Tag Archives: JuliusGenachowski

FCC chairman nominee Tom Wheeler comes out in favor of legalized phone unlocking

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He was nominated to replace Julius Genachowski as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission a mere six weeks ago, and before he's even got the job, Tom Wheeler's making headlines. Ars Technica reports that would-be chairman Wheeler wants what many (all?) cell phone owners want -- the ability to unlock our phones free from fear of legal retribution. The way he sees things, when folks have bought and paid for their phones and are contract-free, they "ought to have the right to use the device and move it across carriers." Unfortunately, while he's staked out his position on the matter, he has yet to say exactly how he plans to make phone unlocking legal, be it through legislation or other means. The good news is, he's not the boss just yet, so he's got time to address those niggling details while he waits to be confirmed as the new chairman.

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Source: Ars Technica

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to step down ‘in the coming weeks’ (update: his departing words)

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STUB FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski formally announces his departure

Julius Genachowski will be stepping down when he reaches the end of his term as FCC Chairman, according to a brief message on the FCC's webpage. We're expecting to hear more in a live announcement at 10am, but this was no big surprise: four-year terms are the norm for a chairman and it was widely expected that he'd be amongst the officials replaced during Obama's second stint in office. The Wall Street Journal actually broke the news yesterday, and speculation over Mr. Genachowski's tenure has lingered ever since an awkward exchange where he refused to commit to his future at this year's CES.

During his time at the Commission, Genachowski worked to speed up the roll-out of broadband to rural communities, voiced concerns about the current phone unlocking policy and pushed to allocate more spectrum to WiFi use. With senior Republican Robert McDowell also departing the commission in the next few weeks, two places on the FCC's five-person board will need filling -- with names like Tom Wheeler, Karen Kornbluh and Catherine Sandoval being bandied about as replacements.

Update: Genachowski just made his formal announcement and used his minutes on the podium to thank the FCC's staff for helping to "get big things done" and "improve the lives of all Americans." He says the US has gone from "laggard to leader" in telecoms, with as many 4G subscribers as the rest of the world combined.

Update 2: The White House has now issued a statement on the matter, saying in part: "Over the last four years, Julius has brought to the Federal Communications Commission a clear focus on spurring innovation, helping our businesses compete in a global economy and helping our country attract the industries and jobs of tomorrow. Because of his leadership, we have expanded high-speed internet access, fueled growth in the mobile sector, and continued to protect the open internet as a platform for entrepreneurship and free speech."

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Via: The Verge

Source: FCC

WSJ: FCC chairman Julius Genachowski will say tomorrow that he’s stepping down

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FCC chairman Julius Genachowski stepping down

Merely a day after FCC commissioner Robert McDowell announced his resignation, it appears that chairman Julius Genachowski is going to do likewise. Citing an unnamed FCC official and industry official, The Wall Street Journal reports Genachowski is expected to leave -- presumably as his term ends on June 30th. Granted, the departure isn't a shock to anyone who follows the roller coaster ride of Washington, but it's bound to rekindle chatter about who is set to take his place.

Like most every other figurehead in politics, Genachowski has had his fair share of outspoken proponents and critics, but he has embedded himself into the world of consumer electronics in a way that few other chairmen have. From calling for hastened broadband rollouts throughout America to voicing concerns about the existing phone unlocking policy, Genachowski won't soon be forgotten for his forthright opinions on matters that impact folks who frequent this site. As for the man or woman taking his place this summer? Looks like we'll have to wait a bit for the answer to that one.

We reached out for more, and a spokesperson for the chairman declined to comment.

