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The FCC just set off a high-stakes battle between in-flight Wi-Fi providers
TransportSatellite-based Wi-Fi services such as Row44 and Panasonic Avionics, which power on-board wireless networks for Southwest and United, respectively, have a clear competitive advantage over air-to-ground networks because the satellite systems offer much greater  capacity for travelers trying to stream video or access bulky emails. But the Federal Communication Commission’s decision last week to begin [...]
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FCC commissioners vote to expand availability of airborne Wi-Fi access
TransportThe Federal Communications Commission took a step toward improving Web access for air travelers, voting to write rules to open frequencies for an air-to-ground Internet service proposed by Qualcomm Inc. The agency in a 4-0 vote today advanced the plan to help travelers pull in Facebook pages, spreadsheets, videos, games and music on planes equipped [...]
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FCC head says airport and other public Wi-Fi will get faster
DestinationsTelecommunications regulators are planning a push to increase wi-fi speed in airports, convention centers and other major hubs where travelers often see download speeds slow to a maddening crawl. Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday that the agency planned to free up [...]
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FCC eases in-flight internet licensing rules, speeding process by 50 percent
TransportThe U.S. Federal Communications Commission has cleared the way for wider adoption of in-flight Internet services, aiming to cut by as much as 50 percent the time needed for regulatory approval. Newly adopted rules should boost competition in this part of the U.S. mobile telecommunications market and promote “the widespread availability of Internet access to [...]
