • T-Mobile, Sprint Working Together to Fight Spoofed Calls

    T-Mobile, Sprint Working Together to Fight Spoofed Calls

    CNET is reporting that T-Mobile and Sprint are working together to combat spoofed calls between their two networks.

    Call spoofing is a popular tactic scammers use to make their calls seem legitimate. They mask their number, instead showing a number that is local, perhaps even one the recipient knows, such as a local business, friend or family. STIR/SHAKEN are protocols the FCC recommends carriers implement to cut down on the practice.

    The protocols provide a way for a carrier to verify the identify of a caller, and then pass that verification on to the recipient’s carrier, who verifies it once again. The recipient’s caller ID then shows “Caller Verified” underneath the incoming phone number.

    As CNET points out, T-Mobile and Sprint may be waiting for a verdict in their merger case, but the two companies are working to make sure STIR/SHAKEN works between their two networks.

    Merger or not, this is good news for users of both networks who are tired of being harassed by telemarketers and scammers.

  • Huawei and ZTE Petition FCC Not to Classify Them As National Security Risk

    Huawei and ZTE Petition FCC Not to Classify Them As National Security Risk

    Huawei and ZTE have petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to finalize its classification of them as threats to national security, according to Reuters.

    The FCC had previously voted to label both companies a threat in November, but the decision has not been finalized, giving both companies a chance to reverse the initial ruling. At stake is potentially billions of dollars in federal funding that rural carriers can tap into, but only to purchase equipment from companies that are not deemed a threat.

    As a result, both companies are pulling out all the stops to try to prevent the initial ruling from becoming final. As Reuters reports, in its 200-page filing, Huawei said the action against it was “designed to implement a campaign by certain government officials, including members of Congress, to single out Huawei for burdensome and stigmatizing restrictions, put it out of business in the United States, and impugn its reputation here and around the world,” something it calls “unlawful and misguided.”

    Similarly, ZTE requested the FCC “take additional time to assess ZTE’s enhancements in the area of U.S. export control and economic sanctions compliance and security controls in ZTE products,” adding that it has “spent hundreds of millions of dollars to implement a compliance program relating to U.S. export control compliance regulations.”

    Given the FCC’s initial vote passed 5-0, and included a proposal that carriers be required to remove equipment made by both companies, it is unlikely either company will prevail in its appeal.

  • 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 Frees Up 3.5GHz Mid-Band For Wireless Use

    FCC Frees Up 3.5GHz Mid-Band For Wireless Use

    The Federal Communications Commission has authorized the commercial use of the mid-range 3.5GHz spectrum, according to a press release by the CBRS Alliance.

    The 3.5GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum is being marketed under the name OnGo. Up until this ruling, the spectrum was reserved exclusively for the Department of Defense (DoD) and used extensively by the Navy.

    OnGo is a pivotal piece of the U.S. 5G rollout, as it sits squarely in what is considered mid-band spectrum. Low-band spectrum, such as that being heavily deployed by T-Mobile, has the advantage of offering long range and excellent building penetration, but offers only marginally faster speeds than 4G LTE. High-band, mmWave spectrum offers speeds measured in gigabits but has extremely poor range and penetration. This is what Verizon has primarily invested in.

    Mid-range spectrum, such as OnGo, can be used to improve speed and signal strength, first on 4G and then on 5G. The spectrum will effectively help bridge the gap between the long-range but slower low-band and the high-speed, mmWave spectrum.

    According to the press release, “consumers now have access to improved wireless connectivity through OnGo-compatible mobile devices, including the Google Pixel 4, Motorola’s 5G Moto Mod, Samsung Galaxy S10, Apple iPhone 11, LG G8 ThinQ, and OnePlus 7 Pro, all of which are on the market today. The OnGo ecosystem is vast and opens a brand-new market for wireless communications and 5G services in the United States, touching rural broadband via fixed wireless providers (WISPs), enterprise IT, hospitality, retail, real estate, industrial IoT, and transportation, among other sectors.”

    Because of OnGo’s previous status as protected spectrum, it can still be used by the DoD in times of emergency.

    “To ensure that the DoD has continued access to the band, Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC) networks have been deployed along the U.S. coast. The ESC networks operated by CommScope, Federated Wireless, and Google inform the SAS administrators to activate a protection zone and dynamically reassign users in the area to other parts of the band, thus protecting the incumbent’s use of the spectrum while maximizing availability of CBRS spectrum across coastal areas.”

    The FCC’s decision is good news for consumers and businesses alike and will open up a wide range of wireless opportunities.

  • Senate Committee Addresses 5G ‘Tower Climber’ Shortage

    Senate Committee Addresses 5G ‘Tower Climber’ Shortage

    There have been many things that have slowed 5G adoption: competing types of 5G, available spectrum, security concerns over Chinese vendors and more. One of the biggest issues, however, may be surprise to some. Evidently, there is a serious shortage of “tower climbers” available, according to VentureBeat.