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Source: Wall Street Journal, Reuters

FCC Chairman voices ‘concerns’ about US phone unlocking ban, says he’ll look into it

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FCC Chairman voices 'concerns' about US phone unlocking ban, says he'll look into it

Bad news travels fast, so by now many US phone buyers ought to know about this country's depressing u-turn on phone unlocking. The latest policy -- which makes it illegal to unlock a phone without a carrier's permission -- looks to be set in stone for at least three years, but that isn't stopping people in high places from voicing serious reservations about it. The latest to pipe up is FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, who told TechCrunch that the "ban raises competition concerns" and "innovation concerns." Genachowski said the FCC will look at whether it "can and should enable consumers to use unlocked phones" but he also admitted he isn't sure what kind of authority he has over the issue. It all feels a bit late in the day, frankly, especially when the FCC appears to have largely stood aside while the unlocking policy was being hammered out.

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Source: TechCrunch

FCC tweaks Broadband Acceleration Initiative to expedite network expansion, temporary cell tower deployment

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FCC tweaks Broadband Acceleration Initiative for accelerated deployment, makes erecting temporary cell towers easier

Waiting for LTE to roll out to your neighborhood? FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski understands, and he's trying to speed up the process. The commission's head honcho recently announced new actions to the Broadband Acceleration Initiative, clarifying technical provisions within the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that should make mobile broadband deployment a little easier. The crux of the change focuses on how requests to modify existing base stations and wireless towers are reviewed, and is designed to give providers less pause when investing in building out their infrastructure.

"Just as is the case for our nation's roads and bridges, we must continue to invest in improvements to cell towers and transmission equipment, in order to ensure ubiquitous, high-speed Internet for all Americans," Genachowski said in an official statement. "To keep pace with technological advances, such as the advent of small cells, and to lay the groundwork for new developments, our policies must continue to adapt." Speaking of adaptation, the Chairman's announcement also noted FCC efforts to expedite the installation of temporary cell towers, used to bolster network capacity for events like the Super Bowl or Olympics. You wouldn't want to miss tweeting about the half time show, would you? Read on for the Chairman's official announcement.

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FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ANNOUNCES NEW BROADBAND ACCELERATION INITIATIVE ACTIONS; CLARIFIES RULES TO SPEED WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT; MOVES TO EXPEDITE TEMPORARY CELL TOWERS

Actions would provide more certainty to providers and spur private investment and deployment of critical high-speed Internet equipment

(Washington, D.C.) - FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski today announced new actions as part of the Broadband Acceleration Initiative, a comprehensive effort to remove barriers to broadband build-out, including streamlining the deployment of mobile broadband infrastructure, such as towers, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells.

The Commission defined and clarified a technical provision in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 regarding local review of requests to modify an existing wireless tower or base station. This provision will accelerate deployment and delivery of high-speed mobile broadband to communities across the nation. This action will create greater certainty and predictability for providers that today invest more than $25 billion per year in mobile infrastructure, one of the largest U.S. sectors for private investment.

The Commission today also launched a proceeding to expedite placement of temporary cell towers - cells on wheels (COWs) and cells on light trucks (COLTs) - that are used to expand capacity during special events, such as the Inauguration or the Super Bowl.

Chairman Genachowski also announced actions in the coming months to further streamline DAS and small cell deployment; examine whether current application of the tower siting shot clock offers sufficient clarity to industry and municipalities; and begin developing model facility siting rules for localities. Each of these actions would contribute to faster, more efficient deployment of wireless infrastructure.

Chairman Genachowski said, "Providing more certainty to industry and municipalities, and more flexibility to carriers to meet extraordinary, short-term service needs will accelerate private and public investment to strengthen our nation's communications networks. Just as is the case for our nation's roads and bridges, we must continue to invest in improvements to cell towers and transmission equipment, in order to ensure ubiquitous, high-speed Internet for all Americans. To keep pace with technological advances, such as the advent of small cells, and to lay the groundwork for new developments, our policies must continue to adapt."

