Archive for the ‘Internet policy’ Category
Thursday, January 24th, 2008
While the process will drag through late February or early March, today marks the kickoff of the FCC's auction of the 700 MHz spectrum, in which TV channels 50-69 will be sold to the highest bidders in four blocks.
For background on the process, see the Public Knowledge page on spectrum ...
Posted in FCC, Internet policy, Network neutrality, Telecommunications, Telecommunications law | No Comments »
Sunday, January 20th, 2008
In this post and its sequel, I extend a discussion of copyright begun on a internet researchers’ listserv. This entry provides more information about the context. The second post represents my response.
Part I: The Context
Posted in Copyright, Internet policy | 1 Comment »
Friday, January 18th, 2008
David Isenberg has a great post on why Time Warner's bandwidth-sensitive pricing plan is good.
The very short version is that it's honest and a reasonable substitute for non-neutral packet discrimination, but the details will matter tremendously.
(Isen.blog link via Berkman Buzz)
UPDATE: I failed to mention the important caveat that bandwidth-sensitive pricing ...
Posted in Industry Self-Regulation, Internet policy, Network neutrality, Telecommunications, Telecommunications law | No Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2008
The Wired blog Underwire appears ready to declare music-protecting DRM dead in light of Sony BMG's decision to begin selling some tracks in the unprotected MP3 format.
Since Sony was the last holdout among the big four record labels, this is indeed big news; that said, I remain skeptical that the ...
Posted in Copyright, DRM, Internet policy, Music industry, Technological Protection Measures | No Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2008
In two different news stories summarizing the latest Nielsen Soundscan music sales report, the music industry is cast as growing at a remarkable clip or continuing its long, slow decline.
Variety takes the latter tack, moaning, "Album sales take a tumble in 2007." In contrast, the Centre Daily Times celebrates the ...
Posted in Copyright, DRM, Internet policy, Music industry, Technological Protection Measures | No Comments »
Sunday, January 6th, 2008
US News interviewed a handful of cutting-edge tech gurus, asking them, "What if you were appointed innovation czar?"
Three themes run through the answers:
1) Portable, especially universal health care. People stay in uninspiring jobs because they need the health insurance. Provide this automatically, and risk takers are free to start new ...
Posted in Copyright, DRM, Internet policy, Technological Protection Measures | No Comments »
Saturday, December 22nd, 2007
To help Antigua recover part of the vast sums lost due to the US blocking online gambling, the World Trade Organization is allowing the Carribean nation to make unauthorized copies of $21 million worth of US goods.
The decision is surprising, but it will be hard to enforce. US trade representatives ...
Posted in Copyright, Internet policy | No Comments »
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 ...
Posted in FCC, Internet policy, Network neutrality, Telecommunications, Telecommunications law | 1 Comment »
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 ...
Posted in Congress, FCC, Internet policy, Network neutrality, Telecommunications, Telecommunications law | No Comments »
Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
CNet describes Google's announcement that it will bid on 700 MHz spectrum as "Google versus the telecoms."
Posted in FCC, Internet policy, Telecommunications, Telecommunications law | No Comments »