Communications

A team of researchers at Brown School of Engineering has developed a new power-splitting device for terahertz (THz) waves.

FCC chairman Tom Wheeler proposed new rules to open up spectrum for 5G applications. At a National Press Club luncheon in Washington DC in June, Wheeler spoke about why the FCC should make 5G a top priority for fostering American innovation.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has denied two petitions from James E. Whedbee, an amateur radio operator from Missouri. In a June 2016 letter, Scot Stone, Deputy Chief of the Mobility Division explained that the Commission concluded that Whedbee’s petitions did not present enough evidence to merit a rule change.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued penalties to three men for operating pirate radio stations in New Jersey. According to the Forfeiture Orders, the men willfully and repeatedly conducted illegal radio operations, despite repeated warnings from the FCC.

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia have achieved a new bandwidth record for data communication using visible light. They developed a new visible light communication (VLC) device that uses a color converter that combines traditional materials with perovskites, the crystals that better known for their potential for solar cells. The new color converter has a bandwidth that is 40 times greater than today’s commercial converters.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a $34.9 million fine against a Chinese company for marketing and selling illegal signal jamming devices to U.S. consumers. C.T.S. Technology, a Chinese electronics manufacturer and online retailer, is accused of selling jammers and misleading consumers.

A Florida resident has been fined $48,000 for using an illegal jammer for up to two years during his daily commute. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) accuses Jason R. Humphreys of using a signal jamming device to intentionally block nearby wireless communications.

Researchers from a Scottish university are investigating whether the Q-band of the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum could be used for satellite communication systems. Unfortunately, these higher frequency waves are susceptible to breaking up during inclement weather.

In the past, telecommunications companies have built the infrastructure to support the Internet, but now edge providers (the businesses that provide online content and services) are taking a direct approach. Microsoft and Facebook just announced that they are partnering to build a giant cable that will be capable of moving 160 terabits per second.

German researchers have set a new world record for wireless data transmission. They achieved six gigabits per second, sending the entire contents of a DVD in less than ten seconds using radio waves.