Archives: Spectrum & Mobile

IoT Update: Who’s at the Wheel? Connected and Automated Vehicles Stakeholders Weigh In from the Mcity Congress

Last week, Covington dispatched a team of connected and automated vehicles (“CAV”) practitioners to participate in the Mcity Congress, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Lawyers from our Technology and IP Transactions, Public Policy, Product Safety and Liability, and Insurance practice groups presented a series of observations and insights around mitigating liability in the CAV industry, and … Continue Reading

Net Neutrality Update: California and the United States Agree to Stay Further Proceedings Pending Review of FCC Order

By Jake Levine and Jadzia Pierce on October 30, 2018 Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

In exchange for a stay of the proceedings in both United States v. California and American Cable Association v. Becerra, California has agreed not to enforce its new net neutrality law, SB 822, pending the resolution of Mozilla Corp. v. FCC, the lawsuit challenging the FCC’s Restoring Internet Freedom Order (“Order”). The Order had repealed … Continue Reading

IoT Update: BEREC launches public consultation on the ‘Data Economy’

By Siobhan L.M. Kahmann on October 19, 2018 Posted in Competition Law, Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

On the 10th October 2018, BEREC (the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) launched its public consultation on the ‘Data Economy’. This comes at a time when different regulators are increasingly discussing the importance of big data, including the opportunities and risks that it brings about, how these may evolve, and how (and increasingly … Continue Reading

California Adopts Net Neutrality Law; Court Hearing Scheduled for Nov. 14

By Jadzia Pierce and Jake Levine on October 11, 2018 Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Political, Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

On September 30, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill to apply net neutrality rules to Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) operating in that state. California is not the first state to enact legislation on net neutrality, but its bill contains the most stringent requirements yet. The Trump Administration and multiple ISPs have sued to prevent … Continue Reading

IoT Update: FCC Efforts to Encourage 5G Infrastructure Investment

By Thomas Parisi on October 1, 2018 Posted in Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

5G deployment and availability will greatly expand and enhance the Internet of Things (IoT). As we explored in a prior post, apart from spectrum availability, one of the other primary keys to promoting 5G development is increased investment in both wireless and wireline infrastructure. Without the necessary infrastructure (e.g. small cells, fiber backhaul) to support … Continue Reading

Covington AI/IoT Update: EPA and NHTSA Seek Comment on Autonomous and Connected Vehicles

By Jake Levine on August 29, 2018 Posted in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Political, Privacy & Data Security, Spectrum & Mobile

On Friday August 24, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks (“Proposed Rule”). 83 Fed. Reg. 42817. The long-anticipated rulemaking has garnered media attention for … Continue Reading

IoT Update: The European Electronic Communications Code – Developing the Future of IoT in the EU

By Katarzyna Lasinska on August 10, 2018 Posted in Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

The European Commission estimates that the global market for the Internet of Things (“IoT”) will grow to 75.4 billion devices by 2023. It also estimates that the economic value of spectrum enabled services is at present worth €500 billion per year. This is expected to increase by 200% – up to €1 trillion a year … Continue Reading

Covington Internet of Things Update: The FCC Gets Ready for 5G Spectrum Auctions

By Thomas Parisi on April 24, 2018 Posted in Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

As we explained in a prior post, 5G deployment will be a critical component to the ever-evolving Internet of Things (IoT). On April 17, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Public Notice seeking comment on the competitive bidding procedures for auctions involving spectrum in the 28GHz and 24 GHz bands. The auction of 28 … Continue Reading

UK House of Lords Inquiry on ‘The Regulation of the Internet’

By Kevin Coates and Siobhan L.M. Kahmann on April 6, 2018 Posted in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Privacy & Data Security, Social Media, Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

The UK House of Lords Select Committee on Communications has recently opened a Public Consultation on ‘The Regulation of the Internet’, with submissions being accepted until Friday 11 May. The Call for Evidence can be accessed here. The nine questions posed are relatively broad in scope, including: whether there is a need to introduce specific … Continue Reading

Covington Internet of Things Update: 5G at the FCC, and What That Means for IoT

By Thomas Parisi on March 13, 2018 Posted in Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

Thermostats you control remotely with your phone. Watches that track runs and provide turn-by-turn navigation. Cars that drive themselves. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a remarkable ecosystem providing innovative and sometimes unexpected functions. But as the number and sophistication of connected devices increases, so too does the need for the infrastructure to handle increased … Continue Reading

States Battle to Resurrect Net Neutrality Rules

By Jake Levine and Jadzia Pierce on February 26, 2018 Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Political, Social Media, Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) voted along party lines to adopt a 210-page Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, and Order (the “Restoring Internet Freedom Order” or “Order”) geared towards overhauling the net neutrality framework established during the Obama administration in 2015 (the “2015 Order”). On February 22nd, the Order was officially … Continue Reading

Covington Internet of Things Update: China’s regulatory environment steps up for Low-Power WAN IoT deployment

By Ruixue Ran and Alexander Wang on February 23, 2018 Posted in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Intellectual Property, Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

In 2017, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China’s telecom regulator and industrial policy maker, issued the Circular on Comprehensively Advancing the Construction and Development of Mobile Internet of Things (NB-IoT) (MIIT Circular [2017] No. 351, the “Circular”), which sets out the policy goals and plans for NB-IoT development in China and concrete … Continue Reading

FCC: Bitcoin Mining Equipment is Causing Interference to T-Mobile in Brooklyn

By Yaron Dori and Matthew DelNero on February 16, 2018 Posted in Internet of Things (IoT), Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission sent a letter to an individual in Brooklyn, New York, alleging that a device in the individual’s residence that is being used to mine Bitcoin is generating spurious radiofrequency emissions, causing interference to a portion of T-Mobile’s mobile telephone and broadband network. The letter states that on November 30, 2017, … Continue Reading

Less Than One Month Until May 29, 2015 Pre-Auction Licensing Deadline

By Inside Tech Media on April 30, 2015 Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Spectrum & Mobile

The FCC Media Bureau’s designated May 29, 2015 “Pre-Auction Licensing Deadline” is rapidly approaching. Full power and Class A facilities must be licensed by this deadline in order to be eligible for protection in the repacking process that will be part of the television incentive auction. For these purposes, facilities subject to a pending application … Continue Reading

SpectrumWatch: FCC Releases Information Related to Repacking Process

By Inside Tech Media on January 14, 2014 Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Spectrum & Mobile

Last week, the FCC released a Public Notice (“PN”), following up on its July Public Notice, concerning the software to be used during the Incentive Auction to determine whether the acceptance of each bid from a broadcaster will result in a feasible, and optimal, repacking process.… Continue Reading

New EU Telecoms Regulation Proposals: Analysis Part 1 – Net Neutrality

By Ezra Steinhardt on September 16, 2013 Posted in Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

Written by Ezra Steinhardt and Colin Warriner On 12 September, 2013, the European Commission formally adopted a proposal for a new Telecommunications Regulation (the “Regulation”). The Regulation would, if enacted, reform the European Union’s telecommunication rules, including in areas such as net neutrality, spectrum allocation, roaming charges, and consumer rights in mobile and telecoms contracts. The … Continue Reading

SpectrumWatch: Auction of H Block Spectrum Licenses

By Inside Tech Media on August 7, 2013 Posted in Spectrum & Mobile

Continuing its efforts to license spectrum for mobile broadband uses consistent with the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, the FCC announced that it will auction spectrum licenses to the H Block by January 14, 2014. The H Block spectrum will be used for flexible-use services, including mobile broadband, and expand … Continue Reading

SpectrumWatch: Congress, FCC Consider Options for TV Spectrum Repacking, Cable Pricing

By Gerard J. Waldron on July 24, 2013 Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Spectrum & Mobile

A congressional subcommittee held an oversight hearing Tuesday addressing the Federal Communications Commission’s progress in setting rules for the upcoming incentive auction of television broadcast spectrum for mobile broadband use. On Monday, the FCC released a Public Notice addressing one aspect of those rules, which would govern how TV stations that do not sell their … Continue Reading

French Competition Authority Probes Whether Mobile App Stores “Lock-In” Users

By Laurie-Anne Grelier on July 11, 2013 Posted in Spectrum & Mobile

The French Competition Authority (FCA) is currently investigating the mobile app market. In the context of the publication of the 2012 Annual Report, FCA’s President Bruno Lasserre revealed that the authority is concerned about the current structure of the mobile app market, which operates in “silos”, i.e., ecosystems built on a smartphone/tablet OS (e.g., Apple … Continue Reading

FCC: Customer Data Carriers Obtain Through Mobile Devices Subject to Existing Privacy Rules

By Inside Tech Media on June 28, 2013 Posted in Privacy & Data Security, Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

Telecommunications carriers and providers of interconnected VoIP service with access to certain kinds of customer information collected through mobile devices are subject to existing privacy rules governing their use and disclosure of that information, the Federal Communications Commission announced in a declaratory ruling adopted at its June 27 meeting. Significantly, the decision makes clear that … Continue Reading

SpectrumWatch: FCC Draws Criticism on Band Plan Proposals

By Inside Tech Media on May 21, 2013 Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Spectrum & Mobile, Telecommunications

A joint statement released today by AT&T, the National Association of Broadcasters, and Verizon criticized the FCC for seeking comments on new proposals for reorganizing the spectrum currently used by television broadcasters, which the statement said would go against the “growing consensus” of the broadcast and wireless industries.… Continue Reading