Free, France’s second-largest telecoms company, confirms being hit by cyberattack October 28th, 2024 Free, the second-largest internet service provider in France, confirmed being hacked this weekend following the attempted sale of purportedly stolen customer information on a cybercrime forum. The Paris-based company has issued a warning that personal data was…
Lawmakers seek insight into China-linked attacks on telecom networks
Lawmakers seek insight into China-linked attacks on telecom networks Oct. 15, 2024 Concerns are growing over a string of reported China-linked attacks on U.S. telecom networks, as lawmakers sought briefings with the leaders of AT&T, Lumen Technologies and Verizon Communications before Friday, Oct. 18. The Wall Street Journal earlier this…
EchoStar wins $2.7 billion Navy contract
EchoStar wins $2.7 billion Navy contract May 20, 2024 EchoStar has been awarded a $2.7 billion contract to provide 5G smart devices and services for the DoD and federal agencies. In an announcement, the company said it had been awarded a contract for the indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract…
Rutherford County, surrounding rural communities get $25 million to expand broadband access
Rutherford County, surrounding rural communities get $25 million to expand broadband access May 7, 2024 The state’s efforts to expand access to reliable broadband to all Tennesseans by 2028 recently received a big financial boost. Last week, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced the state was awarded…
DOE announces $45 million investment for cybersecurity research
DOE announces $45 million investment for cybersecurity research FEBRUARY 26, 2024 The Department of Energy on Monday announced a $45 million investment into cybersecurity research for the energy sector, including projects on artificial intelligence detection and response and quantum communication for the grid. DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and…
Hawaii completes assessment of Oahu energy system and critical infrastructure
Hawaii completes assessment of Oahu energy system and critical infrastructure December 29, 2023 The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) recently concluded work on an initiative called the O‘ahu Energy System and Critical Infrastructure Vulnerability and Resiliency Assessment. The assessment involved a comprehensive hazard and risk assessment of O’ahu’s critical energy…
FBI: Play ransomware gang has attacked 300 orgs since 2022
FBI: Play ransomware gang has attacked 300 orgs since 2022 December 18th, 2023 The ransomware gang behind several devastating attacks on major American cities has allegedly launched more than 300 successful incidents since June 2022, according to cybersecurity officials in the United States and Australia. The FBI joined the Cybersecurity…
AI threats are here. Are Biden and the energy industry ready?
AI threats are here. Are Biden and the energy industry ready? 10/30/2023 The White House launched a new strategy Monday to protect American privacy — and critical infrastructure like the electric grid — from artificial intelligence gone wrong. But as AI creeps into the energy sector, experts say much more…
Cyberattacks on the power grid are on the rise as utilities seeking security play catch-up
Cyberattacks on the power grid are on the rise as utilities seeking security play catch-up Energize Weekly, August 9, 2023 In the summer of 2022, the Colorado Springs Utilities alerted its customers that their data from its system had been hacked. Several months later, 2,000 wind turbines in Germany were…
Oil and gas sector routinely targeted by cyberattackers, experts say
Oil and gas sector routinely targeted by cyberattackers, experts say April 10, 2023 Cybersecurity experts say they aren’t surprised by the revelation contained within a package of leaked U.S. intelligence documents suggesting Russian-backed hackers successfully gained access to Canada’s natural gas distribution network. They say oil and gas infrastructure in…
Dish hit by multiday outage after reported cyberattack
Dish hit by multiday outage after reported cyberattack February 27, 2023 U.S. satellite television provider Dish is experiencing a multiday outage after a reported cyberattack, with customers unable to access streams, services or their accounts. The disruption began early on Thursday when Dish customers said they could not access their…
House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects
House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects Feb. 7, 2023 The bank would help finance work such as transportation projects, ports, electric grid security and broadband connectivity, according to the release. The bill also allows for broad discretion by the bank to invest in any infrastructure projects…
FCC revives push to speed up telecom incident disclosures
