The FCC started the second, assignment, phase of its millimeter-wave auction after carriers bid more than $7.5 billion to acquire 3,400 MHz in three upper-wave bands, which took the form of 14,144 mobile and fixed broadband licenses for partial economic areas. Licenses for each PEA will be distributed in the next phase, beginning with the 20 largest.
Better rural broadband service would work hand-in-hand with the United States Department of Agriculture's new Agriculture Innovation Agenda, of which one component involves "integrating innovative technologies and practices into USDA programs." The program calls for a 40% increase in US agricultural output and a 50% decrease in the industry's environmental footprint by 2050.
The Federal Communications Commission is expected to approve a proposal Friday that will provide 300 MHz of C-Band spectrum to 5G wireless services and compress the frequencies satellite companies use to beam content to cable and broadcast clients. The agency will also vote on rules for auctioning off that spectrum, as well as a proposal to provide more "white space" frequencies -- the gaps between TV channels -- to accommodate unlicensed wireless use.
Three US senators -- including Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall of New Mexico -- are sponsoring a bill to help Native American communities get better broadband, with equivalent legislation in the House. "Connecting more tribes will strengthen broadband across rural New Mexico and improve education, boost the economy, and increase public safety and civic engagement," says Heinrich.
Ross Marchand of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance writes that, as the Federal Communications Commission evaluates the 6 GHz spectrum, it should "consider the significant upside of making this chunk of bandwidth free to open, unlicensed experimentation." Marchand makes a case for protecting property rights in the spectrum while using "open spaces" to enhance broadband coverage for millions.
The topography around Granville, Tenn., makes it difficult for internet providers to bury fiber, slowing the progress of broadband improvements for the town. Civic leaders hope to continue expanding access, especially as more than 35,000 tourists visit each year.
A British telecom regulator conducted tests at 10 urban sites that concluded 5G at frequencies under 3 GHZ emitted radiation equal to 1.5% of the maximum amount international authorities say is safe for human exposure. The UK's Office of Communications said the electromagnetic field emissions for spectrum 3 GHz and over was even less, 0.0386% of the safety threshold.
NASCAR is pulling ahead with new technology to provide fans with real-time video and data streams from race cars to boost engagement and take advantage of the wealth of internet of things data it captures during races. "As we learned more about our fan base, we found that fans connected with us through a plurality of media channels -- from television to radio and online," says Tim Clark, NASCAR's chief digital officer.
