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November 2014

FCC Proves (Yet Again) That Easy Forbearance Under Title II is a Myth

In the ongoing push for heavier regulation of the Internet, pro-regulation advocates try to downplay the impact of imposing 80-year-old telecom rules on the Internet by invoking the concept of “forbearance” as a magic wand that will simply make all the harmful aspects of Title II disappear. Well, the DC Circuit and the Federal Communications Commission have provided more evidence that the forbearance process is not easy.

The FCC rejected a request to forbear from the Part 32 accounting rules. So Verizon appealed that decision to the DC Circuit. The court released its decision, noting that the need for the Part 32 accounting data “appears marginal,” but concluding that the FCC is entitled to deference in its decisions so the court wasn’t in a position to second-guess it. So at the end of a process lasting almost three years, the “easy” forbearance process has failed to achieve the simple task of doing away with a requirement that has been obsolete for decades. And this is the process that pro-regulation advocates are counting on to keep rotary-telephone-era regulations from harming the Internet ecosystem? It’s enough to make you sick.

Verizon and AT&T Move Toward Voice over LTE Interoperability

Verizon and AT&T are taking the next step in the evolution of VoLTE (voice over LTE) technology by enabling VoLTE- to-VoLTE connections between Verizon Wireless and AT&T customers. VoLTE interoperability between Verizon and AT&T customers is expected in 2015.

Engineers from both companies are working through a full set of requirements, beginning with extensive testing in lab environments and then moving to field trials. This approach ensures customers will have a seamless experience making VoLTE HD Voice calls between networks and lays the foundation for interoperability of other Rich Communications Services (RCS) such as video calls, rich messaging, and more in the future.

Public Knowledge & Consumers Petition Copyright Office for Right to Unlock Access to Their Own Stuff

Remember the hard-won battle for consumers’ right to unlock their own cell phones that concluded a few months ago? It lasted over a year and included 114,000 Americans signing a petition, support from the White House, and bipartisan action from both the House and the Senate. We did it, though, and as a result individuals now have the right to unlock phones they own so they can take those phones with them when they switch from one network to another. But that right could disappear next year, depending on how the Copyright Office rules once again in the triennial proceeding set forth under Section 1201 of the Copyright Act. Section 1201 prohibits the breaking of digital “locks” (like the software-based restriction that keeps a phone tied to one carrier’s network) and gives the Copyright Office the power to grant limited exemptions. Indeed, consumers will lose the right to unlock their own phones unless someone convinces the Copyright Office to renew the exemption for phone unlocking.

Megan Smith: ‘You Can Affect Billions of People’

A Q&A with the chief technology officer of the United States, Megan Smith.

She says, “[S]o many kids at the top schools apply for Teach for America. I’d like to talk to those young people and say: Consider government. It’s real service, and you can affect hundreds of millions of people. And if you’re working for USAID and the State Department, you can affect billions of people.”

Google’s search for a better motto

Google is on the hunt for a new mission statement.

The search giant's ambitions have grown so large and diverse that its original goals no longer accurately reflect what Google's all about. The company is thinking about how to reposition itself as more of its side projects -- Google Fiber, self-driving cars, bringing Internet to developing countries -- bring it into conflict with established companies, regulations and institutions. To get its way in these fights, Google will probably have to be a little evil to incumbents at least some of the time.

Full Digital Inclusion by 2020: Challenges and Opportunities

“The internet is for everyone and therefore needs to be available for everyone,” Kathy Brown, President and CEO of the Internet Society, said when speaking at the second Connect 2020 roundtable. Yet there are both challenges and opportunities for realizing the ambitious task of creating a fully inclusive Internet Society as identified in Goal 2 of the Connect 2020 framework, ‘Inclusiveness – bridge the digital divide and provide broadband for all’.

This is about being committed to ensuring that everyone without exception benefits from ICTs. Under this Goal ITU will work towards global ICT access, ICT accessibility, affordability in all countries and regions and by all peoples, including marginalized and vulnerable populations, such as women, children, people with different income levels, Indigenous Peoples, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The Secret of Huawei’s Success

A Q&A with Chen Lifang, Huawei’s senior vice president.

Huawei is one of the biggest companies in the world. And it’s largely unknown in the US. China’s Huawei is a leading global player in telecommunications, but it hasn’t broken through in the US, where it has been held up by questions over its security. What’s next for this giant? And how soon before it becomes a force in the US?

Berlin Weighs Possible Hit to US Tech Firms

German politicians are debating a new Internet-security law that could exclude US technology companies from Germany’s digital economy, a sign Berlin is beginning to press its commercial advantage after revelations of spying by the National Security Agency.

The draft law, which is still being hammered out, envisions new requirements like revealing source code or other proprietary data for companies that sell information technology to the German government or to private companies that are part of industries Berlin deems critical to the country’s security. Officials at many US companies say they fear the sweeping language of the provisions will be used to prevent them from competing for technology contracts in Germany, where attitudes toward American companies have deteriorated since disclosures that the US National Security Agency spied on German politicians.

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Thursday, November 13, 2014
2:45-3:45 pm
http://www.itif.org/events/itif-debate-what-appropriate-legal-framework-...

With net neutrality rules from the Federal Communications Commission expected soon, ITIF gathers two teams of experts to argue the merits of proposed legal approaches. Advocating for classification of broadband providers as a Title II common carrier will be Michael Weinberg of Public Knowledge and Evan Engstrom of Engine Advocacy. Supporting reliance on Section 706 of the Communications Act will be Doug Brake of ITIF and Gregg Rothschild of Glover Park Group. In classic debate format, the two sides will reason out the advantages, disadvantages, and potential implications of the possible approaches and explore alternatives, all in the hopes of convincing you of their chosen path to protecting and promoting the open Internet.


Center for Data Innovation
Thursday, December 4, 2014
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
http://www.datainnovation.org/2014/12/how-can-policymakers-help-build-th...

Panel 1: Smart Homes and Smart Devices
From reducing home energy bills to keeping families safe, the Internet of Things is poised to improve the life of consumers. Automated home systems can monitor and control energy use to cut down on bills, alert the police or fire department during an emergency when nobody is home, and help make consumers more comfortable. Wearable technologies, ranging from smart watches to smart onesies, can help track calories, monitor sleep habits, and even treat medical conditions. This panel will explore the opportunities for consumers to benefit from the Internet of Things, and how policymakers can enable these changes.

Panel 2: Smart Cities and Smart Infrastructure
From smart trash cans to smart street lamps, integrating city infrastructure and public services into the Internet of Things has the potential address problems such as crime, traffic, and pollution. Smart roads can help reduce congestion, sensor-equipped bridges can help improve public safety, and smart buildings can help reduce the city’s environmental impact. This panel will explore the future of smart cities, how they will benefit citizens, and what opportunities exist to leverage smart infrastructure to build more resilient communities.

Panel 3: Smart Industry
From sensor-laden assembly lines to networked fleets, many businesses are beginning to invest in the Internet of Things to become more efficient, deliver better products and services, and increase sustainability. Smart factories allow for quantification and real-time monitoring of every step of the manufacturing process. Networked supply chains can make international shipping and trade easier and more accountable, and ensure transparency in the sourcing of materials. This panel will explore how the Internet of Things will help unleash a new wave of industrial innovation and build new economic opportunities.


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