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."
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...
How much does 5G cost? Verizon says $10 extra per month
Verizon will charge an additional $10 a month per smartphone for subscribers who want to add 5G speeds to their devices. Only customers of Verizon's unlimited-data plans "will be able to access the 5G service and they must have a compatible device." There are also limits to the in...
FCC says it didn’t try to game courts in 5G order challenge
In a letter obtained by Bloomberg Law, Timothy B. Strachan, director of the FCC’s Office of Legislative Affairs, said "Chairman Pai has informed me that neither he nor his staff urged any FCC licensee to challenge the Wireless Infrastructure Order, nor did they make any thre...