Only seven business days after it began, the FCC’s 24 GHz spectrum auction “blow past the $1 billion mark Friday (March 22).” The FCC is auctioning the spectrum “to free up more bandwidth for 5G wireless broadband, to help close the rural digital divide, and to make wireless a stronger competitor to wired broadband. New York and L.A. continue to lead, with bids on licenses there of $28,080,000 and $21,606,000, respectively, with Chicago in distant third with $10,436,000.”
Senate vote unanimous for state broadband office
A statewide broadband office would be created under legislation passed by the Washington state Senate in a unanimous vote March 6. Senate Bill 5511 would establish the Governor’s Statewide Broadband Office, require the Public Works Board to create a grant and loan program, a...
When Google fiber abandons your city as a failed experiment
Google Fiber started a relationship with Louisville in 2015. After a two-year delay and negotiations over its rollout, the company adopted a cost-effective plan to bring ultrafast internet speeds to Louisville. This February, only 16 months after it turned on its service, Google F...
Is 5G technology coming to New Orleans? City Council approves framework that could make it happen
The New Orleans City Council signed off Thursday on rules governing wireless networks that will soon be operating locally — technology that council members said could aid their use of data to drive government decisions and put New Orleans on a par with other forward-looking cities...
Senators: FCC should diversify broadband mapping data sources
A bipartisan quartet of senators has introduced a bill to improve the FCC’s broadband coverage maps. The Improving Broadband Mapping Accuracy Act requires the FCC to launch a rulemaking, which includes collecting and vetting public comment, on whether to use consumer-reporte...
Verizon to launch mobile 5G in Chicago and Minneapolis on April 11
Verizon will launch its first mobile 5G service in select areas of Chicago and Minneapolis on April 11. Customers will be able to access the network with the Motorola moto z3 smartphone paired with the Motorola 5G moto mod to create a 5G-enabled phone. The 5G service in Chicago an...
Corning supports proposed state broadband act
The Corning City Council unanimously authorized a letter of support for a proposed act to overturn an FCC order that limited local jurisdictions’ authority over wireless cell phone infrastructure. HR 530, also known as the Accelerating Wireless Broadband Development by Empow...