broadband

FCC: Most broadband users are unaware of speed

A new survey from the Federal Communications Commission notes that while 91 percent of U.S. broadband consumers are satisfied with their service, 80 percent of them don't know what speed broadband connection they're paying for.

The survey of more than 3,000 adults conducted this spring asked consumers if they knew what the advertised speed of the broadband service they were signed up for was supposed to be. Four out of five said they didn't know. About 24 percent said they thought they were likely getting the speed they were supposed to get. And 57 percent … Read more

T-Mobile USA upgrades more cities to faster 3G

T-Mobile USA said Tuesday that it has added several new cities to a growing list that can get the company's upgraded 3G network.

The upgraded network, which uses a version of the 3G technology called HSPA+ triples download speeds. The service has been deployed in densely populated markets in the Northeast, including New York City; parts of New Jersey; New York state; Connecticut; and Providence, R.I. It also added service in Memphis, Tenn., and Las Vegas. T-Mobile had already been offering the service in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

With these new markets, T-Mobile is now able to … Read more

The FCC's disingenuous 'third way' on broadband

Editors' note: This is a guest column. See Lawrence Spiwak's bio below.

Despite his protestations to the contrary, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski is about to reverse a 25-year bipartisan tradition of removing heavy-handed public-utility-type regulations over new technologies and services.

Although Genachowski maintains that such regulatory interventions will be "modest," Genachowski's proposed approach is entirely disingenuous. Instead, for those of us who study this industry closely, it is readily apparent that the FCC now wants to regulate almost all aspects of the Internet.

In the past, the FCC, under both Democrats and Republicans, recognized … Read more

LTE subscribers to hit 200 million by 2015

The number of LTE subscribers around the world will surpass 200 million in another five years, according to a new report released Monday by research firm Maravedis.

Mobile operators committed to LTE (Long-Term Evolution) wireless broadband will pick up more customers over these next five years by offering dual-mode devices that can use both 3G and LTE, says the new report, called "The Top 25 LTE Operator Commitments: Deployment Scenarios and Growth Opportunities." As part of its study, Maravedis spoke with executives from mobile carriers around the world to learn about their plans and their challenges in rolling … Read more

Verizon to fulfill 4G promise to rural Americans?

Verizon Wireless could make good on its promise to get 4G wireless broadband to rural America.

The nation's largest wireless provider is in talks with rural wireless operators to expand its 4G network to consumers in hard to reach areas of the country, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Verizon is building its next-generation wireless network using $4.7 billion worth of spectrum it acquired in the Federal Communication Commission's 700MHz auction in 2008. Using a technology called Long Term Evolution, or LTE, the carrier hopes to be in 25 to 30 markets by the end of this … Read more

Clearwire CEO sees bright 4G future

A year after taking over the CEO job from Clearwire co-founder Ben Wolff, Bill Morrow is confident the company is on the right track with its 4G wireless network despite continued financial losses.

Morrow, 50, said he is confident about Clearwire's prospects even as competitors, such as Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA, begin to deploy their own faster networks. The company, which has been building a nationwide 4G wireless network using a technology called Wimax, is also considering other technology options to ensure it stays competitive in the future.

Even though the company lost $94.1 million in the … Read more

FAQ: The FCC's plan to reclassify broadband

The Federal Communications Commission released detailed plans Thursday to ensure that it has authority to craft new rules to keep the Internet open.

Figuring out exactly what the FCC is proposing and how it will affect the industry and consumers is confusing. The procedure the FCC has chosen to shore up its authority is complicated and requires some legal gymnastics. To get the skinny on what's being proposed check out this FAQ below:

What exactly did the FCC do on Thursday? FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski released details of a new plan to reclassify broadband services so that some common … Read more

FCC details plan to reassert authority over Internet

Updated at 9:28 a.m. PDT with comments from Comcast and information from the chairman's statement.

Updated at 11:45 a.m. PDT with comments from Verizon Communications and statements from companies, such as Google and Amazon, in the Open Internet Coalition.

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday detailed plans for its so-called "third way" to reclassify broadband service as a telecommunications service, which would help the agency reassert its authority for regulating the Internet, after it lost an important legal battle last month.

The purpose of the statement is to put the agency on stronger … Read more

FCC statement on 'third way' for broadband

Editors' note: The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday announced its new plan for broadband. Below is the FCC's full statement outlining that plan. See also the related news story, " FCC details plan to reassert authority over Internet."

THE THIRD WAY: A NARROWLY TAILORED BROADBAND FRAMEWORK

Chairman Julius Genachowski Federal Communications Commission May 6, 2010

Many have asked about the FCC's next steps in view of the recent decision in the Comcast case. I'll describe here a path forward, which will begin with seeking public comment on a post-Comcast legal foundation for the FCC's approach … Read more