Telecom industry officials and FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai cheered the 241-173 House approval of the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act (HR-2666) Friday. But the bill’s fate is uncertain and likely limited, based on past statements from senators and last week’s veto threat from the White House. The bill was unaltered from the Commerce Committee markup version that left Democrats frustrated and unanimously opposed.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn will tour communities around the country to learn more about efforts to bring "robust, affordable communications services to all Americans," an agency release said Thursday. Clyburn will conduct her Connecting Communities: Bridging the Communications and Opportunities Divide Tour over the next several months and will tweet highlights under the hashtag #ConnectingCommunities. "This is a unique opportunity to gain new insights and ensure that the FCC hears a wide range of perspectives, including the many voices that often go unheard," she said. Clyburn plans to visit rural and urban communities, tribal lands, healthcare facilities, correctional facilities and 911 call centers, and to meet with "startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and providers of all sizes." When the tour is finished, she plans to deliver a "major policy speech" in the fall on her observations and outline policies she's pushing to improve communications access.
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn will tour communities around the country to learn more about efforts to bring "robust, affordable communications services to all Americans," an agency release said Thursday. Clyburn will conduct her Connecting Communities: Bridging the Communications and Opportunities Divide Tour over the next several months and will tweet highlights under the hashtag #ConnectingCommunities. "This is a unique opportunity to gain new insights and ensure that the FCC hears a wide range of perspectives, including the many voices that often go unheard," she said. Clyburn plans to visit rural and urban communities, tribal lands, healthcare facilities, correctional facilities and 911 call centers, and to meet with "startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and providers of all sizes." When the tour is finished, she plans to deliver a "major policy speech" in the fall on her observations and outline policies she's pushing to improve communications access.
A day after the UHD Alliance announced the expansion of its Ultra HD Premium certification logo program to include Ultra HD Blu-ray players (see 1604120017), Panasonic’s U.K. subsidiary said the company’s DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray player got that certification. That means the DMP-UB900 “has met the rigorous testing protocol set out by the UHD Alliance for Ultra HD Blu-ray players,” the subsidiary said in a Wednesday announcement. The DMP-UB900 will be available to buy in U.K. stores beginning this week, and Panasonic is giving away copies of the Warner titles Mad Max: Fury Road and San Andreas to the first takers, it said. “Blu-ray consistently delivered the best picture and sound performance for the HD age,” the company said. “Now Ultra HD Blu-ray is going to do the same thing for the 4K HDR age.” Panasonic representatives didn’t comment Wednesday on U.S. availability of the DMP-UB900. The company said at CES only that “specific pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.”
The FCC would be “crazy” to subject cable operators to special access regulation under rules being examined by the agency, said NCTA Executive Vice President James Assey Monday at a Practising Law Institute seminar. The American Cable Association Friday questioned (see 1604080055) FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal to replace special access regulation with a new "technology-neutral framework."
The FCC would be “crazy” to subject cable operators to special access regulation under rules being examined by the agency, said NCTA Executive Vice President James Assey Monday at a Practising Law Institute seminar. The American Cable Association Friday questioned (see 1604080055) FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal to replace special access regulation with a new "technology-neutral framework."
T-Mobile is in FCC crosshairs as the agency moves forward in its investigation of zero rating. While no decision has been made, T-Mobile’s popular Binge On service is unique among three telecom zero-rated offerings being reviewed by the FCC because it involves throttling, industry and agency officials said. AT&T and Verizon’s zero-rated services both are built on companies paying extra so that their content can be used without affecting a subscriber’s data cap.
T-Mobile is in FCC crosshairs as the agency moves forward in its investigation of zero rating. While no decision has been made, T-Mobile’s popular Binge On service is unique among three telecom zero-rated offerings being reviewed by the FCC because it involves throttling, industry and agency officials said. AT&T and Verizon’s zero-rated services both are built on companies paying extra so that their content can be used without affecting a subscriber’s data cap.
Consumers and small businesses in five states received 1 Gbps Internet service on Monday, according to announcements from Windstream and GCI. Windstream launched a 1 Gbps speed tier in Lincoln, Nebraska; Lexington, Kentucky; Sugar Land, Texas; and seven North Carolina communities. Separately, GCI continued its 1 Gbps rollout across Alaska, announcing an expansion of the fiber service to Juneau.
Consumers and small businesses in five states received 1 Gbps Internet service on Monday, according to announcements from Windstream and GCI. Windstream launched a 1 Gbps speed tier in Lincoln, Nebraska; Lexington, Kentucky; Sugar Land, Texas; and seven North Carolina communities. Separately, GCI continued its 1 Gbps rollout across Alaska, announcing an expansion of the fiber service to Juneau.