Supreme Court seems likely to OK $8B phone, internet subsidy for rural, low-income areas
The justices heard nearly three hours of arguments in a new test of federal regulatory power.
Telecom
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Residents seek clout in 5G pole placements
Telecom companies are putting 5G antennas by the hundreds in neighborhoods across Indianapolis, escalating tensions with residents who complain they have little say over where they’re built.
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IBJ Podcast: Deciphering 5G and the new Indiana 5G Zone
Host Mason King talks with Bill Soards, president of AT&T Indiana, and Sean Hendrix, who is the director of emerging technologies and partnerships for Purdue Research Foundation, about why 5G matters and how it could be used in the manufacturing, agricultural and other sectors.
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Fiber network firm looks beyond Indiana for growth
Intelligent Fiber Network has spent the last 18 months rebranding—including a name change that telegraphs its growth plans—and ramping up its marketing.
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Articles
FCC warns telecoms to bolster defenses against China hackers or face fines
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has drafted plans to regulate the cybersecurity of telecommunications companies as the federal government faces pressure to respond to a massive compromise of U.S. phone networks by Chinese government hackers.
AT&T offering $5,000 reward after copper theft causes outages
AT&T said it is collaborating with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Shelby County and Brown County sheriff’s departments to address the issue.
Verizon buying Frontier in $20B deal to strengthen fiber network
Verizon Communications Inc. said Thursday that the acquisition will also shore up its foray into artificial intelligence as well as connected smart devices.
Data of nearly all AT&T customers downloaded to third-party platform in security breach
Approximately 109 million customer accounts were impacted, according to AT&T, which said that it currently doesn’t believe that the data is publicly available.
T-Mobile to buy almost all of U.S Cellular in deal worth $4.4B
T-Mobile has been among the more active companies in telecommunications with regard to mergers and acquisitions.
UPDATE: Americans report nationwide cellular outages
Thousands of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector.
States sue telecom company over billions of robocalls
The lawsuit said Avid Telecom used spoofed or invalid caller ID numbers, including more than 8.4 million calls that appeared to be coming from government and law enforcement agencies as well as private companies.
AT&T, Verizon pause some new 5G after airlines raise alarm
The companies said they will launch 5G or fifth-generation service Wednesday, but they will delay turning on 5G cell towers within a 2-mile radius of runways designated by federal officials.
AT&T, Verizon delay new 5G service after Buttigieg request
Monday’s announcement reversed the companies’ decision just a day earlier to reject any postponement in new 5G service.
AT&T, Verizon reject U.S. request to delay 5G wireless plans
Airlines had asked the Federal Communications Commission to delay this week’s scheduled 5G rollout, saying the service, set to launch Tuesday, could interfere with electronics that pilots rely on.
Local software firm Authenticx lands $7.5M in growth capital
The Carmel-based business communications software company said the new funding will be used for ongoing product development and to boost hiring.
Intelligent Fiber Network to be acquired by Colorado firm
Boulder, Colorado-based Zayo Group Holdings Inc. expects to close the transaction during the second half of 2021. IFN officials say they are confident the deal will grow the firm’s presence here.
AT&T installing 5G at Lucas Oil Stadium ahead of Final Four
The company said Wednesday it plans to install its 5G+ service in the seating bowl, concourse area and exterior spots at the stadium ahead of the Final Four.
Tennessee bombing spotlights vulnerable voice, data networks
The Christmas Day bombing in downtown Nashville led to phone and data service outages and disruptions over hundreds of miles in the southern United States, raising new concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. communications.
Insurance telemarketers face fines of $225M for billion robocalls
State attorneys general of Indiana, Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas sued the two men and their Houston-based companies for violating the federal law governing telemarketing.
Senate passes anti-robocalls bill; Trump expected to sign
The bill would stiffen enforcement and require that phone companies offer free consumer tools to identify and block scam calls. It also calls for tougher fines when individuals intentionally violate the law.
Indiana lawmakers look to address telemarketing issues
The state saw immediate results when the do-not-call law went into effect in 2002, but advances in technology are allowing telemarketers to find loopholes.
Early 5G rollout in Indianapolis gives city wireless advantage
The buzzword in mobile is 5G—the newest generation of wireless service that promises more speed and better connectivity for smartphones, internet-connected devices and even autonomous cars.
Sprint, T-Mobile strike $26.5 billion deal to take on AT&T
Operating as T-Mobile, the company would have about $74 billion in annual revenue and 70 million wireless subscribers.