A public spat between two federal agencies spiraled out of control earlier this month when airlines started canceling flights into US airports amid safety concerns about the effects of 5G wireless signals on airplane equipment.  Though the quarrel between the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration centers on a relatively new technology, it has …

In the US Federal Communications Commission’s latest auction, AT&T and satellite TV provider Dish Network were the top winners of airwaves that were once reserved for the military and that’ll soon be used for 5G wireless service, the FCC said Friday.  AT&T spent $9.1 billion and Dish spent $7.3 billion for licenses of wireless spectrum that sits between the 2.5 …

Americans have had it with annoying robocalls and telemarketing calls: Complaints to federal regulators increased by 25% in the past year.  In a biennial report to Congress published Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission said it received more than 5 million complaints about violations of rules tied to the Do Not Call Registry in fiscal year 2021, which ended Sept. 30. …

Airline industry executives say that if US wireless carriers push forward with plans to begin deploying a specific type of 5G service early next year in spite of interference concerns brought to light by the Federal Aviation Administration, travelers could see delays and other disruptions in air travel starting Jan. 5. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told reporters following a Senate …

AT&T and Verizon Communications are voluntarily agreeing to take further precautions to make sure cell towers transmitting 5G signals using newly acquired midband spectrum won’t interfere with aircraft signals. The companies laid out their plan in a letter sent to the US Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday afternoon, in a move meant to defuse a conflict between the wireless and …

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed legislation that will prohibit companies that the US considers a threat to national security from getting licenses for new gear from US regulators.  The Secure Equipment Act bars the Federal Communications Commission from approving applications from certain tech equipment makers, like Huawei and ZTE, that the government says pose a national security risk. This new …

AT&T and Verizon confirmed Thursday that they’ve agreed to temporarily pause rolling out 5G service that uses a new set of radio frequencies. The carriers will work with the US Federal Aviation Administration to address concerns about potential interference between key cockpit safety devices and towers on the ground transmitting 5G signals.  AT&T said in a statement that it planned …

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday nominated Jessica Rosenworcel, the acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission, to be the head of the agency. If she’s confirmed by the Senate, she’ll be the first woman to fill that role.  Biden also nominated Gigi Sohn, a net neutrality advocate and a former FCC official, to the other open Democratic seat on …

The Federal Communications Commission wants to put an end to illegal robotext messages. On Monday, Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency will consider rules to require mobile wireless companies to block illegal text messaging. The FCC is already battling illegal robocalls — automatic dialers flood consumers’ phones with unwanted calls, many of them scams, such as those offering fake car warranties. …

Ending robocalls is almost like a game of whack-a-mole: Stop one and more pop up. But Jessica Rosenworcel, acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission, thinks she’s found a new hammer to stop the illegal automated spam calls originating from overseas.  She’s proposing to close a loophole in FCC regulations to require “gateway providers” to stop robocalls before they get …