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FCC’s Genachowski calls for ‘one gigabit community in all 50 states,’ sets 2015 goal

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FCC's Genachowski calls for 'one gigabit community in all 50 states,' sets 2015 goal

Gigabit game on! FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski wants the US to host "at least one gigabit community in all 50 states by 2015," and he's calling upon ISPs, as well as state governments to make it a reality. In a statement issued today, Genachowski laid out a roadmap to establish a "clearinghouse of best practices" that would help eliminate the network as obstacle and foster innovative applications, in addition to digital hubs. Of course, cities like Seattle and Kansas City, along with the University of Washington have already been privy to these ultra-high-speeds thanks to the likes of Google and private funding. But, with today's missive, it's clear the Commission's head honcho wants that to be more the rule than exception. It's no secret Genachowski's long wanted to shore up the US' prominence as a connected country -- he's said as much since the beginning of his reign. And with initiatives likes this one, that could fast become a reality.

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January 18, 2013

FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ISSUES GIGABIT CITY CHALLENGE TO

PROVIDERS, LOCAL, AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO BRING AT LEAST ONE ULTRA-

FAST GIGABIT INTERNET COMMUNITY TO EVERY STATE IN U.S. BY 2015

FCC'S BROADBAND ACCELERATION INITIATIVE TO FOSTER GIGABIT GOAL
Washington, D.C. - Today at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting, FCC Chairman Julius
Genachowski called for at least one gigabit community in all 50 states by 2015. Challenging broadband
providers and state and municipal community leaders to come together to meet this "Gigabit City
Challenge," Chairman Genachowski said that establishing gigabit communities nationwide will accelerate
the creation of a critical mass of markets and innovation hubs with ultra-fast Internet speeds.
Chairman Genachowski said, "American economic history teaches a clear lesson about infrastructure. If
we build it, innovation will come. The U.S. needs a critical mass of gigabit communities nationwide so
that innovators can develop next-generation applications and services that will drive economic growth
and global competitiveness."
Speeds of one gigabit per second are approximately 100 times faster than the average fixed high-speed
Internet connection. At gigabit speeds, connections can handle multiple streams of large-format, high-
definition content like online video calls, movies, and immersive educational experiences. Networks
cease to be hurdles to applications, so it no longer matters whether medical data, high-definition video, or
online services are in the same building or miles away across the state.
Gigabit communities spur innovators to create new businesses and industries, spark connectivity among
citizens and services, and incentivize investment in high-tech industries. Today, approximately 42
communities in 14 states are served by ultra-high-speed fiber Internet providers, according to the Fiber to
the Home Council.
To help communities meet the Gigabit City Challenge, Chairman Genachowski announced plans to create
a new online clearinghouse of best practices to collect and disseminate information about how to lower
the costs and increase the speed of broadband deployment nationwide, including to create gigabit
communities. At the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, Chairman Genachowski proposed working
jointly with the U.S. Conference of Mayors on the best-practices clearinghouse effort.
Chairman Genachowski also announced that the FCC will hold workshops on gigabit communities. The
workshops will convene leaders from the gigabit community ecosystem-including broadband providers,
and state and municipal leaders- to evaluate barriers, increase incentives, and lower the costs of
speeding gigabit network deployment. Together, the workshops will inform the Commission's
clearinghouse of ways industry, and local and state leaders can meet the challenge to establish gigabit
communities nationwide.
Communities across the country are already taking action to seize the opportunities of gigabit broadband
for their local economies and bring superfast broadband to homes. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a local
utility deployed a fiber network to 170,000 homes. Thanks to the city's investment in broadband
infrastructure, companies like Volkswagen and Amazon have created more than 3,700 new jobs over the
past three years in Chattanooga. In Kansas City, the Google Fiber initiative is bringing gigabit service to
residential consumers, attracting new entrepreneurs and startups to the community.
The Gig.U initiative has already catalyzed $200 million in private investment to build ultra-high-speed
hubs in the communities of many leading research universities, including a recent joint venture with the
University of Washington and a private ISP to deliver gigabit service to a dozen area neighborhoods in
Seattle. The Gigabit City Challenge is designed to drive a critical mass of gigabit communities like these,
creating new markets for 21st century services, promoting competition, spurring innovation, and driving
economic growth nationwide.
The FCC's Broadband Acceleration Initiative is working to expand the reach of robust, affordable
broadband by streamlining access to utility poles and rights of way, and improving policies for wireless
facilities siting and other infrastructure. Gigabit communities can also benefit from tens of thousands of
miles of critical "middle mile" fiber infrastructure funded throughout the country by the Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program run by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration. The Commission's Connect America Fund, the largest ever public investment in rural
broadband, includes funding for high-speed broadband to anchor institutions like schools and hospitals.
-FCC-
News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission's web
site www.fcc.gov.