FCC revives push to speed up telecom incident disclosures Jan. 10, 2023 The Federal Communications Commission on Friday announced it unanimously voted to pursue changes to how and when telecommunications network operators disclose data breaches. The current rules, under Section 222 of the Communications Act, are more than 15 years…
Ozark Fiber Acquires Missouri Telecom’s Residential and SMB Internet and Voice Business
Ozark Fiber Acquires Missouri Telecom’s Residential and SMB Internet and Voice Business January 01, 2023 Effective January 1, 2023, Ozark Fiber has acquired Missouri Telecom’s internet and voice business for residential and small-to-medium-sized businesses in Monett, MO and surrounding areas. “We are pleased to welcome Missouri Telecom’s customers to the…
Philadelphians welcomed PhilTel’s first free public phone as a small way to resist big tech
Philadelphians welcomed PhilTel’s first free public phone as a small way to resist big tech Dec 17, 2022 A group of about 20 tech-savvy engineers and programmers gathered Saturday afternoon at a Philadelphia bookstore to celebrate the installation of an old-fashioned public pay phone. Organizers of the project hope the…
Intermedia Cloud Communications Further Demonstrates Commitment to Highest Levels of Data and Platform Security with New ISO Certification
Intermedia Cloud Communications Further Demonstrates Commitment to Highest Levels of Data and Platform Security with New ISO Certification Dec 13, 2022 Intermedia Cloud Communications, a leading provider of cloud communications and collaboration solutions to businesses and the partners that serve them, announced today that its cloud communications platform has received…
US FERC to act on backstop transmission siting, long-running gas pipeline disputes
US FERC to act on backstop transmission siting, long-running gas pipeline disputes 12 Dec 2022 The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is poised to act on transmission siting, key pipeline rate disputes, and two important natural gas pipeline certificates at its last meeting of the year Dec. 15, potentially Democrat…
Colorado is challenging 13,000 speed inaccuracies in the new federal broadband map
Colorado is challenging 13,000 speed inaccuracies in the new federal broadband map Dec 6, 2022 A federal effort to map out and better understand who in America has decent internet and who does not is already getting challenged by those in the know, including the Colorado Broadband Office, which has…
How Shreveport, Louisiana, used blockchain technology to build a low-cost public WiFi network
How Shreveport, Louisiana, used blockchain technology to build a low-cost public WiFi network Nov. 29, 2022 When Shreveport, Louisiana, hired Keith Hanson as its chief technology officer and smart cities director in 2019, the city’s mayor asked him to address the digital divide and create a smarter city. Both efforts…
Flume says cities overflowing with fiber but accessibility lags
Flume says cities overflowing with fiber but accessibility lags Nov 21, 2022 Flume, a New York City-based fiber provider, has made strides over the past couple of years offering gigabit service to lower-income households. But there are still hurdles in place hindering broadband accessibility, according to Flume co-founders Brandon Gibson…
U.S. aviation sector calls for 5G wireless deadline extension
U.S. aviation sector calls for 5G wireless deadline extension November 15, 2022 Air carriers will be unable to fully meet deadlines to retrofit planes to avoid interference from latest generation 5G C-Band wireless service, the aviation industry said Tuesday, urging the White House to help avert a standoff. Concerns that…
BLM Proposes Rule to Bolster Broadband Infrastructure and Enhance Power Grid Security on Public Lands
BLM Proposes Rule to Bolster Broadband Infrastructure and Enhance Power Grid Security on Public Lands 11/3/22 In support of ensuring access to reliable high-speed internet service for every American and enhancing the reliability, security, and resiliency of the electric power grid, the Bureau of Land Management is proposing to update…
CBB approves $26.5M in grants to expand broadband to thousands of Vermonters
CBB approves $26.5M in grants to expand broadband to thousands of Vermonters 10/25/2022 The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) approved three grants totaling $26.45 Million to bring broadband to more than 4,000 underserved Vermont addresses. First, $9.1 million has been awarded to the Maple Broadband/Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom (WCVT)…
Bracing for a slowdown in 5G network spending
Bracing for a slowdown in 5G network spending 10/17/2022 T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon are all deep in the midst of spending billions of dollars to upgrade their 5G networks with midband spectrum. Initial results from the efforts are impressive: New research shows that all of the carriers are seeing noteworthy…
$1B Cybersecurity Grant Program Still Coming Into Focus
