Archive for the ‘Telecommunications law’ Category

Why Time Warner’s Bandwidth Pricing is Good Short-Term Solution

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 ...

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 ...

Google’s Spectrum Bid: Kicking the Telecoms

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

CNet describes Google's announcement that it will bid on 700 MHz spectrum as "Google versus the telecoms."

France to Downloaders: Stop Infringing or Lose Internet Access

Saturday, November 24th, 2007

Internet users in France who use their connections to violate copyright law may lose their connections under a new policy announced this week. In a three-way deal between internet service providers, the French government, and copyright holders, those accused of infringement will receive warnings from their ISPs. If they are identified ...

House Rebuffs Immunity for Spying Telecoms

Saturday, November 17th, 2007

On Thursday, the US House passed a FISA reform bill without granting immunity to telecommunications companies accused of assisting illegal eavesdropping on US citizens. As we noted last month, the White House and telecoms pressed for retroactive immunity. This pressure has not worked--at least not yet--despite Bush's threat of a veto.

How (Not) to Do FISA Reform

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

Here is a letter I just sent to Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), my elected representative, with added links: Dear Rep. Sires, I am a voter in your district, and I am writing in regards to H.R. 3773, the RESTORE Act. I urge you not to support this legislation unless it meets two ...

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 ...

Verizon Sues FCC over Spectrum Rules

Sunday, September 16th, 2007

In its latest attempt to block the FCC from imposing modest interconnection requirements on the 700 MHz spectrum auction, Verizon filed suit this week in the DC Circuit. The Commission wants end users to be able to use the device of their choosing and the applications of their choosing--what Tim Wu ...