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Source: FCC

FCC working to expand WiFi spectrum, wants to avoid wireless ‘traffic jam’

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FCC working to expand WiFi spectrum, wants to avoid wireless 'traffic jam'

Ever suffer through the painfully slow bottleneck of public WiFi? Sure you have -- Airports, coffee shops, even your neighbor's unprotected home network are limited by the current WiFi spectrum. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski says it's a problem, and wants to clean up the mess. Speaking with Gary Shaprio at CES, Genachowski revealed that he's been working with the DoD and other Government agencies open up more bandwidth for WiFi. Areas like New York City have an abundance of spectrum set aside for TV licenses, he says, airwaves that could serve the public better for WiFi or cellular networks.

"The rest of the world is watching us," he told Shapiro. "We have to get it right... ...we need to have a nationwide, unlicensed, continuous, same-frequency platform for innovation." To do that, the FCC will need to wrench spectrum from the hands of broadcasters, and redistribute it. "We can reorganize it and ensure everybody gets a good share." It's an uphill battle, but one the chairman recognizes as important. "We predict a WiFi traffic jam, and we need to fix it... ...WiFi is such an integral part of our broadband ecosystem, and we need to make sure that we pay it sufficient attention." Check out the rest of Shaprio and Genachowski's dialog in our ongoing liveblog.

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Live from CES: Gary Shapiro chats with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

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Ever wanted to know more about the inner workings of the FCC? You're in luck, because CEA head honcho Gary Shapiro is sitting down with the man in charge at the FCC, Chairman Julius Genachowski at CES this year to chat about his time with the Commission. Naturally, they'll be talking about broadband, spectrum reform and other hot telco topics, but we're just hoping to hear how the Chairman will rid us of the terrible 10,000 feet. Will he give us any such good news? There's only one way to find out -- stick around as we'll bring their conversation to you live, right here.

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Court dismisses Verizon attempt to halt FCC data roaming requirements

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Court tosses Verizon claims FCC couldn't require data roaming deals

Verizon hasn't been fond of the FCC requiring data roaming agreements; it sued the agency last May on claims that the requirement overstepped the FCC's legal bounds. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals isn't quite so worried, as three judges at the court have unanimously ruled that the FCC was within the authority of the Communication Act to make data roaming deals mandatory. Regulators have been measured in developing the rule and aren't treating cellular networks like Verizon's as common carriers, the court says. Verizon hasn't yet commented on the court loss, although FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is more than pleased -- he sees the roaming rule encouraging competition and keeping more of our mobile gear online. We're sure smaller carriers would tend to agree now that they won't always have to build out wide-reaching (and expensive) cellular coverage of their own just to offer more than voice and texting for travelers.

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Via: The Hill

Source: DC Circuit Court of Appeals (PDF)

Hurricane Sandy has knocked out 25 percent of all cell towers, cable services in 10 states

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Hurricane Sandy has knocked out 25 percent of all cell towers, cable services in 10 states

Julius Genachowski has revealed that Hurricane Sandy has knocked out a full quarter of cellphone towers and cable services in the 10 most affected states. The FCC chief believes that, as more towers expend their battery back-ups and the storm's continued presence, the situation's going to get worse before it gets better. He's also reiterated that users should avoid making non-essential calls and use e-mail or social media to avoid overloading the straining networks. One point of interest in the call, was that land line phone outages were much less widespread -- which might be something to remember if you've ever considered cutting the cord.

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Hurricane Sandy has knocked out 25 percent of all cell towers, cable services in 10 states originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 06:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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