By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 11-2-21 Cable broadband operators said the Federal Communications Commission needs to free up more spectrum to handle the explosion of internet of things (IoT) devices, including everything from smart thermostats and locks to garage-door openers and refrigerators. The FCC sought comment on the once-and-future spectrum needs of IoT.  NCTA–The [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 11-1-21 The House Energy & Commerce Committee plans to mark up two communications and technology bills this week. Those would be H.R. 1281, the Data Mapping to Save Moms Act, and H.R. 2501, the Spectrum Coordination Act. House E&C Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-29-21 While most of the new federal money for broadband – some $65 billion – is in the infrastructure bill whose fate is tied to President Joe Biden‘s $1.7 trillion-plus Build Back Better legislative package, that package also has more than $1 billion for various better broadband building programs. [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-28-21 In a move that is a big blow to some big tech companies, Congress has voted to ban new equipment licenses for Chinese telecoms Huawei, ZTE, and any other technology company the government concludes poses a national security threat, closing what one of the bill's sponsors called a [...]

By Daniel Frankel, Multichannel News, 10-28-21 On the same week that it was reported that Netflix tweaked its search algorithms a year ago to hide French film Cuties and quash a controversy surrounding the movie, it's now been revealed that Netflix has declared that its algorithms are protected by the First Amendment. Netflix is [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-26-21 The Federal Communications Commission has voted to revoke the authority of China Telecom Americas to provide telecommunications services between the U.S. and other countries. “The commission’s public-interest analysis finds that the present and future public interest, convenience, and necessity is no longer served by China Telecom Americas’ retention [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-26-21 Based on new documents from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen (being dubbed “The Facebook Papers”), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chair of the Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee, said it was just more evidence that the social media platform has “chronically ignored serious internal alarms.” Blumenthal has called on Facebook to [...]

By Mike Farrell, Multichannel News, 10-22-21 The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday that it will make $1.15 billion in federal loans and grants available to expand high-speed Internet access in rural communities across the country through its ReConnect Program, part of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.... To be eligible for ReConnect Program [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-21-21 Computer companies are pushing back on a proposal by broadcasters to extend the user fees broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite companies pay the Federal Communications Commission to Big Tech companies that benefit from unlicensed spectrum the FCC oversees. The Consumer Technology Association responded to the National Association of [...]

By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-21-21 The Senate has passed the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act, which could free up potentially hundreds of billions more for broadband buildouts, and without any additional legislation. States got $1.9 trillion in Congress's COVID-19 rescue legislation earlier this year, [...]