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
Congressman releases new mobile device privacy bill to stop Carrier IQ-like software
The United States Congress is readying a new piece of legislation aimed at preventing unauthorized use of your cellphone data.
The Mobile Device Privacy Act (PDF), released today by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), is in direct response to the recent controversy caused by data tracking software Carrier IQ. That software is designed to help cellphone companies track the performance of their devices, but many critics believe it’s far too intrusive because it records users’ web … 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
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski warns of looming wireless spectrum crunch
The U.S. needs to address the looming wireless spectrum crunch to allow for continued innovation in broadband wireless, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski said Wednesday at the Consumer Electronics Show.
One of the ways to do that is to offer so-called incentive auctions that motivate the owners of current wireless spectrum to make them available to those who bid the highest. New York City, Genachowski said, does not need 28 TV stations using valuable … Continue Reading
Updated: Verizon reverses $2 fee after FCC inquiry, customer outrage
Update, 12:31pm PST: Verizon wireless has reversed its decision to institute a $2 fee on customers paying their bills online. The company released a statement confirming the about-face on Friday, a couple hours after the Federal Communications Commission decided to look into the fee. The statement reads:
Verizon Wireless has decided it will not institute the fee for online or telephone single payments that was announced earlier this week.
The company made the decision in … Continue Reading
AT&T and Deutsche Telekom kill FCC application for T-Mobile merger
Question: What costs over $4 billion and a coveted slice of wireless spectrum? Answer: The stipulation included in AT&T’s bid to purchase rival carrier T-Mobile USA in the event the sale doesn’t go through.
Today, AT&T and current T-Mobile USA owner Deutsche Telekom announced that they are withdrawing the application for the merger, which was pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. As a cautionary measure, AT&T has listed the $4 billion pretax charge on … Continue Reading
FCC Chairman Genachowski seeks hearing on AT&T/T-Mobile merger
Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski has requested a trial-like hearing for the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger after deciding that the deal would hurt consumers.
The FCC’s hearing would be yet another roadblock to the beleaguered telecom merger. On top of the Department of Justice seeking to block the deal, the attorneys general of seven states took legal steps to stop the merger back in mid-September. AT&T rival Sprint has also filed its own … Continue Reading
FCC still won’t judge on wireless industry competition
The Federal Communications Commission has released its Fifteenth Report on wireless competition, and the big news is that there’s no big news.
That is, the FCC has still not released a formal finding as to whether there is, or is not, effective competition in the Mobile Wireless industry.
This is a big deal, because lack of a finding does not help predict what the FCC will decide regarding the pending merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. … Continue Reading
Netherlands becomes second country to make net neutrality a law
The Dutch Parliament on Wednesday passed a law that prohibits Internet service providers from slowing down any kind of Internet traffic unless it’s to ease congestion, preserve security, or block spam.
The practice of treating all Internet traffic equally—whether it’s text, e-mail, audio, or video—is commonly referred to as net neutrality. This move makes the Netherlands the second country in the world to put net neutrality into law, after Chile.
The concept of net neutrality … Continue Reading
Can the FCC stop the coming spectrum crunch?
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
Week in review: Web pioneer bashes Apple, SXSW attendees slam Twitter keynote
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
FCC announces National Broadband Plan
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
FCC report profiles broadband non-subscribers in the U.S.
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
FCC announces 100Mbps broadband initiative as part of upcoming National Broadband Plan
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
FCC looking to purchase wireless spectrum from broadcasters
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
Google's Android phone, the HTC Dream, is apparently approved by FCC — Nov. 10 is the latest release date
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
Roundup: Google phone, Bancrofts bought off?, Yelp, Docstoc, Bittorrent & more
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
Google earmarks $4.6 billion for wireless bid, backs Ubiquisys
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
FCC to open wireless spectrum — will Google strike?
For all the talk of a pending spectrum crunch that is worrying regulators and wireless companies, Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot about it.
Genachowski reasserted his stance that the government needs to open up the “white space” of the wireless spectrum between television stations for auction to wireless companies in order to alleviate an upcoming spectrum crunch — which refers to a large number of companies … Continue Reading