$1B Cybersecurity Grant Program Still Coming Into Focus OCTOBER 16, 2022 State and local governments are preparing to use $1 billion from the federal infrastructure law to improve cybersecurity. It marks the most significant federal support yet for protecting the computer networks and data of smaller governments. But many crucial…
Verizon begins 5G internet to Philadelphia homes, competing with Xfinity broadband
Verizon begins 5G internet to Philadelphia homes, competing with Xfinity broadband 10/12/22 Verizon has launched 5G wireless home-internet service in Philadelphia. It’s not available to all city residents because of where the company has placed small cell towers on telephone poles and city property. But it is competing with Comcast…
Sagebrush Cellular selects Ericsson to modernize its network with 5G capabilities
Sagebrush Cellular selects Ericsson to modernize its network with 5G capabilities October 4, 2022 Sagebrush Cellular, an affiliate of Nemont Telephone Cooperative, announced today that it will partner with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to modernize its network with 5G capabilities. Based in rural Montana, the company is the only source of…
Singapore opens first physical 6G lab in the region
Singapore opens first physical 6G lab in the region 26 Sep 2022 Singapore’s state regulator, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has partnered with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to launch the Future Communications Connectivity (FCC)lab. It has been set-up as part of Singapore’s S$70 million Future Communications…
Appalachian Power, Wheeling Power report WV broadband project on track for 2023 completion
Appalachian Power, Wheeling Power report WV broadband project on track for 2023 completion September 12, 2022 According to an update reported to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia last week, Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power have completed design, engineering and pole replacements in Logan and Mingo counties, leaving them…
Massachusetts getting municipal infrastructure improvements
Massachusetts getting municipal infrastructure improvements August 30, 2022 Newly signed legislation in Massachusetts will provide millions for municipal infrastructure improvements. Earlier this month, Gov. Charlie Baker signed MassTRAC legislation into law to provide funding that is designed to prop up municipal infrastructure needs throughout the state with an $11.4 billion…
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Says Rural Telecom Provider Must Respond To Consumer Advocate
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Says Rural Telecom Provider Must Respond To Consumer Advocate August 17, 2022 Hawaii utility regulators have agreed to force a telecommunications firm to answer questions about its ability to continue providing service to thousands of Native Hawaiian customers living on Hawaiian homelands. A lawyer for Sandwich…
Can 5G replace Wi-Fi? Why you might want to hang onto that router (for now)
Can 5G replace Wi-Fi? Why you might want to hang onto that router (for now) August 15, 2022 Many of us pay two or more data bills every month, one for our home broadband connection and the other for cellular connectivity. With the rapid rollout of 5G, however, you may…
America’s Two Biggest Cable Broadband Monopolies Failed To Add Any New Customers Last Quarter
America’s Two Biggest Cable Broadband Monopolies Failed To Add Any New Customers Last Quarter Aug 8th 2022 Roughly 83 million Americans currently live under a broadband monopoly. In most instances, their only choice is Comcast or Charter Communications, which sells service under the “Spectrum” brand. And in both cases, users…
Privacy bill strips FCC oversight of telecom data abuse, worrying consumer advocates
Privacy bill strips FCC oversight of telecom data abuse, worrying consumer advocates AUG 2, 2022 Sweeping federal privacy legislation meant to crack down on big tech could inadvertently give telecoms a free pass to mishandle consumer data, privacy advocates warn. Under the American Data Privacy Protection Act, the Federal Communications…
FCC fines Charter, LTD Broadband more than $3 million for RDOF defaults
FCC fines Charter, LTD Broadband more than $3 million for RDOF defaults Jul 25, 2022 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is cracking down on operators who have backed out of their Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) commitments, fining 73 auction participants a total of $4.3 million for defaulting on their…
FCC’s Rosenworcel proposes ‘100/20’ as new broadband minimum requirement
FCC’s Rosenworcel proposes ‘100/20’ as new broadband minimum requirement Jul 18, 2022 FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed raising the minimum broadband speed standard in the U.S. from 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads to 100 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads. The proposal was made…
White House backed fund promises to accelerate ‘deep tech’ advancements in cybersecurity
