December 2014

Why Independent Music Fans Need Real Network Neutrality

[Commentary] The online sphere for independent music has offered its fans access to and information about a greater diversity of music than ever before. What makes this possible is Network Neutrality, the principle that all traffic should be treated equally, regardless of who made it; meaning your favorite cassette label’s website, music videos, or other data can flow just as effectively as OneRepublic’s. But now a new class of potential gatekeepers has emerged in the form of Internet Service Providers, the companies we pay for online access, and what’s being hoarded is attention and access. Musicians have been active in this fight before the concept of net neutrality even had a name, and this year, as the issue came to national attention, musicians were again among those leading the charge. Whether you care about music for its entertainment value, for its cultural vitality, or for its ability to resist representations, respond in protest and elevate voices of cultural dissent, it’s time to listen closely.

[Kevin Erickson is Communications&Outreach Manager at the Future of Music Coalition]

FCC mobile competition report once again dodges its key question

[Commentary] Another year, another report from the Federal Communications Commission on the state of competition in the US mobile industry, and as has been the case since 2009, the FCC didn’t actually reach any conclusion on whether that industry is competitive.

Instead the FCC just presented the facts it gathered over 2013 and the first half of 2014: More consolidation has eliminated big regional operators like MetroPCS and Leap Wireless as independent providers and put more subscribers and revenue into the hands of the Big Four (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint), which accounted for 96 percent of the US market. The FCC claimed that it can’t draw any single conclusion about whether the overall wireless market is competitive or uncompetitive since there are so many other factors that go into such judgment beyond those it analyzes in its reports. That may be true, but it also means the report can mean anything anyone wants it to be.

For $90 million, T-Mobile will settle FTC charges that it slipped bogus fees onto wireless bills

T-Mobile is agreeing to pay at least $90 million -- and possibly as much as $112.5 million -- as part of a settlement with federal and state officials over third-party fees that it added to consumers' bills without their knowledge or consent. The hidden fees showed up on billing statements as a "premium" text messaging service when in fact, the complaint alleged, the messages contained spammy horoscope information or celebrity gossip that customers never signed up for.

The tactic, known as mobile cramming, benefited T-Mobile when the company took a 40 percent cut of every third-party charge. The settlement involves the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the attorneys general of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Under the agreement, T-Mobile will pay back more than the $90 million if the demand for refunds exceeds that amount.

Statement From FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler On T-Mobile Settlement

Today’s settlement is a win for consumers who have been victimized by cramming. It means compensation for T-Mobile customers who were fraudulently billed for third-party services that they did not want or authorize. And it goes one step further. Today’s action will also help protect all of T-Mobile's customers from bogus third-party charges in the future....I look forward to working with our federal and state partners in to crack down on cramming and protect America's consumers.

Four Ways 2014 Was a Pivotal Year for the Internet

[Commentary] Here are the four Internet issues that played leading roles in 2014:

1) Network Neutrality: This revolutionary principle is under attack from the phone and cable companies that control access in the United States
2) Consolidation: Too many communities can choose from only one or two Internet-access providers
3) Online Privacy: Congress failed to pass legislation to reign in government snooping powers
4) Community Networks: With big Internet providers like Comcast gaining notoriety for dismal customer service, municipal broadband networks have gained traction

If you value free speech, keep an eye on these four issues as 2015 gets underway.

Google Fiber Delays Expansion Decision Until 2015

Google Fiber confirmed that it has delayed announcing which markets are tagged for the expansion of a network that delivers a mix of 1-Gig broadband and pay-TV services. Google Fiber said it’s still ironing out details with individual cities and will announce expansion details early in 2015.

Google files lawsuit against Mississippi attorney general

Google filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Jim Hood (D-MS), accusing him of using his office to wage an unlawful campaign against the company.

In its suit, Google points to e-mails released as part of a massive cyberattack against Sony Pictures Entertainment. The e-mails appear to show that AG Hood coordinated with the Motion Picture Association of America as part a campaign to force Google to crack down on criminals selling counterfeit prescription medicine and drugs online. The suit seeks to block a subpoena issued by AG Hood for information on how Google cracks down on ads that promote the sale of illegal drugs through its search engine or YouTube. Google said Hood's subpoena violates the First Amendment by asking a private company to censor material. The tech firm also said in the filing that the subpoena is "overbroad."

5 Questions for the future of news literacy

[Commentary] Here are five questions worth exploring within and beyond the field of news literacy:

1) How do headlines change the way we process information?
2) How do we actually measure understanding of the news?
3) How does news trend differently on different social networks and what should we know about algorithms in order to be savvy news consumers?
4) How do we engage more communities around accessing and understanding the news?
5) Who is the "liminal press" and how do we hold them accountable?

EBay follows tech crowd, cutting ties with conservative group

EBay is the latest tech company to cut ties with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). EBay declined to say why it was leaving the group, but executive director John Donahoe has previously opposed its stance on climate change and other issues.

Increasing the Reach of Census Bureau Data

The Census Bureau has undertaken a comprehensive digital transformation effort, developing new tools using the latest technologies.

Benton

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