FCC

Airlines split on whether iPhones pose in-flight danger

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 15, 2013

If you thought the question over in-flight electronics was settled, think again. Although the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to announce in July whether to relax current rules governing in-flight use of iPhones, iPads and other devices, questions remain about their safety.

Wednesday, Bloomberg recounted testimony from pilots and others calling into question whether some devices - particularly those using cellular connections - may interfere with newer GPS-based navigation. In one instance, pilots believe an iPhone caused their airliner to fly miles off course...

FCC approves T-Mobile and MetroPCS merger

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has just approved a merger between Deutsche Telekom-owned T-Mobile and MetroPCS, an American mobile phone service provider formerly known as General Wireless. Though FCC head Julius Genachowski clearing the merger, it still has to be approved by MetroPCS shareholders to become official.

The FCC told Bloomberg that the merger will "benefit millions of American consumers and help the US maintain the global leadership in mobile it has regained in recent years." At any rate, it should help bring T-Mobile's struggling 4G LTE network online sooner than later...

FCC questions ban on unlocking cell phones

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

The federal government is expressing concern about the recent criminalization of unlocking cell phones. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said Thursday his office will look at the subject to see if and what the agency can do. Earlier this year, an exemption in a digital copyright law expired, prompting outrage from some mobile phone owners.

The head of the FCC said he is "concerned" that a return to the ban on unlocked cell phones could stifle competition or limit innovation. As Cody reported last month, a White House petition calling for again allowing unlocking drew more than 100,000 signatures...

FCC filing reveals new, slightly smaller Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ January 29, 2013

This is pretty interesting. Hot on the heels of yesterday's discovery of an unknown AppleTV3,2 device in the new iOS 6.1 firmware comes evidence that Apple is indeed planning to refresh the set-top box sometime in the near future.

The proof comes by way of a new FCC (Federal Communications Commission) filing, published today, from the Cupertino company. The documents out an unreleased Apple TV, model A1469, with slightly smaller dimensions...

Free Press launches AT&T petition site over FaceTime rules

Cody Lee ∙ January 19, 2013

Last week, AT&T announced that it was going to be opening up FaceTime over cellular to all tiered data plans. This is the latest in a string of policy changes made by the carrier to appease the Net Neutrality groups.

But it doesn't look like the groups were very impressed. In response to AT&T's decision to continue to exclude the feature from those on grandfathered unlimited data plans, the Free Press has setup a petition site...

FCC approves AT&T acquisition of WCS spectrum

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

The Federal Communications Commission made good on its promise this week, and has approved AT&T’s acquisition of licenses to the underutilized 2.3GHz WCS spectrum from Comcast, Horizon, NextWave and others. In all, the licenses cover 82% of the population, across 608 markets, and the carrier plans to use it to beef up its LTE network...

FCC asks FAA to allow greater use of electronic devices in-flight

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

Back in August, the Federal Aviation Administration started calling for public input on whether or not airline passengers should be able to use portable electronic devices during any phase of flight.

The general consensus is that there's no reason why passengers should have to power down their tablets and other devices during takeoffs and landings. And yesterday, the FCC offered its 2 cents...

FCC gives AT&T the go-ahead to use its WCS spectrum

Cody Lee ∙ October 17, 2012

Reports are coming in this afternoon that the Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's plan to use its dormant WCS spectrum to expand its LTE network. The carrier acquired the spectrum years ago, but has been unable to use it due to concerns that it would knock out the popular Sirius satellite radio service...

Net neutrality complaint over AT&T FaceTime blocking looms

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2012

AT&T's initial decision to charge for FaceTime video calls made over its cellular network and the subsequently tweaked rules mandating that FaceTime over cellular users sign up for AT&T's Mobile Share plans both provoked a public outrage which almost snowballed into a PR catastrophe.

Deciding someone should take the nation's biggest carrier to task for taking advantage of its unsuspecting customers, advocacy group Public Knowledge (PG) figured that AT&T's policy violates net neutrality rules by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The group is mulling an investigation into AT&T's practices as Public Knowledge, Free Press and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute all plan to file a complaint with the FCC for AT&T's violation of network neutrality rules...

AT&T’s FaceTime limits could violate FCC rules

Cody Lee ∙ August 21, 2012

AT&T sent shockwaves through the tech community last week when it announced its future plans for iOS 6's new FaceTime over Cellular feature. The good news is that it won't be charging separately for the service, but the bad news is only customers on its new Mobile Share data plans will be able to use it.

As you can imagine, this has folks upset — particularly AT&T customers who are still on unlimited, or other legacy, data plans. Why should they have to switch to a [likely] more expensive data plan to use the feature? Well, according to Public Knowledge's senior lawyer John Bergmayer, they shouldn't have to...

FCC tells Verizon to stop blocking tethering apps

Cody Lee ∙ July 31, 2012

This is pretty interesting. Verizon has just reached a settlement with the FCC in their ongoing dispute regarding tethering apps. The carrier will pay out $1.25 million to the US Treasury, and will stop blocking the use of third-party tethering apps.

Unfortunately, the decision only applies to Verizon customers for the time being, as it comes as a stipulation in the carrier's deal to purchase 700 MHz of wireless spectrum from Cox and other cable companies. FCC press release is after the break...

FCC launches online ‘bill shock’ tool as carriers implement overage alerts

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Despite best efforts to keep tabs on your wireless usage habits and keep that monthly bill within self-imposed limits, some of us continue to experience so-called 'bill shock', over and over again.

Thanks to a new online tool by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and an agreement between major wireless operators and The CTIA Wireless Association (CTIA), you can now get information about carriers’ billing policies.

It also lets one check out the state of each carrier’s implementation of free alerts related to one's data, messaging, voice and international roaming usage.

So, is this going to suffice or are some of us going to continue getting bill shock’d each month?