By Josh Centers on October 16th, 2009
The battle between AT&T and Google is getting hotter, as the telecommunications giant sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission Wednesday, calling for tighter regulations of the search juggernaut’s Google Voice service.
If you haven’t been keeping up, let us bring you up to speed. Back during the summer, Apple told Google that it couldn’t play with its favorite toy in the whole wide world, the iPhone. Mommy FCC stepped in and asked what was going on. Apple said Google was trying
Continue reading Google Wars: The Death Star Strikes Back
By Josh Centers on October 15th, 2009
The Federal Communications Commission is asking for expert opinions on how to make cell phone bills simpler to understand.
Billshrink.com, a site that helps consumers find ways to save on their cell phone bills, filed its comment on Tuesday.
“The plans are complicated,” said Billshrink president and co-founder Schwark Satyavolu, “and there’s no way for consumers to stay on top of that.”
Billshrink said in its statement that the average cellphone subscriber overspends by $300 a year. It continued, saying that it had found $800 million
Continue reading Billshrink Offers FCC Ways to Simplify Cellular Bills
By Josh Centers on October 10th, 2009
The Federal Communications Communication began an inquiry yesterday into Google Voice, the invite-only call forwarding and voicemail service.
The issue at hand is Google’s blocking of calls to select rural areas. Rural carriers are allowed to charge high termination fees. Fees that carriers such as AT&T are usually forced to absorb. Some businesses, such as sex hotlines and conference calling services, set up shop in these places to take advantage.
However, the FCC does not allow phone companies to block outgoing phone calls. AT&T
Continue reading FCC Launches Probe into Google Voice
By Josh Centers on October 9th, 2009
Jon Healy of the Los Angeles Times has posted an audio interview with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, covering everything from Google Voice to wireless broadband. But perhaps the most interesting revelation is that Genachwoski has not yet determined if the FCC has the authority to regulate the iPhone’s App Store. He definitely didn’t say no (MP3 link.)
The entire interview (MP3 link) clocks in at 55 minutes, and the Times was nice enough to split it up by topic. But if
Continue reading Genachowski: FCC Might Regulate App Store
By Josh Centers on October 8th, 2009
By Josh Centers on October 8th, 2009
Federal Communications Commission chair Julius Genachowski unveiled his MBA (Mobile Broadband Agenda) today at the CTIA wireless conference in San Diego.
"I believe that the biggest threat to the future of mobile in America is the looming spectrum crisis," Genachowski said.
Plans for the MBA include loosening regulations to ensure faster cell tower construction, freeing up more of the radio spectrum for wireless data, fact-based decision making, and applying net neutrality regulations to wireless carriers.
And if Genachowski’s prediction of
Continue reading FCC to Wireless Carriers: You Must Produce Additional Towers
By Josh Centers on October 6th, 2009
ISP and VoIP provider Speakeasy is following MagicJack and Google Voice in blocking calls to rural areas, and may be violating FCC regulations in doing so.
Harold Feld at Wetmachine.com posted an email on Oct. 1, sent by Michael Czerwinski, VP of Customer Service at Speakeasy, informing users of the update to the Terms of Service. The email explains that certain numbers are being blocked, such as those from “adult lines” and “free conferencing” services that
Continue reading Speakeasy Latest VoIP Provider to Block Calls, Thumb Nose at FCC
The battle between AT&T and Google is getting hotter, as the telecommunications giant sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission Wednesday, calling for tighter regulations of the search juggernaut’s Google Voice service.
