Archive for the ‘Network neutrality’ Category

Best Blog Post Ever: Why Google’s Serious About Spectrum

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

Many folks have wondered how serious Google is about winning a slice of the 700 MHz spectrum in the upcoming auction. Harold Feld answers this for us in the best blog post ever. Specifically, they're bent on destroying the current business model of the mobile industry and preserving the last vestiges ...

Retraction: Net Neutrality Probably Stops Comcast

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

In my last report on this story, I put little thought into a minilink to an article by CNet's Anne Broache, which frets that proposed net neutrality bills probably would not prevent Comcast's ongoing peer-to-peer blockade. I no longer agree; I think even the weaker of the two bills on ...

Would Net Neutrality Stop Comcast’s BitTorrent Blockade?

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

According to CNet's Anne Broache, the answer is: probably not. The current legislative proposals allow network management, and Comcast could probably use this exemption to justify its decision to degrade BT traffic. It would only hit a wall if it was also offering another paid peer-to-peer service that always worked perfectly.

Markey Berates FCC Over Broadband Policy

Saturday, October 6th, 2007

In a congressional hearing this week, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House telecommunications subcommittee, took the FCC to task over its recent track record of deregulating broadband. Especially since 2001, the FCC has rolled back many of the policies that require those who own the broadband infrastructure to share ...

Sen. Kerry Asks How We Fix Broadband

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007

On this FreePress page, Senator John Kerry has asked what you think we should do to fix broadband policy. Here is my answer: Force incumbents to interconnect & lease access Dear Sen. Kerry, Thank you for taking on this country’s appalling failure to compete internationally in the race for widespread adoption of top-speed internet ...

Sen. Dorgan Still Pushing Net Neutrality

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

As CNet reports, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-SD) is still pushing for net neutrality legislation. Our 3.5 regular readers can guess how I feel about this.

What Net Neutrality Might Mean in Practice

Wednesday, August 15th, 2007

Discussions about Net Neutrality are oftentimes hard to follow, mostly because it is not always clear what exactly the concept 'Net Neutrality' means. That's why it's helpful to have a concrete example, and as such is offered by a situation across the pond: recently British newspapers have reported that several ...

FCC Commissioners Admit Broadcast Flag Mistake

Friday, August 10th, 2007

There are often times when I wish I had my trusty digital voice recorder—the one that sent Senator Ted Stevens’ “series of tubes” anti-net neutrality speech into the Internet Meme Hall of Fame. Yesterday afternoon at the annual convention for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the ...

Nonprofits Slam NBC Over Broadband Copyright Proposal

Monday, July 16th, 2007

The FCC's network neutrality rulemaking has become a forum for every group with any interest in the matter. As CNet reported last month, NBC even used the proceedings to call for the FCC to impose requirements that broadband providers police their networks for copyright violations. Today, they report, nonprofits including EFF, ...

VZ installing fiber, yanking out copper

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

As Verizon moves forward with installing FiOS fiber optic phone/internet/TV service in (mostly wealthy, white) neighborhoods throughout the country, it is taking the time and expense to pull out copper wires. Why spend the money? As explained on the Consumers Union blog, Hear Us Now, there are two obvious incentives. First, ...