FCC’s ‘free’ WiFi proposal generates buzz

home wi-fi wireless network (no wires !) (Photo credit: osde8info)

By Brendan Sasso – A front page Washington Post story on Monday drew widespread attention to a Federal Communications Commission proposal to create super-powerful WiFi networks.

A portion of the spectrum will be set aside for unlicensed use. Unlicensed spectrum, which can be used by any company for free, powers technologies such as garage door openers, remote controls and, most importantly, WiFi routers.

The FCC set aside some of the “white spaces” in between TV channels for unlicensed use in 2010, and the current proposal would dramatically expand that effort. more> http://tinyurl.com/a4z8j5b

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U.S. mulls tougher rules on telecom firms to keep 911 running

West Virginia (Photo credit: Dougtone)

Reuters – The FCC criticized some 911 providers for suffering outages that resulted from “avoidable” problems as basic as a lack of backup power, following a freak 2012 storm.

The FCC, in the summary of a report on 911 outages during the derecho, noted that the powerful winds knocked out emergency services in isolated areas of four states but caused serious breakdowns in northern Virginia and West Virginia.

Verizon Communications Inc provides 911 service in Virginia while Frontier Communications Corp is the service provider in West Virginia. more> http://tinyurl.com/asogeup

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AT&T Admits There’s No Spectrum Crisis

United States radio spectrum frequency allocations chart as of 2003 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Karl Bode – AT&T recently spent $1.9 billion to obtain Qualcom spectrum, another $600 to gobble up Nextwave, while pursuing 51 Lower 700 MHz Band B Block licenses, four Lower 700 MHz Band C Block licenses and six AWS licenses all owned by CenturyLink‘s CenturyTel Broadband Wireless subsidiary. It looks like AT&T has also now struck a new deal with Broadband Wireless Unlimited for 700MHz spectrum in several markets around the country.

Speaking to analysts, AT&T’s chief strategy officer John Stankey yesterday acknowledged the company is now well-positioned on the spectrum front — even before the company starts moving on their new plan to use WCS spectrum for LTE deployment. more> http://tinyurl.com/bo25mlo

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Verizon Advised to Slow Internet Speed Claims

English: Tacoma Link car 1001 with Xfinity, a Comcast Corporation TV, internet and voice service, advertisement southbound near Union Station. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Adweek – Verizon and Comcast are locked in an advertising war over which service has the fastest Internet speeds. Both have gotten a little carried away with claims, leaving the advertising industry’s self-regulatory division to intervene with both companies.

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus recommended in June that Comcast temper its speed claims for its Xfinity Internet service. The division opened the inquiry based on a challenge by Verizon.

Today, it was Verizon’s turn. more> http://tinyurl.com/9gkf54k

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