April 2011

House approves measure to overturn FCC network neutrality rules

The House approved a bill to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s Internet access rules that prohibit Internet service providers from blocking or slowing sites on their networks.

In a 240 to 179 vote, lawmakers voted in favor of a resolution of disapproval that aims to overturn the so-called net neutrality rules. In order for the FCC rules to be official overturned, the Senate would have to pass a similar measure and the legislation would have to be approved by President Obama. The White House, through the Office of Management and Budget, said it would veto such legislation. Nevertheless, the House action highlights a push by major carriers and mostly Republican lawmakers to overturn the rules they say hinder ISPs from business practices. Public interest groups say ISPs have the incentive to give preference to partners and their own services and make it difficult for start-ups to succeed.

Commissioner McDowell discusses FCC's 'public interest standard'

Federal Communications Commission member Robert McDowell appears on C-SPAN's "The Communicators" and discusses how the agency should approach the "public interest standard" it applies to merger reviews. He calls the standard "broad and amorphous," but that he approaches it by trying to address "harms" that could arise from a merger. "Are there any harms coming about as a result of the merger? What are the specific harms to consumers? If there are harms, conditions should be narrowly tailored to address those," he said. "The process should not be an excuse to implement rule-makings on issues that don't arise because of that particular merger," he said.

On spectrum auctions, he said that time was running out for Congress to act on incentive auctions, and that if broadcasters have to be repositioned after spectrum reclamation that would make that process not voluntary by definition. He said that if repacking happens, broadcasters need to be compensated "at a minimum to at least make them whole."

Sec Clinton slams rising trend of Internet censorship

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the recent wave of foreign governments restricting or censoring Internet content one of the most disturbing trends of 2010 for human rights activists.

"More than 40 governments now restrict the Internet through various means. Some censored websites for political reasons. And in a number of countries, democracy and human rights activists and independent bloggers found their emails hacked or their computers infected with spyware that reported back on their every keystroke," Sec Clinton said upon the release of the State Department's annual report on human rights. Foggy Bottom has been vocal in its criticism of foreign governments that restrict access to the Internet, particularly in recent months, as a wave of political protests across North Africa and the Middle East has prompted some governments to crack down on Internet access in order to hamper organizers. In addition, there have been reports recently of political bloggers being arrested in Bahrain and China. "Digital activists have been tortured so they would reveal their passwords and implicate their colleagues," Sec Clinton said. "In Burma and in Cuba, government policies preempted online dissent by keeping most ordinary people from accessing the Internet at all."

Government approves Dish Network-Blockbuster deal

Dish Network announced that the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice greenlighted the satellite provider's $320 million purchase of the bankrupt movie rental chain Blockbuster. Dish outbid several rivals for Blockbuster, which declared bankruptcy last year after its movie rental business was hit hard by the rise of Netflix and streaming online video services. The deal is set to close on April 21. Dish has yet to indicate its plans for Blockbuster.

How to Solve Retransmission Sharing

[Commentary] Hopefully, the broadcast networks and their affiliates will use their various meetings at the NAB Show to reach some understanding on the contentious issue of retransmission sharing. But if the networks and affiliates can't get their act together soon, they should hire a “statesman” whom everyone respects to mediate, to remind both sides of their mutual interests and get them working together against cable and satellite and not against each other. But who? Who is this statesman or stateswoman who could save broadcasting from itself? I nominate NAB President Gordon Smith.

A History Lesson on Retransmission

[Commentary] The Federal Communications Commission proceeding seeking comments for possible reform of its retransmission consent rules doesn't square with history as I remember it. For one thing, contrary to what the FCC suggests, broadcasters have tried to negotiate for fees since the retransmission law was passed in the early 1990s. The FCC also betrays some bias toward cable, raising questions about how current rules might work against small cable operators, but ignoring how small TV stations are affected.

Telecom gurus discuss competition, reform at Free Press conference

Former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) official Colin Crowell, former White House technology adviser Susan Crawford, and Kenneth DeGraff, adviser to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, discussed telecom issues at the Free Press conference in Boston. They addressed the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger, the looming spectrum crisis, FCC reform, telecom policy reform, usage-based pricing, and proposed bans on municipal broadband.

Robust Competition in the Wireless Industry is the Key to a Successful Marketplace

Federal Communications Commission member Mignon Clyburn spoke at the National Conference for Media Reform.

She said, "In meeting after meeting, I hear about the fast-approaching reality of mobile DTV and faster speeds for mobile broadband. I read articles about the explosive sales of tablets and iPhones, and my staff tells me about the growing prevalence of both on their morning bus and subway commutes into southwest D.C. I mention all of this to hammer home the fact that wireless availability with its ease of use is no longer a fun novelty that’s there if and when you choose to use it. Consumers have integrated it as an essential part of their daily routines, work activities, and family discourse at an exponential and ever-increasing rate. And I'm certain the overwhelming majority would readily admit that they cannot live without their mobile device.... Did you ever think that we would develop and opt for a more convenient way of casually communicating other than talking? This is the new reality, and this country has embraced it wholeheartedly."

She went on focusing on lower-income communities: "in considering all of the factors relating to America’s minority and low-income citizens, and realizing how hard people work to claw past their monthly bills only to immediately start fretting about next month, we must be vigilant -- super-vigilant -- about the direction the wireless industry is heading. So many people depend -- and I need to stress that word -- depend on their wireless phones in their everyday lives."

T-Mobile Customers Pay More Under AT&T Plans

Among the arguments raised by opponents of AT&T's proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile: the deal would remove a wireless carrier known for catering to budget-conscious consumers.

Indeed, T-Mobile has long positioned itself as a lower-cost option to larger rivals, including AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint. But does T-Mobile really offer better deals on service plans than AT&T? Yes, according to a new analysis by Consumer Reports. It found that T-Mobile wireless plans typically cost $15 to $50 less per month than comparable plans from the carrier planning to swallow it. The consumer watchdog said the finding also validated concerns that T-Mobile customers migrating to AT&T plans would likely pay more for service than they would have with T-Mobile. And that T-Mobile's exit from the market would eliminate a lower-priced alternative from the market.

NTIA Renews Call for Business to Prepare to Transition to IPv6

The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) urged businesses to prepare for the transition to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), an updated Internet addressing system, with the release of a new "IPv6 Readiness Tool."

All devices that connect to the Internet, such as computers, smartphones, and smart grid technologies, require an Internet Protocol (IP) address. IPv6 is designed to expand the number of IP addresses available because the current number of Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) addresses will eventually exhaust. While industry action and planning are needed, consumers do not need to take action to prepare for the IPv6 transition.

The new tool, a comprehensive checklist for businesses preparing to deploy and adopt IPv6, was developed by experts from industry and the Internet technical community in response to a call from U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra at an IPv6 workshop hosted by NTIA last September. The planning tool outlines IPv6 preparedness issues, such as the technical needs associated with deployment. The purpose of the tool is to help business leaders identify readiness issues and to bring these issues to the attention of senior corporate management to ensure successful IPv6 deployment and facilitate accelerated innovation.

Benton

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