FCC

FCC Proposes Spectrum Sharing Model for the CBRS

By Lawson Faulkner The FCC is seeking public comment on a collection of proposed rule changes for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), a 150 MHz spectrum band available for both commercial and federal government use. Most notably, one proposal would sunset the “transition of grandfathered wireless broadband…

USF Rates Spike Again

By Lawson Faulkner Last week, the FCC announced yet another rate hike for its Universal Service Fund (USF), a controversial program responsible for subsidizing American broadband infrastructure. On Wednesday, FCC officials mandated a 34.4 percent contribution factor for telecommunications companies generating end-user revenue, up from 32.8 percent during…

FCC Proposes 6M Fine for Fake Biden Robocalls Before the NH Primary 

By Jason Lee Last week, the FCC proposed a $6 million fine against political consultant Steve Kramer for producing AI-generated robocalls of President Joe Biden before the New Hampshire Primary election.   As described in the FCC’s press release on the fake robocall campaign:…

The FCC Might Let Seven People Ruin A Whole Market

By James Erwin The Biden Administration, in a sign of its total capture by the interests of the affluent upper middle class, continues its war on so-called “junk fees,” minor expenses that people with disposable income find annoying. Ever the dutiful foot-soldier, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced her contribution in…

FCC Pushing for Fee Increase for 2025 Budget 

By Jason Lee This week, the FCC publishes its 2025 budget estimates for its funding from Congress. In its budget breakdown, the FCC plans to have a base increase of $30,000,000 in 2025. This is a massive increase over the Commission’s $2,450,000 base increase in fiscal year…

Wi-Fi on School Buses is a Horrible Idea 

By Jason Lee In July 2023, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel was pushing the idea of installing Wi-Fi on school buses using E-Rate funding during a speech at the American Library Association. This was in spite of the fact that E-Rate funding…

FCC Makes it Harder for Small Businesses to Find Customers 

By James Erwin I remember well when I first needed to purchase car insurance for a vehicle I had bought off my father. After reviewing plans on a comparison website and selecting one I wanted to investigate further, I entered my phone number and consented to their proactive outreach, expecting…

What’s the Problem with Usage-Based Billing?

By James Erwin Usage-based billing, or UBB for short, is common practice across most industries. You get billed for the amount of electricity you use at home, the amount of gas burned to heat your apartment, and even the number of hours a lawyer works for you. The broadband industry…

Net Neutrality May Have Slowed Down the Internet

Amid much hue and cry, apocalyptic predictions, and advocacy from “comedian” John Oliver’s HBO show, the FCC revoked the Open Internet Order in 2017 (effective 2018). Widely promoted as “Net Neutrality,” the policy had been adopted by the FCC in 2014 after public pressure by then-President Obama,…