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."
Germany weighs banning Huawei from 5G amid heightened scrutiny
Germany is exploring ways to ban the use of Huawei Technologies Co. products in the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, according to a government official, extending the Western backlash against the Chinese tech firm over security concerns. The official stated that ...
FCC’s 5G order withstands initial legal challenge
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit denied a motion to stay the FCC decision, but Brian Namey of the National Association of Counties, said "the challenge will continue." Namey noted "we share the FCC’s goal of expanding broadband access for every American; howev...
Surgeon performs world’s first remote operation using '5G surgery' on animal in China
A surgeon in China has performed the world's first remote operation using 5G technology. The doctor in the southeastern province of Fujian used the next-generation network to control robotic arms while performing surgery on an animal. During the 8 January operation, the surgeon re...
Broadband expert says USDA shutdown is hurting rural internet expansion
Through its Rural Utilities Service program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provides rural development grants to municipalities and local governments applying to expand or construct broadband infrastructure, and the agency invested $228 million last year across 22 states. But ...
Aspen readies itself for 5G and small cell technology
The city of Aspen is working to update its rules governing wireless infrastructure in the wake of a Federal Communications Commission edict that streamlines the process for deploying new antennas for 5G wireless service.The FCC order, which was handed down in September and took ef...
State rules on wireless antennas would strip local control, say city officials
The Georgia General Assembly is expected to take up a bill this session that would reduce local regulations on the deployment of small cell technology. Kimberly Adams, Crown Castle’s Government Relations Manager for the South Area, worked with the city of Brookhaven on its o...