FCC rule change could kill off Boxee — and require set-top boxes for basic cable
A provision of the Cable Television Protection and Competition Act that requires cable companies to provide unencrypted basic-tier cable could soon become obsolete, putting the life of young set-top box-maker Boxee in jeopardy.
A rule change, supported by the cable companies, is currently being considered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would enable the encryption of basic tier cable. A decision could be made in just a few weeks time.
The change would force … Continue Reading
The FCC is dragging its feet on wireless spectrum, says AT&T
Echoing the sentiments of its competitors, AT&T today discussed the growing need for more wireless spectrum in the US and criticized the FCC’s inability to open up more spectrum, in its fourth quarter earnings call.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said the wireless industry is in the midst of tremendous growth, but “this growth cannot continue without more spectrum being cleared and brought to market.” He pointed out that the last big spectrum auction by the … Continue Reading
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski calls for SOPA compromise
The Stop Online Privacy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act may be on hiatus, but what’s really at stake are two equally critical values that don’t necessarily have to be in opposition of each other, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski stated in a fireside chat at the Digital Life Design conference in Munich today.
PIPA and SOPA would give the U.S. government and copyright holders the authority to seek court orders against foreign … Continue Reading
It’s not an investigation: Carrier IQ asked FCC & FTC for meetings to clear its name
Carrier IQ, the beleaguered firm that monitors cell phone data, has sought out meetings with both the FTC and FCC in an attempt to clear its name of wiretapping and privacy-violating allegations.
While other outlets are reporting that Carrier IQ is undergoing a federal investigation, the company tells us it contacted these agencies first, not the other way around.
“Investigation is the wrong word here,” a company spokesperson told VentureBeat in an email today. “We … Continue Reading
FCC report blasts T-Mobile merger, AT&T cries about it
The Federal Communications Commission last night released a damning 157-page report (PDF) against AT&T’s proposed $39 billion T-Mobile takeover, which concludes that the merger would ultimately hurt US consumers and the wireless market.
AT&T, not surprisingly, is none too pleased. The company objected to the release of the report, calling it merely a “draft” that doesn’t have any legal standing, reports Politico. AT&T also took issue with the fact that it didn’t get to see … Continue Reading
FCC chair backs DOJ’s AT&T suit, while Sprint gloats
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski is throwing his agency’s weight behind the Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit against AT&T over its proposed merger with T-Mobile.
“By filing suit today, the Department of Justice has concluded that AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile would substantially lessen competition in violation of the antitrust laws,” Genachowski wrote. This marks the first time that the FCC has actively spoken against the $39 billion merger.
Genachowski continues:
Competition is an essential component of … Continue Reading
Oh snap, FCC may kill LightSquared to save GPS services
The Federal Communications Commission and other regulators are prepared to stop wireless broadband startup LightSquared from operating if its network poses any risk to GPS services, the government agencies stated Tuesday during their monthly meeting, reports Reuters.
LightSquared’s business model relies on supplying outside companies with wholesale access to its high-speed wireless network, which operates on a portion of the wireless spectrum that causes interference to GPS. That interference prevents the estimated 500 million GPS-enabled … Continue Reading
