If data caps are making your online life harder, the FCC wants to know

Whether you knew it or your not, your life online may be circumscribed by a cap on your home internet plan. Now, the FCC wants to hear your story.

By Chris VelazcoJune 21, 2023
Review

How to pick a trustworthy VPN

Want to view blocked sites or hide your online activity? Mullvad, Mozilla VPN and IVPN emphasize privacy and security.

By Geoffrey A. FowlerMay 8, 2023

More phones will connect to satellites this year. Here’s what it means for you.

This year, a new wave of smartphones will feature the ability to send text messages via satellite, and not just for emergencies.

By Chris VelazcoJanuary 6, 2023
Perspective

Internet providers play tricks to raise your bill. Here are the worst.

A new study of 22,000 American broadband bills by Consumer Reports shows how ISPs get you to pay more — and how you can fight back.

By Geoffrey A. FowlerNovember 17, 2022

A new feature for old Echo speakers could boost your home WiFi setup

Some Amazon Echos can double as WiFi range extenders. It’s not a perfect fix.

By Chris VelazcoNovember 2, 2022
Advice

Quick Fix: See if you qualify for discounted internet service

You (or someone you know) might qualify for a helpful discount on your monthly internet service. Here's how to check, and sign up.

By Chris VelazcoOctober 14, 2022

How T-Mobile and SpaceX are teaming up to give you coverage from space

If T-Mobile and SpaceX get their way, cellular dead zones may finally go extinct -- in the United States anyway.

By Chris VelazcoAugust 30, 2022

Is your internet service unreliable? There may be fiber in your future.

Federal funding for high-speed internet expansion could make fiber-optic service easier to find across the United States.

By Chris VelazcoAugust 4, 2022

FCC calls 25 Mbps ‘broadband’ speed. The push is on to up it to 100.

Seven years and one worldwide health disaster later, all eyes are on the FCC to see if it finally changes what "broadband" internet means.

By Chris VelazcoJuly 19, 2022

Ask Help Desk: The WiFi upgrade that will fix your dead zones

Getting a mesh router is a worthwhile home project if you have spots with wonky service.

By Geoffrey A. FowlerMarch 25, 2022

A government benefit helped Americans save on Internet costs last year. Here’s how the sequel works.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is officially gone, but some of you can still get monthly discounts on your Internet bill.

By Chris VelazcoMarch 3, 2022

Internet service plans will soon come with ‘nutrition’ labels. Here’s what you need to know.

The FCC is moving forward with a plan to make companies’ Internet plans easier to understand.

By Chris VelazcoFebruary 3, 2022

5G service just got faster for some people. Here’s why.

After a bit of a lull, 5G is making headlines all over again. Here’s your guide to why, and what it means for you.

By Chris VelazcoJanuary 25, 2022

The latest space race is all about improving Internet access. Here’s what you should know.

Satellite internet isn’t very good, but SpaceX and Amazon are hoping to change that.

By Chris VelazcoNovember 3, 2021
Analysis

5G is a little better than before, but don’t rush to upgrade your phone just yet.

Is 5G finally starting to live up to the hype? In some cases, yes, but big changes are coming soon.

By Chris Velazco and Geoffrey A. FowlerSeptember 24, 2021
Perspective

How Internet and TV providers get away with jacking up your bill

Service providers use their lock on neighborhoods — and a lack of rules — to take advantage of us. Here’s how to spot their tricks.

By Geoffrey A. FowlerJuly 13, 2021
Perspective

5 tricks to lower your Internet bill

You can threaten to drop service — or cut some non-essential parts of your bill — if switching isn’t a real option

By Geoffrey A. FowlerJuly 13, 2021
What's NewPerspective

The government has a program to cut your Internet bill. Verizon was using it to force you onto a new data plan.

Help Desk: Readers tell our tech columnist about shenanigans signing up for the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which is supposed to knock $50 off monthly bills.

By Geoffrey A. FowlerMay 21, 2021
Perspective

The government wants to pay your Internet bill for a few months. Here’s what you need to do.

A surprising number of Americans can get $50 each month from the new $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit. That includes tens of millions who lost work during the pandemic.

By Geoffrey A. FowlerMay 14, 2021
Perspective

Gatekeepers: These tech firms control what’s allowed online

Moderating content isn’t just something Facebook, Google and Twitter do. There’s a whole “stack” of companies that run the Internet — and are under pressure to exert control.

By Geoffrey A. Fowler and Chris AlcantaraMarch 24, 2021