U.S. to Spend $1.5B on Domestic Cell Network Gear Production

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

The federal government plans to invest $1.5 billion to help spur a standards-based alternative for the gear at the heart of modern cellular networks. The NTIA confirmed the money will go toward domestic alternatives to current wireless network equipment. That could help telecoms faced with replacing network equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE that the U.S. has deemed to be a threat to national security. The NTIA will launch the Innovation Fund program, NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson confirmed on Twitter, according to Broadband Breakfast. The funds will come from the Chips and Science Act, the $280 billion legislation meant to fund U.S.-based chip research and manufacturing. "The highly consolidated global market for wireless equipment creates serious risks for both consumers and U.S. companies,” Davidson told Axios. Continue Reading

Thune Begins Broadband “Oversight” Effort

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

In his role as Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, GOP Whip John Thune (R-SD), said he’s launched a nationwide “oversight effort” to review numerous broadband programs spanning several federal agencies. The goal “is to hold these agencies accountable and ensure that previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way possible to protect taxpayer dollars,” he says. In a letter to broadband associations, think tanks and other stakeholders, Thune seeks input on the current broadband regulatory structure. “Every federal dollar that has been spent should go toward the stated purpose of expanding connectivity to truly unserved areas,” says Thune. “Congressional oversight has been noticeably absent in these areas, and there is serious concern that the federal government would repeat previous mistakes where agencies’ gross mismanagement of broadband funds fell on the backs of taxpayers across the country.” Continue Reading

Fate of FCC Nominee May Depend on GA Runoff

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

Prospects for the administration’s nominee to fill the open Democratic slot at the FCC — Gigi Sohn — may hinge on the outcome of Tuesday’s Georgia U.S. Senate runoff, sources told CNBC. Sohn is more likely to get a vote for her nomination if Democrat Rafael Warnock wins, insiders said. Likewise, Sohn’s candidacy may never come to a vote if Warnock’s opponent, Herschel Walker, wins.   A Warnock win would give Democrats a 51-to-49 Senate majority. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is the only Democrat who still doesn’t support nominee Gigi Sohn and the extra vote would mean the Republicans cannot stop the nomination as she would get through in a tie, sources said. Key Republicans don’t believe Sohn, a longtime public interest lobbyist and Counselor to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, can be impartial if elevated to the position of an FCC Commissioner, Inside Towers reported. Continue Reading

Verizon C-band Deployments Ahead of Schedule

By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor

Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) says that its ongoing C-band rollout is a full 13 months ahead of the original schedule and continues to accelerate. Less than 21 months after garnering the lion’s share of C-band licenses in FCC Auction 107 and after securing early access to the top 30 markets this year, Verizon confirms that it has already surpassed its goal of providing coverage to 175 million people by the end of 2022, a month ahead of schedule. It now says that its 5G Ultra-Wideband service will be available nationwide in Q1 2023. Along with providing greater coverage, particularly in rural and suburban areas, Verizon will enhance network capacity by activating 100 MHz of C-band spectrum in many markets. This bandwidth expansion is a significant step up from the 60 MHz that was provisioned with the first C-band deployments. Once all of its licensed spectrum is made available, Verizon will have up to 200 MHz of C-band spectrum deployed in many markets. The company suggests this wide bandwidth will provide very high connectivity speed and throughput capacity. Continue Reading

Orange Reduces Energy Use Across Europe

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

With Europe facing an energy crisis due to Russia’s cutting off of gas supplies, French-based MNO Orange is stepping up its efforts to reduce its energy consumption across its European footprint, which includes Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. To reduce short-term stress on the national energy grid in France, Orange has committed to switching part of its network onto battery power for an hour during peak periods. By doing this, Orange will effectively remove 5 percent to 10 percent of its spot energy usage from the grid, saving up to 20 megawatts of electricity. The carrier’s effort to reduce stress on energy networks across Europe comes in addition to its overall strategy to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact with the aim of becoming net-zero carbon by 2040. Orange has been improving the energy efficiency of its networks in the process of converting to 5G and optimizing data centers with the latest free cooling technologies. As a result, in 2021, CO2 emissions were reduced by 12.1 percent compared to 2015, with a target of 30 percent reduction by 2025. Continue Reading

U.S. Urges FCC to Block Undersea Cable to Cuba

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

A U.S. government committee urged the FCC to deny an application to connect Cuba to the United States through a new undersea cable landing station to handle internet, voice and data traffic. The Justice Department-led panel known as "Team Telecom," said the proposal raised national security concerns because the cable-landing system in Cuba would be owned and controlled by Cuba’s state-owned telecommunications monopoly, Empresa de Telecommunicaciones de Cuba S.A. It would also be the only direct, commercial undersea cable connection between America and Cuba, reports Reuters. The U.S. government in recent years has been scrutinizing undersea cable connections especially involving China. Around 300 subsea cables form the backbone of the internet, carrying 99 percent of the world’s data traffic. Continue Reading

Alex Beiro, Jr., Virginia Wireless Association President, Dies

By Jim Fryer, Inside Towers Managing Editor

Alex Beiro, Jr. and pictured with his foursome at the October 13 VAWA Golf Outing

Alex Beiro, Jr., President of the Virginia Wireless Association (VAWA) died unexpectedly last week. Beiro recently served as host to over 200 golfers in Williamsburg, VA at the association’s annual outing. On a personal note, I was honored to be asked to play in his foursome for the event and not only enjoyed his company but witnessed the respect, good humor and camaraderie he shared with all of the attendees. Beiro died of an apparent heart attack, November 19, at his home in Alexandria, VA. Most recently, he had worked at Jacobs Engineering as a Zoning Manager and had served in similar posts with NXG and NB+C. Virginia Wireless Association Vice President Michael Harvey said, “Alex and I worked together for many years on the VAWA Board of Directors. When Alex took over as President he brought an inspired, innovative approach, always pushing the Association in a positive direction. He was a dedicated leader who brought great ideas and a positive attitude. Alex was passionate about helping those in the community and the industry through his platform. His love for his sons shined through in all that he did and were the center of his universe. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” Continue Reading