TheRepublic.com - Federal Communications Commission News

Medical: Cellphones affect health, give signals about...

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:49:47 -0400

By LEE BOWMAN - Cellphones, essential as they are, get us into trouble sometimes.

Data breach puts Lifeline phone applicants' privacy...

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:20:19 -0400

By ISAAC WOLF - Last fall, when Linda Mendez was offered discount phone service through a federal program for the poor, the San Antonio mom thought it was too good to be true. She signed up anyway.

Editorial: Lifeline could be direct line to identity...

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:22:14 -0400

An editorial / By Dale McFeatters - Lifeline is a federal Reagan-era program intended to provide discounted phone service to low-income Americans. After 2005, when cellphones were added, the program was prone to abuse and fraud. Reforms introduced last year, including tightened eligibility requirements, trimmed the number of customers from 18.2 million last August to 13.2 million last month.

Illinois AG to investigate phone carriers, online privacy...

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:16:11 -0400

WASHINGTON - By ISAAC WOLF

Key findings in probe of Lifeline data breach

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:19:26 -0400

While researching companies participating in the federal Lifeline program that subsidizes phone service for low-income Americans, Scripps News this spring discovered a data breach. - Among the key findings:

Data breach puts Lifeline phone applicants' privacy...

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:19:00 -0400

By ISAAC WOLF - Last fall, when Linda Mendez was offered discount phone service through a federal program for the poor, the San Antonio mom thought it was too good to be true. She signed up anyway.

High court uphold FCC power in cell tower disputes

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:41:04 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has affirmed the authority of federal regulators to try to speed local government decisions on proposals to build or expand cell phone towers.

FCC: AT&T agrees to $18.25 million settlement

Tue, 07 May 2013 18:20:47 -0400

NEW YORK - The federal government says AT&T will pay $18.25 million to settle charges related to operating services that are designed for use by the deaf and hard-of-hearing who place calls by typing messages over the Internet.

Company faces deadline on cellphone jamming fine

Sat, 04 May 2013 11:01:07 -0400

BROUSSARD, Louisiana - An oilfield company faces a May deadline to contest a $126,000 fine by the Federal Communications Commission assessed against the company for jamming cellphone calls.

Congressman, former lobbyist get housing, FCC nods

Wed, 01 May 2013 17:49:48 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama acted Wednesday to fill two top regulatory posts, tapping a veteran Democratic congressman to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency at a pivotal time for the housing market and naming a top campaign fundraiser and former lobbyist to head the Federal Communications Commission.

Pittsburgh mayor behind ads attacking candidate

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:06:31 -0400

PITTSBURGH - The city's lame-duck mayor is behind a TV ad attacking one of the leading candidates running to replace him.

AP source: Obama picks Wheeler to head FCC

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:35:13 -0400

WASHINGTON - A White House official says President Barack Obama plans to name a former cable and wireless industry lobbyist to head the Federal Communications Commission.

RedBlue: How well is U.S. balancing security and...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:18:01 -0400

By BEN BOYCHUK and JOEL MATHIS - How well is the United States balancing security versus liberty? More than a decade after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the American commitment to both security and liberty came under scrutiny again with the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon on April 15. The surviving suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was not initially read his Miranda rights, because investigators chose instead to question him about possible other attacks. Officials also quickly rejected any suggestion that he face justice before a military commission instead of a civilian court.

RedBlue: Struggling to balance security and liberty

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:27:12 -0400

By JOEL MATHIS AND BEN BOYCHUK - More than a decade after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the American commitment to both security and liberty came under scrutiny again with last week's deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon. The surviving suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was not initially read his Miranda rights, because investigators chose instead to question him about possible other attacks. Officials also quickly rejected any suggestion that he face justice before a military commission instead of a civilian court.

Federal government reviewing prison phone charges

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:20:23 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Congressional Black Caucus pressed the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday to move swiftly to cut the costs that prison inmates and their families are paying for phone calls, an issue that has been tied up with the regulatory panel for a decade.