With a broad boost from U.S. Reps. Anna G. Eshoo and Jackie Speier (D-Palo Alto, Hillsborough), a large coalition of Western cities and counties are waging a legal showdown with a shuttered federal government in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals over control of 5G wireless installations. Eshoo's bill, H.R. 530 -- called the Accelerating Wireless Broadband Development by Empowering Local Communities Act of 2019, "essentially resets the clock on the FCC's new rules by erasing what the federal government has implemented in the under-the-wire maneuver." Eshoo noted "5G is essential for our country's communications network and economy, but it must be deployed responsibly and equitably."
Snyder signs bills to ease shift to 5G wireless technology
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation to "establish statewide regulations and fee limits for the installation of a dense network of ‘small cells’ on telephone poles, traffic signals and other infrastructure." The measures "are backed by carriers such as Verizon ...
County to upgrade 911 fiber network
Lawrence County, PA, is upgrading its public safety communications to enable better communication between Lawrence and Mercer counties. The county commissioners approved a contract of $155,274 with Mission Critical Partners, LLC to oversee its fiber network project. The upgrades "...
AT&T expands fiber to a dozen more metros — boosting its 5G efforts
AT&T "unveiled 12 new metropolitan areas for its fiber service part of a push that should help the next-generation of wireless networks, as well." The company said more cities will get ultra-high-speed broadband options, bringing its total to 84 in the U.S.
FCC approves plan for freeing up more 5G spectrum
The FCC "has voted unanimously on service rule changes as part of a framework for freeing up spectrum…it's latest effort to boost the deployment of 5G, IoT and more, and the largest swath of contiguous spectrum currently available in the millimeter-wave bands."
Green light for Petersham broadband network
Residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of a ballot measure giving the final green light for a town-wide broadband network in Petersham, MA. Petersham residents "easily agreed to front the $800,000 cost for the utility pole ‘make-ready’ work in order to build a publicl...
Blue Earth County Board looks to expand broadband options
The Blue Earth County Board in Blue Earth County, MN is looking to "kickstart efforts to bring more broadband options and data fiber connections to the area." Commissioner Vance Stuehrenberg called on county officials Tuesday to lay the groundwork for a future public-private data ...