    Tower climbers are the term for individuals who climb cell phone towers to install new equipment or maintain existing components. The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation heard testimony from various witnesses “that there aren’t enough workers to actually build the 5G infrastructure U.S. citizens are expecting over the next decade.”

    FCC commissioner Brandan Carr said the industry needs “20,000 additional tower climbers and telecom techs to complete the U.S. 5G buildout.” The agency is planning to address the shortage by offering 12-week training programs that will be available at technical schools and community colleges. Earnings potential—for a job that does not require a four-year degree—is more than $70,000 a year.

    With that kind of opportunity, it’s a safe bet the FCC will have no trouble coming up with 20,000 climbers.

  • Audi Cars Will Talk To Traffic Lights And Construction Zones

    Audi Cars Will Talk To Traffic Lights And Construction Zones

    Audi plans to roll out C-V2X technology, enabling its cars to talk to construction zones and traffic lights, according to a press release.

    The technology will initially be deployed in the third quarter of 2020 in Virginia, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). C-V2X uses spectrum the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set aside for connected vehicle safety.

    C-V2X will be able to provide a countdown at traffic lights, letting the driver know how long they have until the light turns greens. It will also alert drivers to construction, delivering “graduated warning, with the last link being a low-latency, reliable warning to drivers of the workers’ physical presence.”

    Eventually the technology could even be used to communicate between vehicles, with cars automatically alerting other vehicles to obstacles, icy conditions or other dangers. The technology is the natural progression and expansion of crowd-sourcing apps like Waze, which allow drivers to alert each other to dangers on the road. Unlike those type of apps, this technology will be in the background, seamlessly sending and receiving updates to nearby vehicles, without requiring driver involvement and the subsequent distractions that can cause.

    “VDOT has long supported research into the benefits of connected and automated vehicles, particularly those aspects that have the potential to significantly enhance safety,” said Cathy McGhee, Virginia’s Director of Transportation Research and Innovation. “The inclusion of shorter-range, direct communication in the 5.9 GHz band using C-V2X is exciting, as it can allow us to evaluate this emerging communication option for essential and practical safety and mobility services, including saving the lives of maintenance and construction personnel in work zones.”

    “We recognize the immediate value of the spectrum that the FCC proposed to allocate to C-V2X, and we endeavor to show our V2X equipped cars on real roads engaging in how transportation safety and mobility could be jump-started,” said Anupam Malhotra, Director, Connected Vehicle Services, Audi of America. “We are excited about our participation in this pilot deployment as it highlights the broad societal advantages that technology is now poised to deliver through the full 5.9 GHz V2X spectrum near term with far, far more to come as connected and automated vehicle fleets emerge over the next decade.”

  • Senators Propose Over $1 Billion To Fund Huawei Alternatives

    Senators Propose Over $1 Billion To Fund Huawei Alternatives

    CNBC is reporting that a bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation to spend more than $1 billion to fund 5G alternatives to Huawei.

    Huawei is currently the number one provider of 5G equipment around the world. In spite of that, the company has faced ongoing criticism and accusations that it represents a risk to other countries’ national security because of its close ties to Beijing. All Chinese corporations are required to cooperate with the Chinese government and intelligence agencies, but Huawei is believed to have closer ties to Beijing than most.

    Even so, carriers have warned their governments that going with non-Huawei alternatives could add years of work and billions in cost. Huawei is also seen as having some of the best 5G technology on the market. This puts carriers in the unenviable position of choosing between inferior technology or inferior security.

    Now a group of bipartisan senators wants to address that, with legislation that would allocate over $1 billion to leveling the playing field. According to CNBC, “Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Richard Burr, R-N.C., is a co-sponsor of the bill, alongside Republican Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and John Cornyn of Texas. Democratic Senators Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado are also co-sponsors alongside Warner.”

    The bill would authorize the Federal Communications Commission to “direct at least $750 million or up to 5% of annual auction proceeds from new auctioned spectrum licenses to create an open-architecture model (O-RAN) research and development fund.”

    In addition, “another $500 million would become a Multilateral Telecommunications Security Fund, which would be available for 10 years ‘to accelerate the adoption of trusted and secure equipment globally and to encourage multilateral participation.’”

    If the bill gets passed into law, it could finally help create viable alternatives to Huawei in the U.S. market.

  • Sprint Killing Virgin Mobile, Integrating Customers With Boost Mobile

    Sprint Killing Virgin Mobile, Integrating Customers With Boost Mobile

    According to FierceWireless, Sprint is finally killing off Virgin Mobile and moving its customers to Boost Mobile.

    Virginia Mobile was founded in 2001 as a joint venture between Sprint and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, before Sprint became sole owner of the carrier in 2009. In recent years, however, Sprint has been letting the brand languish. The most recent nail in the coffin was in October when Sprint terminated Walmart’s distribution rights, the last place Virgin Mobile could still be purchased outside of its online store.

