Communication at a distance, especially the electronic transmission of signals via cell phones
Wireless Telecommunications
T-Mobile Overtakes AT&T to Become No. 2 Carrier
T-Mobile said it has vaulted ahead of rival AT&T in the race for wireless customers to become the country’s second-largest cellphone carrier. T-Mobile ended June with 98.3 million US customers, excluding wholesale subscribers on other brands that use its network. AT&T reported 92.9 million prepaid and postpaid customers, a tally that didn’t count wholesale accounts or connected devices such as Wi-Fi hotspots and car sensors.
FCC Establishes Bidding Procedures for December C-band Auction
The Federal Communications Commission established final application and bidding procedures for the auction of 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum for 5G and other advanced wireless services. This auction will offer 5,684 new flexible-use overlay licenses based on Partial Economic Areas (PEAs) for spectrum in the 3.7– 3.98 GHz band. This spectrum holds the potential to be prime spectrum for 5G services, and the procedures adopted today will ensure the assignment to auction winners of contiguous spectrum blocks allowing wide channel bandwidths that support 5G deployment.
Announcing the Expansion of the Clean Network to Safeguard America’s Assets
The Clean Network program is the Trump Administration’s comprehensive approach to guarding our citizens’ privacy and our companies’ most sensitive information from aggressive intrusions by malign actors, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). I am announcing the launch of five new lines of effort to protect America’s critical telecommunications and technology infrastructure.
FCC Commissioner Starks Seeks Details On Bidstream Consumer Data And Procedures To Ensure Data Privacy
On Aug 4, Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks sent letters to AT&T and Verizon inquiring about the aggregation and monetization of sensitive consumer data that is generated for advertising placement purposes. Recent reports indicate that this data is being used to track Americans’ locations to protests and places of worship.
Thinking of buying a 5G smartphone? Finding your carrier’s flavor of 5G requires a taste for investigation
5G wireless is no longer vaporware, but a lot of haze still surrounds the forms of 5G each nationwide carrier sells.
NSA Warns Cellphone Location Data Could Pose National-Security Threat
The National Security Agency issued new guidance for military and intelligence-community personnel, warning about the risks of cellphone location tracking through apps, wireless networks, and Bluetooth technology.
T-Mobile Launches World’s First Nationwide Standalone 5G Network
T-Mobile is the first operator in the world to launch a commercial nationwide standalone 5G network, and with this move, the carrier is expanding 5G coverage by 30 percent, now covering nearly 250 million people in more than 7,500 cities and towns across 1.3 million square miles. Standalone architecture is the future of wireless connectivity, bringing 5G closer to reaching its true potential with faster speeds, lower latency and massive connectivity.
Chairman Pai's Response to Members of Congress Regarding the 5G Upgrade Order
On June 1, 2020, Republican Members of the House Commerce Committee wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai in support of the "5G Upgrade Order" which the FCC considered at the June 9, 2020 meeting. "Reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens to promote broadband deployment is a top priority for Congress, and we urge the Commission to approve this Order at your June Open Meeting," the Reps wrote.
An essential part of the 5G technology evolution is the rapid implementation and sanctity of 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) technology. By standardizing or “opening” the protocols and interfaces between the various subcomponents in the RAN, we will move to an environment where networks can be deployed with a more modular design without being dependent upon a single vendor.
Open RAN technology and how the U.S. Congress can help facilitate a network evolution with the potential to create economic opportunities while increasing supply chain diversity and promoting competition.
Joint Statement Of Representative Yvette Clarke And Commissioner Geoffrey Starks On Tracking Americans To Protests And Places Of Worship
For communities of color, Internet access has been a crucial tool for amplifying our narratives and mobilizing Americans for change. And smartphones have allowed us to shine a spotlight on tragedies like the killing of George Floyd. Because we believe so strongly in the power of connectivity, we must speak up when bad actors use those tools to threaten Americans’ privacy and First Amendment rights.