Federal regulators say Verizon Wireless has agreed to pay a fine of $25 million and at least $52.8 million in refunds to customers who inadvertently racked up data charges on their phones over the last three years. Get the full story »
Inside these posts: FCC
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Oct. 28, 2010 at 2:16 p.m.
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Filed under: Cell phones, Consumer electronics, Technology, Wireless FCC fines Verizon Wireless $25M for spurious fees
Oct. 14, 2010 at 2:40 p.m.
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Filed under: Cell phones, Consumer electronics, Internet, Regulations, Technology, Telecommunications, Wireless FCC weighs creating fund to boost broadband
A new fund could help bring high speed Internet to unserved and remote areas of the United States, U.S. telecommunications regulators said on Thursday.
The Federal Communications Commission proposed allocating universal service funds — fees consumers pay telephone companies to subsidize landline phone services for low-income and rural families — to create a “mobility fund” to expand broadband Internet to areas without service. Get the full story »
Oct. 13, 2010 at 3:53 p.m.
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Filed under: Consumer news, Policy, Technology, Telecommunications FCC eyes an end to shocking mobile phone bills
Mobile phone companies would have to warn customers before they rack up eye-popping extra fees on their bills under rules that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will propose Thursday.
The FCC wants to curb so-called bill shock by making mobile phone companies send text or voice alerts to customers before charging them for services not covered by their plans.
“Our core goal is to make it easy for consumers to determine their destiny when it comes to their services and their monthly bills,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. Get the full story »
FCC seeks more information on NBC, Comcast deal
The Federal Communications Commission is requesting more information from Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal. Regulators are reviewing the cable operator’s plan to acquire a controlling stake in the media company. Get the full story »
Loud TV commercials may soon be illegal
A Senate bill passed unamimously late Wednesday would require television stations and cable companies to limit the volume of ads so they’re consistent with the programs they accompany.
FCC vote clears way for ‘Super Wi-Fi’
The Federal Communications Commission is opening up unused airwaves between television stations for wireless broadband networks that will be more powerful and can travel farther than today’s Wi-Fi hotspots.
The five-member FCC voted unanimously Thursday to allow the use of so-called “white spaces” between TV stations to deliver broadband connections that can function like Wi-Fi networks on steroids. Get the full story »
FCC: ‘Super Wi-Fi’ could be a year away
A new flavor of Wi-Fi, with longer range and wall-piercing power, could show up in wireless gadgets a year from now if the Federal Communications Commission works out the last details of new spectrum rules that have been long in the making.
Nearly two years ago, the FCC voted to open up the airwaves between broadcast TV channels — so-called “white spaces” — for wireless broadband connections that would work like Wi-Fi on steroids. But wrangling over key technical details, including concerns about interference with TV signals and wireless microphones, has prevented exploitation of these spaces. Get the full story »
Sep. 1, 2010 at 5:26 p.m.
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Filed under: Consumer news, Internet, Technology, Telecommunications, Wireless U.S. delays web traffic rules
Communications regulators on Wednesday put off a controversial decision on Internet traffic rules, giving industry and consumer groups a chance to forge a compromise while avoiding a politically sensitive issue ahead of the November elections. Get the full story »
Aug. 18, 2010 at 5:17 p.m.
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Filed under: Internet, Policy, Technology, Telecommunications U.S. companies, others meet again on Web traffic
Lobbyists for phone, cable and Internet companies including Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp. met Wednesday to again try to agree on how to manage Internet traffic, three sources familiar with the meeting said.
The sources said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Google Inc were not involved in the latest industry effort to agree on “net neutrality”, the concept that high-speed Internet providers should not block or slow selected information or make websites pay for faster ways to reach users. Get the full story »
FM radio to be required on cell phones?
A proposed settlement to a long-running dispute over music royalties could include a federal mandate that all new cell phones and other wireless devices contain an FM radio tuner.
The proposal is now under discussion by radio broadcasters, recording labels and recording artists. Get the full story »
Pew: Broadband not a priority for most
The majority of Americans do not favor making affordable high-speed Internet access a government priority, according to a study released by the Pew Internet & American Life Project on Wednesday. Get the full story »
Aug. 5, 2010 at 2:56 p.m.
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Filed under: Computers, Internet, Technology, Telecommunications FCC pulls out of “net neutrality” talks
Federal regulators are abandoning efforts to negotiate a compromise on so-called “network neutrality” rules intended to ensure that phone and cable companies cannot discriminate against Internet traffic traveling over broadband networks.
The announcement by the Federal Communications Commission ends weeks of FCC-brokered talks to reach an agreement on the thorny issue among a handful of big phone, cable TV and Internet companies. And it comes as two big companies that have been taking part in those talks — Verizon Communications Inc. and Google Inc. — try to hammer out their own proposal on how broadband providers should treat Internet traffic.
According to people briefed on the negotiations, Verizon and Google hope their proposal could help shape legislation in Congress.
Comcast/NBC merger foes have their say
From Broadcasting & Cable | In public hearing Tuesday in Chicago, rival cable operators, an independent programmer and a former FCC commissioner lined up to oppose the proposed merger of Comcast and NBC Universal.
FCC to restart review of Comcast/NBC deal
The Federal Communications Commission has restarted its review of Comcast’s plan to take control of NBC Universal after the companies provided additional details about their businesses.
Comcast Corp. is seeking FCC and Justice Department approval to acquire a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal from General Electric Co. Federal regulators are expected to approve the deal with conditions. Get the full story »
Indies change stance, OK Comcast-NBC deal
Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal has reached an agreement with the Independent Film & Television Alliance over their proposed merger, which is being reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission and Justice Department.
The alliance reversed its opposition to the merger on the grounds it would stifle creativity in exchange for a promise that Comcast and NBC would allocate $6 million over four years to a development fund for independent productions.
