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01 Aug 2009 10:41

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Tech: FCC to Apple and AT&T: Explain why you’re blocking Google Voice

  • Stern letters? Submitted. The other day, it came out that Apple had declined Google’s submission of a Google Voice app on the iPhone, saying the app duplicated functionality on the iPhone. Usually, customers get grumpy about things like this and it gets ignored, but this time the Federal Communications Commission stepped in, sending letters to Apple, Google and AT&T, asking what led to this. It’s not a formal investigation, but the pressure is definitely good for consumers. The FCC, however, is investigating the exclusive relationship between some carriers and some phone-makers. Like, you know, Apple and AT&T. source

13 Jun 2009 13:21

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Biz, Music: A high school radio station fought the music industry head on

  • WMPH set the example for protesting performance royalties for artists. The station, based in Delaware, is the subject of an FCC complaint filed by the musicFIRST Coalition after they chose not to play any of the artists on this list for a month back in 2007 as an educational protest against the idea of paying performance royalties to artists. In a statement posted on the WMPH site, the station says that, by asking stations to pay for a promotional tool, “the musicFIRST coalition of artists is attempting to hurt the radio stations, disc jockeys, and fans that have always been their greatest ally.” source

28 Apr 2009 11:59

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Culture, U.S.: &!*#*^% Supreme Court has to ruin everything, dammit

  • Cher said a bad word in 2002. Nicole Ritchie said one in 2003. source
  • The FCC sued Fox for allowing said bad word to get on air. source
  • An appeals court turned down the decision against Fox. source
  • The Supreme Court sided with the FCC. !&%* them. source