September 2009

NTIA and ICANN Aren't Afraid of Commitment

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has reached an agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that establishes a long-lasting framework for the technical coordination of the Internet's domain name and addressing system (DNS). NTIA and ICANN co-signed an Affirmation of Commitments that completes the transition of the technical management of the DNS to a multi-stakeholder, private-sector-led model. The Affirmation ensures accountability and transparency in ICANN's decision-making with the goal of protecting the interests of global Internet users. The Affirmation also establishes mechanisms to address the security, stability, and resiliency of the Internet DNS as well as promote competition, consumer trust, and consumer choice. Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Rick Boucher, Chairman of the Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee, praised the agreement.

Internet Speeds Are Often Slower Than What Consumers Pay For, FCC Finds

According to Federal Communications Commission National broadband Plan staff, actual broadband speeds lag advertised speeds by as much as 50% to 80%. So more than half the time, and sometimes as much as eight out of ten times, consumers are paying for slower Internet access speed than they signed up for. Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst at Consumers Union, says he's heard many such complaints from users and has pushed for the Federal Trade Commission to take up a review under truth in advertising laws. A spokeswoman at the FTC said the agency doesn't publicly disclose all of its investigations. "This speaks to consumer empowerment. And if you are advertising one speed but delivering another, that takes power away," Kelsey said. "Consumers can't make accurate decisions based on quality of service from one provider off another."

It's 'patent-ly' obvious: US needs better broadband

[Commentary] In the history of our nation, economic downturns have typically been followed by forces of innovation that result in accompanying upturns. The forces for economic opportunity and turnaround have ranged from innovations in the 19th century's Industrial Revolution to the 20th century's interstate highway system - and most recently, the World Wide Web. Today, President Barack Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - and the broadband economic stimulus plan within it - could hold the key for America to move toward a more robust, more pervasive broadband platform - the type of infrastructure that drives new ideas and tomorrow's economic success stories. Our European and Asian counterparts have been investing in broadband robust enough to support new products and services, creating a test bed for innovation. This strategy is fostering and attracting companies seeking the 21st-century infrastructure lacking in the US. Broadband is key to our nation remaining competitive. Our goals as a nation should reflect the spirit of innovation that has made and kept America great. We should aim high, with a goal of delivering gigabyte broadband service to every household and business and once again establishing America as a welcome home for innovation. Imagine if we had made the mistake of building ordinary roads when, in the 1950s, true progress required an interstate highway system. We are at a similar juncture, which is why the time calls for the high ambition of gigabit speeds.

Let the broadband stimulus challenges begin!

As of Monday night, the industry is in the 30-day period in which incumbents can challenge federal broadband stimulus applications for projects that involve census blocks within their footprint. Based on what some experts are saying, this challenge period could be very interesting. "There will be many challenges," said Tom Cohen, legal counsel to the FTTC Council. "There are situations where [applicants] are saying, 'This is an underserved area,' and incumbents are saying, 'We're already there.'" It would seem to be a straightforward matter: Is broadband service available in a given census block or isn't it? But does advertising a service in a given area mean it's available? In the case of rural areas, broadband service may run into distance limits such that broadband can be available in a neighborhood but not to every house. Census blocks are the smallest geographical unit used by the US Census, and there are 82 million of them - many uninhabited. Urban census blocks can correspond to actual blocks, but in rural areas, census blocks are geographically much larger.One company had gone door-to-door in the census blocks it is claiming are underserved before filing its application, and hopes any challenger would have to do the same thing - a comment which drew laughter.

Fiber now in 5.3 million North American homes

More than 1.5 million North American homes subscribed to fiber-to-the-home last year, bringing the total to 5.3 million, according to the latest study for the FTTH Council by RVA Market Research. The number of homes passed grew from 13.8 million to 17.2 million in the same time period. Verizon continues to be the market leader.

House Committee Approves P2P File Sharing Bill

The House Commerce Committee passed two bills Wednesday dealing with protecting personal information online, including one that would establish new guidelines for some P2P file sharing. The Informed P2P User Act (HR 1319) requires that users of file-sharing programs are given "conspicuous notice" and required to opt in before the file sharing program is installed. It also requires those who market or distribute the programs to make it "reasonably simple" to block or remove the programs. But it also says it is not meant to discourage the legitimate uses of file-sharing technology. The bill as passed narrowed the definition of peer-to-peer services subject to the restrictions to those where sharing of personal data -- financial or health records -- was implicated. It specifically exempts e-mail, instant messaging, real time audio and video and real-time voice applications, its co-sponsor, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) said at the hearing marking up the bills. Also passed out of committee was HR 2221, which sets federal standards for protecting personal information, including giving consumers more access to and control over, that information, and requires notice to consumers of data breaches.

Senate Urged To Confirm IP Czar Quickly

US Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue urged the Senate on Wednesday to "hurry up and confirm" former U.S. Assistant Trade Representative Victoria Espinel who was tapped last week by President Obama to serve as the first White House intellectual property enforcement coordinator. The Senate Judiciary Committee first must receive a completed questionnaire that details her background and experience and then a hearing can be scheduled. Espinel, who is highly regarded on Capitol Hill, within industry, and among international IP policy arenas, is expected to easily win confirmation.

Save the Google Book Search Deal!

[Commentary] The Google Book Search settlement makes it easier to get books few people want. A delivery system for books that few people want is not a business one builds for financial reasons. Over history, such projects are usually built not by the market but by mad emperors. No bean counter would have approved the Library of Alexandria or the Taj Mahal. A modified settlement should go forward, but let the court keep watch to make sure the deal achieves its public goals without undue private gain. This is the essence of the utility model: Let a private party do something in the public's interest that would not happen otherwise while keeping an eye on what happens. Here, the court would provide protection against a Google turn to the dark side. A lot of people have the instinct that Google is a dangerous company with designs to monopolize everything, not just old books. And the public seems, reasonably enough, in a mood to teach all big companies some hard lessons. But if you want to put Google in its place, the book project is the wrong way to do so. It is Google's monopoly on Internet search that is valuable and potentially dangerous, not a quixotic project to provide access to unpopular books. So hold on to that sense of wariness, but understand that in this case, it's misplaced. To punish Google by killing Book Search would be like punishing Andrew Carnegie by blowing up Carnegie Hall.

Health fight TV ads pass $100 million for the year

Evan Tracey, who heads a private data tracking company called the Campaign Media Analysis Group, says spending on TV ads on health insurance reform hit $110 million as of Sunday. It's averaged $1.1 million daily in the past week as Congress has stepped up its work on overhaul legislation. About $47 million has been spent for ads favoring a health overhaul and another $32 million has gone to opposing the effort.

Media Less Influential in Views on Health Care, Economy Than on Other Issues

When asked what is most important in helping them to form opinions on health care, 41% cite what they have heard or read in the media as most important; only somewhat fewer cite personal experiences (31%), while another 25% say that talking with friends and family is most important. Similarly, nearly as many people say that personal experiences are most important in helping them form opinions about the economy (35%) as cite the media (41%), with 23% mentioning talking with friends and family. By contrast, clear majorities say the media is most important in helping them form opinions about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (61%) and environmental issues such as global climate change (57%), while far fewer cite personal experiences as being most important (15% for Iraq and Afghanistan, 19% for environmental issues). In each case, about one-in-five cite talking with family and friends as most important (22% Iraq and Afghanistan, 19% environment).

Benton

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