NTIA’s Larry Strickling Recounts Broadband Stimulus Gains, Seeks to Continue Efforts Without Federal Funds
Broadband Stimulus, Broadband's Impact, NTIA
May 30th, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2014 – The president’s chief adviser on telecommunications, the head of the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, on Thursday heralded the first of a series of workshops designed to find ways to “build on the momentum of our successful broadband grant program” without access to federal funds. In a blog […]
Cities Need to be Involved in Municipal Broadband Because Their Future Depends Upon Such Networks, Says Panel
Education, FCC, Fiber, Gigabit Networks, Health
May 29th, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2014 – Four believers in municipal internet access expressed their dismay at the New America Foundation at an increasingly consolidated broadband marketplace – and promoted local government ownership as a remedy. Speaking on a panel of experts on Wednesday at the think tank, they blasted giants AT&T, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable […]
Broadband Roundup: Comcast Blasts Public Utility Regulation, White House to Host Smart Home Expo, and ‘Commercially Reasonable’ Data Roaming
Broadband Roundup, FCC, Net Neutrality, Smart Grid, Universal Service
May 29th, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2014 – Comcast CEO Brian Roberts has defended his company and its proposed merger with Time Warner Cable against critics, reports Re/code. Saying that he could accept “some kind of net neutrality law,” he scorned the idea of reclassifying broadband as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act, which […]
Is Internet Interconnection the New Network Neutrality? Panel Suggests a New Regulatory Creep
FCC, Net Neutrality
May 28th, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2014 – The Federal Communications Commission is likely to experience increasing pressure to intervene in and resolve disputes involving internet interconnection, experts said on Tuesday at a panel hosted by the Progressive Policy Institute. Central to the discussion was the question of whether the FCC should go as far as to mandate […]
Broadband Roundup: Data Brokerage Industry in the Hot Seat, Library and Education Group Want More E-Rate Funds
Broadband Roundup, Education, FCC, Universal Service
May 28th, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2014 – The National Journal reported that the Federal Trade Commission released a report charging the data brokerage industry with collecting “troves” of information on nearly all American consumers. The agency urged Congress to push for more transparency. Believing that an invasive collection of personal data could harm consumers, the FTC recommended […]
House Committee: Convergence is Common in Communications Industries, So Why Not Regulatory Convergence?
Broadband's Impact
May 27th, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2014 – The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently released a white paper that seeks public comment on competition in the communications and technology sectors, as well as what role the FCC should have in regulating the sectors. The paper pointed to a rapidly evolving digital landscape in the 21st Century and […]
Broadband Roundup: China’s Tit-for-Tat with America on Cybercrime; FCC Chairman Wheeler Discusses Next-Generation Internet Networks
Asia, Broadband Roundup, Broadband's Impact, Cybersecurity, FCC, Fiber, IP Transition
May 27th, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2014 – In what appears to be a tit-for-tat on the United States Justice Department’s indictments last week for cybercrime, China has accused the United States of spying on government officials, businesses and mobile phone users, reported the BBC News. “As a superpower, the United States takes advantage of its political, economic, […]
Fiber to the Home Council Webinar on Municipal Broadband Solutions Focuses on Open Access Opportunities
Broadband Stimulus, Broadband's Impact, Gigabit Networks
May 22nd, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 – In a Wednesday webinar, the Fiber to the Home Council invited broadband planning firm Magellan Advisors to discuss their ways of advising communities seeking to build advance broadband networks. Guest members included Magellan Advisors President John Honkers and Vice President Kyle Hollifeld. They described their firm as a ‘turnkey’ that […]
Broadband Roundup: House Passes USA Freedom Act to Rein in NSA, But Key Civil Liberties Groups Defect
Broadband's Impact, Cybersecurity, Privacy
May 22nd, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 – The House of Representatives passed the USA Freedom Act on Thursday in a 303 to 121 vote, according to Ars Technica, instituting changes to the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of American phone records. The goal is to end the practice of gathering records of meta-data about the individuals to which and […]
FBI Director Testifies On Cybersecurity, Says Agency Can Balance National Security and Civil Liberties
Broadband's Impact, Cybersecurity
May 22nd, 2014
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 – At the Senate Judiciary Committee’s oversight hearing on the FBI on Wednesday, FBI Director James Comey faced scrutiny over the agency’s ability to balance national security and civil liberties in light of technological advancements. Among issues discussed were cyber threats and surveillance programs that acquire data on a massive scale. […]