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15 Mar 2010 20:39

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Tech: Feel that breeze? It’s wind caused by the FCC’s blustery broadband plan

  • 4 Mbps the average speed of the current broadband option in U.S. homes; 100 million don’t have broadband
  • 100 Mbps the speed the FCC’s new program strives for in 100 million homes by 2020 *whoooosh* source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

13 Mar 2010 11:20

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Tech, U.S.: Coming soon to Congress: A broadband Internet battle royale

  • FCC The Federal Communications Commission wants to expand broadband access (especially to rural areas that lack fast internet) and widen the wireless spectrum, saying the U.S. is falling behind.
  • telecom The TV industry is concerned that losing chunks of over-the-air spectrum could affect their signals; major telecom providers are also feeling mounting pressure to improve their networks. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Feb 2010 12:40

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Culture: “Our Little Genius” isn’t nearly as smart as he looks

  • Word on the street is that this highly-promoted Fox game show, “Our Little Genius,” never made it to air because of an FCC complaint about the show. Apparently, the kids were getting fed answers to make them seem a lot smarter, which is totally not cool. More than anything, though, we’re sad that Kevin Pollack lost another gig. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Dec 2009 22:19

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Tech: Fake Steve Jobs’ “Operation Chokehold” worthy of a FCC response

  • Threats of this nature are serious and we caution the public to use common sense and good judgment when accessing the Internet from their commercial mobile devices. To purposely try to disrupt or negatively impact a network with ill-intent is irresponsible and presents a significant public safety concern.
  • FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau chief Jamie Barnett • Giving Fake Steve Jobs’ super-amusing mass-iPhone-overuse threat some steam by actually commenting on it. Fake Steve (a.k.a. Daniel Lyons) is amused. So are we. Surprisingly, the whole debacle has generated massive amounts of press for the site and AT&T in general, because, well, it’s funny. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Dec 2009 09:23

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Tech: David Pogue’s recent Verizon article leads to FCC investigation

  • If the ETF is meant to recoup the wholesale cost of the phone over the life of the contract, why does a $120 ETF apply?
  • The FCC • In a letter to Verizon asking them why their recently-changed early termination fees are so high. They also asked about these finicky $1.99 charges for accessing the Web our boy David Pogue brought up (along with these fees) in an article last month. This warms our heart because it proves the FCC is actually listening to concerns like these as they come up. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Oct 2009 00:50

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Tech: Congrats to AT&T for completely clouding the Google Voice issue

  • The FCC’s worried about that thing AT&T mentioned now. A couple weeks ago, we mentioned that it seemed like AT&T’s mentioning of Google Voice’s blocking of rural calls screamed of a lawyer looking very closely for a way to screw over Google. Well, it appears they’ve succeeded. The FCC sent a letter to Google asking why they were blocking those calls. If they decide that Google should be treated like big telecom companies in this regard, it could hurt a budding service. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Sep 2009 18:41

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Biz, Tech: We bet AT&T’s lawyers spent weeks looking for this nugget

  • By openly flaunting the call blocking prohibition that applies to its competitors, Google is acting in a manner inconsistent with the spirit, if not the letter, of the FCC’s fourth principle contained in its Internet Policy Statement.
  • AT&T senior vice president of federal regulatory affairs Robert Quinn • In a letter to the FCC that criticizes the App Store-rejected Google Voice in the midst of the net neutrality debate. Their claim? Because it doesn’t connect everywhere yet, Google Voice flaunts the FCC’s 2007 ban on long-distance providers blocking calls to certain rural areas. It’s like … OH! Let’s find an obscure decision and use it to criticize Google Voice, that software we don’t like! They may have a point, yes, but it feels like they had to reach to find it. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

19 Sep 2009 10:17

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Tech: The saga of the Google Voice iPhone app gets more drama-laden

  • Google says Google admitted yesterday that Apple was not still looking into the Google Voice application, but that it was rejected for duplicating functionality. source
  • Google says Google admitted yesterday that Apple was not still looking into the Google Voice application, but that it was rejected for duplicating functionality.
  • Apple says For Apple’s part in the mix, they say that they’re telling the truth. If they weren’t, it would effectively mean they were lying to the FCC. That’s bad. source
  • Google says Google admitted yesterday that Apple was not still looking into the Google Voice application, but that it was rejected for duplicating functionality.
  • Apple says For Apple’s part in the mix, they say that they’re telling the truth. If they weren’t, it would effectively mean they were lying to the FCC. That’s bad.
  • TechCrunch butts in TechCrunch says that Google has a screenshot of the actual rejection letter. It’s offering a T-shirt to the Google employee that sends it along. Classy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Sep 2009 18:56

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Tech, U.S.: Net neutrality win: The FCC could leave the series of tubes open

  • FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is pushing for it. It’s good news for the average internet user. It’s great news for Google and free speech. It’s awful news for AT&T, Verizon, Comcast or any other ISP. But it’s got the support of the FCC, which will propose new regulations on Monday. “It will be a big win for consumers if the FCC delivers strong net neutrality rules that apply across all technologies,”said Free Press policy director Ben Scott. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Aug 2009 23:22

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Tech: Apple’s all like, we didn’t deny that Google Voice iPhone app yet

  • They say it might confuse users. Despite the fact that 1) It’s already being used elsewhere, 2) It’s a Google app and 3) There’s extreme criticism from end users over the app’s denial, Apple is still debating the Google Voice app. It wrote in its letter to the FCC that the app replaces “the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voice mail.” Duh. One other note: Apple apparently doesn’t discuss apps with AT&T, as was feared, but agreed not to allow VOIP apps like Skype. The FCC’s looking into that, too. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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