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."
Government-owned broadband is costly — try these alternatives
According to a 2017 report from the University of Pennsylvania that studied 20 municipal broadband projects in the United States, "only two ‘earned enough to expect to cover their project costs during the useful life of the networks.’" Instead of having the government ...
Towns begin talks with firm to bring high-speed internet to area
The town the Fletcher, North Carolina hosted the first of three public input meetings scheduled this week in the county to receive feedback on residents’ current broadband service. Audience members wanted to see more competition in the area to lower cost, increased reliabili...
North Myrtle Beach exploring small cell technology regulations
Last week, the North Myrtle Beach’s planning commission unanimously recommended regulations for small cell technology on public property. Myrtle Beach and Conway have also discussed how to regulate small cells, which will become more prevalent when service providers switch t...
As commercial 5G nears, small cells generate interest
According to research on behalf of the Small Cell Forum (SCF), growth in small cell deployments by operators is "set to surge in the coming months as commercialization of 5G mobile networks nears." The research found that deployments will grow by 92 percent in North America and by...
Wireless tech is getting an 'unprecedented' update — and Dallas is getting the VIP treatment
Dallas, TX, is "getting a front-row seat for the future." The city was selected by AT&T, along with a dozen cities, to access 5G, which "will arguably be the biggest upgrade ever in the generations of networks." A number of companies are investing in Dallas as part of this transit...
Communications infrastructure and what it enables
Crown Castle government affairs manager Jonathan Hart published a blog for 1871, Chicago's Technology & Entrepreneurship Center, noting some "combination of cell towers, small cells and fiber that comprise our wireless networks and deliver the connectivity necessary in today&rsquo...