U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The Federal Communications Commission has released a new app for iOs devices in the iTunes App store as part of the Measuring Broadband America program. The program is a private-public partnership to bring transparency and competition to the broadband service marketplace.

Following an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau, Windsteam Corporation has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle their rural call completion. The company has agreed to also implement a three-year plan to meet compliance with FCC requirements in long-distance calls failing to connect in rural areas.

The Federal Communications Commission proposed updates to the E911 rules due to the increase of use of wireless phones to call 911 in an emergency. These proposed changes will help emergency responders better locate wireless callers especially indoors.  

The Federal Communications Commission has encouraged all wireless providers to begin implementing text-to-911 to ensure Americans will be able text 911 in the case of an emergency by the end of 2014.

The Federal Communications Commission will be voting on an AT&T petition to begin customer trials of new IP-based networks on Thursday, January 30^th. This would be the first step in allowing telephone carriers to replace traditional phone systems with a new system that works over Internet Protocol networks.

The FCC has proposed a $5.23 million fine against U.S. Telecom Long Distance Inc. (USLTD) for allegedly changing consumers’ preferred long distance carriers without prior authorization and billing for unauthorized charges and failing to describe charges simply and clearly as required by federal law.