White House backed fund promises to accelerate ‘deep tech’ advancements in cybersecurity JUL 11, 2022 An investment fund supported by the White House and partially bankrolled by tech heavyweights Peter Thiel, Eric Schmidt and Craig Newmark is making a big bet that “deep technologies” will give the U.S. the edge…
Virginia receives $219.8 million for broadband expansion
Virginia receives $219.8 million for broadband expansion Jul 5, 2022 The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced that Virginia is one of four states poised to expand access to rural high-speed internet service. Under the American Rescue Plan’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, Virginia received $219.8 million, which represents 100%…
Broadband feasibility study, public surveys underway in South Lake Tahoe
Broadband feasibility study, public surveys underway in South Lake Tahoe June 23, 2022 The city of South Lake Tahoe has embarked on a Broadband Feasibility Study to identify how it can improve broadband and internet service and infrastructure. NEO Connect, a broadband consulting firm, has been retained to conduct the…
Telecoms, FAA Reach Another 5G Deal
Telecoms, FAA Reach Another 5G Deal June 19, 2022 The FAA, Verizon and AT&T have reached yet another agreement aimed at preventing disruption at airports due to possible 5G interference. “We believe we have identified a path that will continue to enable aviation and 5G C-band wireless to safely co-exist,”…
Beijing-backed hackers breach ‘major telecommunications companies,’ authorities warn
Beijing-backed hackers breach ‘major telecommunications companies,’ authorities warn 06/08/22 Cyber hackers backed by China are successfully targeting U.S. telecommunications companies in major breaches, the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned on Tuesday. Read more
Four states receive first allocations of $10B broadband fund
Four states receive first allocations of $10B broadband fund June 07, 2022 More than half a billion dollars in federal funding will be sent to four U.S. states to expand broadband access as part of a sweeping national effort to bring affordable service to rural and low-income Americans, the U.S.…
Study: State’s broadband investment will help address ‘digital divide,’ ‘pay for itself’
Study: State’s broadband investment will help address ‘digital divide,’ ‘pay for itself’ 5/31/2022 A $400 million investment in broadband internet infrastructure approved by Illinois lawmakers in 2019 could pay for itself by added tax revenues alone within four years of completion of construction, according to a new study. Read more
NYSEG and RG&E Announce “Reliable Energy New York” Plans
NYSEG and RG&E Announce “Reliable Energy New York” Plans May 26, 2022 Today, New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), announced the companies have filed proposed changes to delivery rates with the New York State Public Service Commission…
AT&T CEO says fiber rollout is an all hands on deck effort
AT&T CEO says fiber rollout is an all hands on deck effort May 23, 2022 AT&T is enlisting employees across the organization to make its fiber rollout to 30 million homes by 2025 a success, taking an all hands on deck approach to ensure it pushes penetration rates up as…
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Lessons for Technologists
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Lessons for Technologists May 23, 2022 While technologists have always understood the damage that ransomware could do to an organization’s infrastructure and data, the May 2021 attack that targeted Colonial Pipeline IT infrastructure changed the game for good. Read more
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months
White House Says $110 Billion in Infrastructure Funds Released in First 6 Months May 16, 2022 The White House on Monday said it has released $110 billion in funding from the $1 trillion infrastructure package that seeks to fix crumbling roads, expand broadband internet and improve the electrical grid. Read…
Internet Service Essentially Free for Millions Under New Biden Program
Internet Service Essentially Free for Millions Under New Biden Program MAY 9, 2022 President Biden announced Monday that he’s convinced 20 major broadband providers, like AT&T and Comcast, to offer low-cost high-speed internet plans for $30 a month or less. Combined with a $30 monthly discount lower-income people are already…
How small Kansas companies bring fast internet to rural places that telecom giants ignore
How small Kansas companies bring fast internet to rural places that telecom giants ignore MAY 2, 2022 With a family of five and a farming operation to run, Clay Scott’s home internet didn’t come close to cutting it. Pulling up a weather page in a browser could take so long…
Dish’s June 14 deadline for 5G begins to loom large
Dish’s June 14 deadline for 5G begins to loom large 4/26/2022 Dish Network is required by the federal government to cover 20% of the US population with 5G by June 14, 2022. That’s just over one month from today. It’s unclear whether the company will hit its coverage mandates. However,…