    T-Mobile and Sprint are currently in the process of trying to merge and are defending their proposed merger in court against a coalition of states trying to stop it. As one of the concessions to win FCC and DOJ approval, the two carriers agreed to divest Sprint’s prepaid services and sell them to Dish Network. This would, of course, include Boost Mobile.

    The timing of this decision is not particularly surprising. On the one hand, if T-Mobile and Sprint win their court case, consolidating prepaid customers under a single brand will no doubt make a hand-off to Dish Network that much easier. On the other other hand, if the two companies lose their case, Sprint has made it clear it would likely not have the resources to compete nationally as it has in the past. In that scenario, consolidating its brands to conserve resources makes sense.

    A spokesperson told FierceWireless via email: “We regularly examine our plans to ensure that we’re offering the best services in line with our customer needs. Beginning on the week of Feb. 2, we will be moving Virgin Mobile customer accounts to our sister brand Boost Mobile – consolidating the brands under one cohesive, efficient and effective prepaid team.”

  • Facebook Now Requires An Account to Sign Up For Messenger

    Facebook Now Requires An Account to Sign Up For Messenger

    According to VentureBeat, Facebook has ended the ability to sign up for Messenger without a Facebook account.

    In the past, individuals who wanted to use Facebook Messenger could use their phone number to sign up. In an email to VentureBeat, the social media giant confirmed that ability is now gone.

    “If you’re new to Messenger, you’ll notice that you need a Facebook account to chat with friends and close connections,” the email said. “We found that the vast majority of people who use Messenger already log in through Facebook and we want to simplify the process. If you already use Messenger without a Facebook account, no need to do anything.”

    As expected with a change this big, VentureBeat is reporting the transition has not been entirely smooth, with some users’ accounts being restricted.

    Facebook has made no secret about its desire to integrate its various messaging platforms, including Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. The company wants its users to be able to communicate across its platforms. In a post, Zuckerberg emphasized this point:

    “**Interoperability**. People should be able to use any of our apps to reach their friends, and they should be able to communicate across networks easily and securely.”

    Needless to say, regulators are not exactly thrilled with this approach and there has been talk of the FCC trying to get an injunction to prevent the integration. It will be interesting to see if this move triggers further scrutiny.

  • Feds Support T-Mobile/Sprint Merger; T-Mobile Considering Comcast Merger

    Feds Support T-Mobile/Sprint Merger; T-Mobile Considering Comcast Merger

    With the T-Mobile/Sprint merger trial continuing, the government has come out in support of the deal, even as documents have come to light indicating T-Mobile has also considered a Comcast merger.

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a 400 page brief in support of the merger, according to Ars Technica.

    “Both the Antitrust Division and the FCC have significant experience and expertise in analyzing these types of transactions and do so from a nationwide perspective,” the brief reads. “Thus, their conclusions that the merger as remedied is in the public interest deserve appropriate weight in this remedy inquiry by this honorable court.”

    Meanwhile, The Verge is reporting that T-Mobile has also considered another merger. Board member Thorsten Langheim requested a report in 2015 to “give an overview of the company’s market position in advance of a workshop among senior members of leadership.”

    The report also details a proposed subsequent merger with Comcast, with the goal being for the broadband company to purchase T-Mobile. Such a deal was expected to receive little regulatory opposition, as opposed to the Sprint merger, and provide significant benefits to both companies.

    Should T-Mobile lose the merger trial, it will be interesting to see if the wireless company doubles down in its pursuit of a Comcast merger.

  • Senate Signs Bill to Help Curb Illegal Robocalls

    Senate Signs Bill to Help Curb Illegal Robocalls

    Robocalls have become a plague for the American consumer, with some 54 billion being placed last year alone. Now, according to the International Business Times (IBT), the Senate has unanimously approved House-passed legislation aimed at combatting robocalls.

    The Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act is named for its sponsors, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. In passing the bill, lawmakers cited the nuisance to consumers, while also highlighting the life-threatening impact robocalls can have on hospitals.

    “There are numerous stories of hospital telephone lines being flooded with robocalls, disrupting critical lines of communication for hours,” Thune said. “That can’t be allowed to go on.”

    According to IBT, “the measure requires AT&T, Verizon and other phone companies to block robocalls for free and ensure calls are coming from real numbers. It also gives regulators more time to find and penalize scammers without having to issue warnings first.

    “The Federal Communications Commission will be required to let Congress know about action being taken against robocalling operations and oversee companies tracking such calls. It also requires the Justice Department to prosecute more often.

    “The FCC voted during the summer to allow carriers to block suspicious calls by default.

    “The bill’s requirements are expected to take months to implement and do nothing to reduce calls from credit card companies, student lenders and other businesses who depend on such calls to generate business.”

    While the bill’s backers say the its impact may not be noticeable immediately, as time goes on users will experience less calls.

    The bill will now go to President Trump. According to The Hill, “Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) told reporters Thursday that the bill is likely to be ‘signed into law the next week or so.’”