WASHINGTON, June 30, 2014 -Following the Supreme Court’s blow last week against Aereo, the video streaming service has shut down indefinitely as it drags back into the lower courts. Aereo CEO Chet Kanojia wrote a letter to consumers explaining the decision. “We have decided to pause our operations temporarily as we consult with the court… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2014 – The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that a search warrant is necessary for police to search the digital content of an arrested individual’s cell phone. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, held that the contents of mobile phones are protected under the Fourth Amendment: “modern cell phones are… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 25, 2014 – Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, have raised concerns over the proposed Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, according to Broadcasting & Cable. At issue is the potential for a reduction in outlets for traditional video programming, innovation in broadband, and price… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2014 – The Federal Communications Commission announced that its open meeting on July 11 will center on closed captioning of internet protocol-delivered video clips, the Connect America Fund’s rural broadband expansion, and modernizing E-Rate to deliver digital learning. Tom Wheeler explained more about the E-Rate modernization plan in a blog post on… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 19, 2014 – The House Judicary Committee on Wednesday approved the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act this week by a vote of 30-4, according to a press release from the committee. The act banned state-imposed taxation of internet access or discriminatory taxes on e-commerce. Originally enacted in 1998, the bill had previously been… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 – Most internet service providers are delivering upload and download broadband speeds as advertised, according to the Federal Communications Commission, although there is room for improvement in consistency of speed. In its “Measuring Broadband America” report released Thursday, the FCC said that, on average, ISPs are delivering 101 percent of advertised… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 – A new study by Wireless Association CTIA reported that between 2012 and 2013, mobile traffic and data increased by 120 percent. That’s 383 times the data usage from 2008. The result was $331 billion worth of investments into wireless networks last year, according to the association. On the communications merger… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2014 – Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., on Tuesday introduced a bill, the Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act, that would grant the Federal Communications Commission the authority to bar so-called “paid prioritization” agreements between internet service providers and content providers over the last-mile of a broadband connection.… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2014 – Paid prioritization may not be such a bad idea – in fact, the notion that the entire internet needs to be treated equally is misleading, said panelists at a June 10 symposium on internet regulation. Internet users might have greater interest in seeing phone packets go through first than someone… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2014 – The House Energy and Commerce Committee put forward an opportunity for individuals and interest groups to offer comment on telecommunications policy, and many individuals and trade groups took advantage of the opportunity, The Hill reported The Telecommunications Industry Association said that in 1996, lawmakers didn’t grasp the manner in which… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2014 – In the midst of Netflix’s quarrels with Verizon Communications, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement Friday that the commission will investigate slowdowns in traffic to ascertain whether there’s harm to consumers. “To be clear, what we are doing right now is collecting information, not regulating. We… Keep Reading
See on Scoop.it – BroadbandPolicy Connected Nation is a leading technology organization committed to bringing affordable high-speed Internet and broadband-enabled resources to all Americans. We work with public and private partners to help communities, institutions and individuals realize the benefits of today’s technology BroadbandBreakfast‘s insight: Connected Nation announced that it will administer AT&T version of… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2014 – Microsoft is determined to fight a recent U.S. government demand for a user’s emails on company computers in Ireland, The Wall Street Journal reported. “Congress has not authorized the issuance of warrants that reach outside U.S. territory,” Microsoft wrote in its filing with U.S. District Court in Manhattan, according to… Keep Reading
See on Scoop.it – BroadbandPolicy Ray Timothy, CEO of the UEN network, explains the ins and outs of a system that makes Utah the envy of the nation. BroadbandBreakfast‘s insight: A great interview/profile of the Utah Education Network by Lee Benson in the Deseret News. The UEN is highlighted for its role at the forefront… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2014 – Even the quickest and best-designed networks can succumb to Mother Nature when a hurricane or tornado strikes a community. And when thousands of people dial 911 at the same time, modern-day networks simply aren’t equipped to handle traffic of such tremendous scale. That was the message delivered at a Thursday… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2014 – The proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable continues to stir up controversy. The Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include internet giants Google and Yahoo, sent a letter to Sen. Al Franken asking regulators to stop the acquisition as it would give the merged entity “increased incentive… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2014 – In spite of press reports to the contrary, U.S. broadband coverage is not falling behind European levels of service, academic Christopher Yoo said on Wednesday at the National Press Club. “It seems like every other week there’s a new infographic or news story that talks about how the U.S. is… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 – The head of the leading trade association for the electronics industry on Wednesday weighed in against classifying broadband as a utility and subjecting it to extensive government regulation. Instead, regulators should follow a “minimal harm first” principle, said Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, in a speech at… Keep Reading
ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 9, 2014 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler presented the third annual awards for advances in accessibility to innovators of communications technology for disabled people. The awards were presented at the M-Enabling Summit at the Renaissance Arlington Capitol View Hotel here. The awards ceremony and initiative seeks to make possible exchange… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 – In a blog post on Friday, AT&T gave its assurance that paid prioritization was not part of the telecommnications gianits plans. “Not a single [internet service provider] has asserted a desire or right to engage in any of these practices to create ‘fast lanes and slow lanes.’ AT&T certainly has… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 5, 2014 – Another significant telecommunications merger proposition is underway between Sprint and T-Mobile. The Wall Street Journal reported that the acquisition would cost Sprint $32 billion, or about $40 per share in cash and stock. Sprint and T-Mobile are the third and fourth largest wireless operators in the United States, respectively. The… Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2014 – A group of more than 40 members of Congress have urged the Federal Communications Commission to modernize the E-Rate program of connectivity for schools and libraries. More specifically, the group is calling for ”100 [Megabits per second] of bandwith or more for every 1,000 students and staff workers today, and… Keep Reading
See on Scoop.it – BroadbandPolicy BroadbandBreakfast‘s insight: The Community Connect program is one of the few, recurring annual broadband programs in the country. This should be on the radar screen of community economic development managers around the country. See on broadband.utah.gov Keep Reading
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2014 – In an interview on C-Span’s “The Communicators,” Verizon’s senior vice president of Craig Silliman said that the tech giant will likely not pursue a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission over net neutrality rules – provided that the agency doesn’t attempt to reclassify broadband as a public utility under Title… Keep Reading
See on Scoop.it – BroadbandPolicy Here is the link to the video from the opening session of the event on Thursday and Friday. BroadbandBreakfast‘s insight: The FCC’s “Workshop on the Future of Broadband Regulation” that was conducted at the FCC on Thursday and Friday. See on www.fcc.gov Keep Reading
See on Scoop.it – BroadbandPolicy BroadbandBreakfast‘s insight: The Tri-State Telecommunications Summit will provide a gathering point for small telcos from Idaho, Wyoming and Utah to gather in early August and discuss common issues and problems. See on www.tristatetel.org Keep Reading
See on Scoop.it – BroadbandPolicy The Annual Native American Summit began in 2006 at the request of then Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., as a way of facilitating a discussion between government, business and tribal leaders to develop solutions to various challenges that American Indians living in Utah face. Every year since 2006, the Utah Division of Indian Affairs sponsors… Keep Reading