Facebook, Google, and Apple Ease Privacy Concerns of Senators
Privacy
July 28th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2010 – Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation are worried about unclear consumer online privacy policies and the negative effects of targeted advertising.
Representatives from Apple, Facebook, Google, The Cato Institute, AT&T, and the Annenberg School for Communication overviewed their current privacy policies and tools, and outlined the future of their privacy controls.
Genachowski and Leibowitz Testify Before Senate on Privacy Issues
Broadband's Impact, FCC, Privacy
July 28th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2010 – The Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission have formed a task force to deal with online privacy concerns facing American consumers.
FCC FDA Joint Meeting Discusses Challenges, Successes of Broadband in Healthcare
Broadband's Impact, Health, Mobile Broadband, Spectrum
July 26th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 26, 2010 – A panel of industry representatives from companies manufacturing new broadband-capable medical tools said they were looking for ways to have these technologies integrated into the current medical systems.
House Hearing for Internet Gambling Bill
Broadband's Impact, Tribal Broadband
July 23rd, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 23, 2010- H.R. 2267, the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, will require online gaming sites to purchase licenses and subscribe to existing gambling laws. In a hearing this week the main stakeholders voiced their concerns.
Smart Grid’s Future Relies on Consumer Acceptance, Environmental Benefits
Broadband's Impact, FCC, Smart Grid
July 22nd, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 22, 2010 – At BroadbandBreakfast.com’s breakfast club this week, experts in the smart grid field said issues such as consumer adoption, environmental benefits and privacy concerns would decide the future of grid development.
LightSquared to Launch New LTE Network
Mobile Broadband, Wireless
July 21st, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 21, 2010- LightSquared, a new broadband wireless data network, is expected to cover 92 percent of the United States population with LTE by 2015.
Private-equity firm Harbinger Capital Partners announced its LightSquared network on July 20, and is expected to officially launch the network sometime next year. The network will initially start in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver and Baltimore.
Genachowski Calls for Removal of Barriers to Minority Business Owners
Broadband's Impact, Minority, National Broadband Plan, Spectrum
July 21st, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 21, 2010- Market barriers to minority and small business owners must be removed so that they can compete in the global marketplace says Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski.
FCC Commissioners Discuss Minority Issues at the Eighth Annual Access to Capital and Telecommunications Policy Conference
Broadband's Impact, FCC, Minority, Spectrum, Universal Service
July 19th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 19, 2010- Three Federal Communications Commissioners Robert McDowell, Meredith Baker, and Mignon Clyburn encouraged use of the internet and new media applications to assist minorities and women entrepreneurs and connect them to financial resources.
FCC not Helping Minorities Claims Minority Media & Telecom Council
FCC
July 19th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 19, 2010. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is not making adequate achievements in including minorities and women, according to David Honig, president and executive director of the Minority Media & Telecom Council (MMTC). As a matter of fact, he says market barriers and lack of opportunity are decreasing minority involvement in the broadband, telecom, and media industries.
Genachowski Announces Creation of Spectrum Data Inventory
FCC, Spectrum, Wireless
July 16th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2010 -The Federal Communications Commission will increase its transparency by overseeing the creation of a spectrum inventory that includes users and license holders, agency Chairman Julius Genachowski told senators in a Thursday letter.
Last May, Senators John D. Rockefeller and John Kerry asked Genachowski and the FCC to create a comprehensive database of spectrum users and licensees. Genachowski’s Thursday reply said that the FCC is now taking an inventory of all spectrum users and licensees.
General Electric Ecomagination Seeks Project Ideas for Smart Grid
Smart Grid
July 16th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2010. General Electric is seeking project ideas for renewable energy, electric grid efficiency, and ecobuilding technologies through its Ecomagination Challenge.
There is over $200 million invested in this innovation experiment, where people can try to get their ideas for building the next-generation power grid funded. GE works with venture capital firms to get the most promising ideas resources and funding.
Copps Concerned About Media Consolidation and Deregulation and Cites the Need for Net Neutrality
FCC, Media, Net Neutrality
July 14th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2010- Federal Communications Commissioner Michael J. Copps fears that industry consolidation will overlook public interest and damage the country’s media landscape.
Speaking at a forum concerning the Comcast/NBCU merger at Northwestern University Law School on July 13 Copps feels like this merger is unique, and said “While in some respects it is similar to transactions that we have witnessed before, in other important ways it is new and novel,” since the merger includes broadband and the internet.
Loving the Smart Grid and its Consumer Benefits at New America Foundation Panel
Smart Grid, States
July 14th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 13, 2010- A panel of smart grid experts claims that smart grid advocates and providers are not doing enough to educate consumers about the benefits of smart grid technology.
Campgrounds See Controversial Increase in Wi-Fi Availability
Mobile Broadband
July 13th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 13, 2010- Campgrounds are increasingly becoming more connected to internet and cell phone service, making some visitors feel like they cannot escape their work and responsibilities.
Companies that provide Wi-Fi connections to campgrounds are seeing gains in business from these outdoor recreation sites. Campers can now watch videos, stay connected to their favorite social networking sites, and reply to their email from the comfort of their tents at many campgrounds.
OMB and DHS Clarify Cybersecurity Responsibility and Activities within the Executive Branch
Cybersecurity
July 12th, 2010
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2010- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Cybersercurity Coordinator recently released a joint memo in which their specific responsibilities were outlined following the regulations in the Federal Information and Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA).