It will take some time before the full effects of the FCC’s recent net neutrality order take hold. But one thing’s clear: Over-the-top video and the ability of third-party online video sites to operate and innovate is at the heart of the commission’s rules. Read more »
It’s important to dispel potential myths and market misunderstandings when it comes to consumer electronic devices and trends. For 2011, that includes paid video chat, Apple dominating the living room and the misinformed belief that Google will rule the e-book space. ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
With its rules on network neutrality, the FCC has protected the current state of the Internet, left the future of the web unregulated and punted on most of the challenging issues that lay before it — from requiring wireless networks to be open to allowing managed services. Read more »
FCC chairman Julius Genachowski issued a draft order to the other commissioners today that gave the Comcast-NBCU deal the “OK,” with some “carefully tailored conditions.” But what those conditions are, and what they mean for the future of online video, remains to be seen. Read more »
The FCC implementation of rules around network neutrality on Tuesday may open up a change in the way carriers price mobile broadband — and it’s not going to get cheaper. Uncertainly over network neutrality has held U.S. operators back when it comes to new pricing plans. Read more »
This is the fourth and final post in a debate between Blair Levin, the writer of the National Broadband Plan, and Craig Settles, a broadband industry consultant. Levin is convinced critics of the plan gloss over the level of detail that went into its creation. Read more »
Net Neutrality, a drama that has dragged on for years, lurched forward today with new rules from the FCC that will impose some basic protections for an open Internet but will leave wireless with less safeguards than wired broadband. Here’s what the Web is saying: Read more »
The FCC today approved an order that will enshrine the policies of network neutrality — the idea that ISPs can’t hinder or discriminate against lawful content flowing across their pipes — as regulations enforced by the FCC. Here’s how we got here. Read more »
The FCC today said it would vote on rules to prevent ISPs from discriminating against the bits flowing across their networks, but it wouldn’t publish the full text of those rules until a few days after the vote due to a compromise with Democratic commissioners. Read more »
Tomorrow, the FCC will unveil its policy framework around network neutrality (yes, it did this last September but network neutrality is like tech policy’s Groundhog Day) and vote on the proposed rules. But even after the vote, it is an issue that won’t go away. Read more »
Today on the Net: Google is reportedly working on striking deals for an expanded video rental service to be heavily promoted next year, between the Comcast NBCU merger and net neutrality the FCC has a lot on its plate and Hulu increased its 2010 revenue forecast. Read more »
The author of the National Broadband Plan is happy to debate the plan. He agrees with an earlier column that said broadband is a critical economic development tool and takes work, but wants to set the record straight on speed goals and how to fund them. Read more »
The always-unpredictable mobile space enters 2011 at a particularly dynamic time. Carriers are now bringing 4G networks online, even as their definitions of “4G” vary. Meanwhile, mobile data consumption is exploding and the FCC trying to settle on policies both to regulate the industry and to ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
When it comes to broadband, it’s the applications, not speed that matters, but by default, then we need to admit our national goal of 4 Mbps broadband probably isn’t fast enough to deliver the up and coming apps, and may doom the U.S. to inadequacy. Read more »
The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will look to expand its power to stop retransmission disputes from leading to blackouts. But don’t expect blackouts to end anytime soon, since it will take at least 18 months for the rules to be in place. Read more »
A fight between Comcast and Level 3 may be simple commercial disagreement over how much traffic Level 3 will send Comcast now that Level 3 is the content delivery network for Netflix, but many believe the spat has the potential to change how the web works. Read more »
Yesterday FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski unveiled a framework for the regulatory agencies net neutrality efforts — the idea that a broadband provider cannot interference with the delivery of lawful bits over its network — that received fairly lackluster support. But we found a compelling counterpoint in the blogosphere. Read more »
Today on the Net: Hulu considers raising money for a possible expansion in international markets, the FCC unanimously votes on a proposal to enable TV broadcasters to auction off spectrum and MLB has lots of viewers on mobile devices, but very little revenue so far. Read more »
The FCC today opened the door to metered pricing plans on wireline broadband networks such as those attempted by Time Warner Cable and AT&T. In a speech outlining his network neutrality proposal, Julius Genachowski condoned usage-based pricing as a means to ensure continued investment in networks. Read more »
The FCC is moving forward on a vote for long-promised net neutrality rules, fulfilling a goal Chairman Julius Genachoswski laid out more than a year ago. The regulations, which will be heard on Dec. 21, will require wireline providers to follow stricter rules than wireless. Read more »
The FCC moved to begin freeing up TV broadcast spectrum for wireless and fixed Internet use in a decision that could ultimately lead to an auction of 120 MHz of spectrum.The vote could help the U.S. stave off a spectrum crunch as mobile Internet use soars. Read more »
A showdown between Comcast and Level 3 over fees Level 3 has agreed to pay the cable giant to carry its traffic has touched off a debate as to whether Comcast is abusing its power or if it’s simply holding Level 3 to a fair standard. Read more »
Netflix really was just out to save some money when it decided to switch a sizable portion of its CDN business from Akamai to Level 3 in November. Instead, it started something that may turn out to be the Internet’s equivalent to an international armed incident. Read more »
Level 3, the middle-mile Internet provider and the newly crowned content delivery network for Netflix, has accused Comcast of violating the tenants of network neutrality as the cable company seeks an additional payment to deliver content from Level 3 to its subscribers. Read more »
Internet services providers are calling for an Federal Communications Commission with less authority over regulating broadband, just as the FCC reportedly prepares to vote on new neutrality rules. It’s all part of a larger attempt by the telecommunications industry to undercut the power of the FCC. Read more »
The effort by broadcasters to bring an over the air televison (like a mobile phone version of a Sony WatchMan) continues with a group of 12 broadcasters today announcing plans to upgrade TV stations in 20 markets so they can deliver live video to portable devices. Read more »
What keeps a man like FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski up at night? Try 40th out of 40. That’s the U.S.’ ranking in broadband improvements from 1999-2009 according to a study last year. Genachowski is worried that the U.S. is in danger of losing its competitive advantage. Read more »
Cablevision didn’t settle its retransmission dispute with Fox amicably, saying it would be paying an unfair price for stations its subscribers aren’t interested in. But in the wake of the two-week blackout, it might have gotten a small consolation prize: government intervention in retrans fights. Read more »
The FCC proved it does indeed have consumer’s backs by handing out a $25 million fine to Verizon for charging its customers spurious fees over a period of years. The fine was the result of a 10-month investigation into the carrier’s billing practices. Read more »
The ongoing dispute between Fox and Cablevision is becoming the fall’s best drama, full of exciting twists and turns and exciting guest stars — in this case, the FCC, which hopes to end this conflict by getting both sides to submit information on their negotiations. Read more »
The FCC is stepping in on the retransmission dispute between Fox and Cablevision that has left 3 million pay TV subscribers without access to Fox broadcasts in Cablevision households, with a letter from Media Bureau Chief William Lake reminding them to negotiate in good faith. Read more »
The FCC is planning the equivalent of a “take back the airwaves” campaign to address a shortage in spectrum that will hit by 2013. Today, the agency released a paper detailing the growth of mobile broadband and its plans to get more spectrum. Read more »
Today, when the Giants faced off against the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLCS, the official Twitter account for the Federal Communciations Commission provided several updates on the game for Cablevision subscribers unable to watch the game because of an ongoing dispute with Fox. SERIOUSLY. Read more »
Fox took its conflict with Cablevision over retrans fees to the next level today by briefly blocking Cablevision customers from accessing Fox content on Hulu and Fox.com. The move led to an outcry from consumer rights advocates – but that may have been exactly what Fox wanted. Read more »
As the FCC promotes the National Broadband Plan, it appears convinced that making 100 Mbps speeds available to 100 million households within 10 years will have a positive impact on economic development. But is there too much emphasis on speed as a predicator of economic success? Read more »
Today on the Net: the FCC proposed arbitration in the Fox-Cablevision retrans dispute, but Fox has declined, Justin.tv continues to grow UGC traffic despite the loss of business development execs and the FCC ordered some CableCARD reform that comes up short. Read more »
The FCC may be struggling in its attempts to create real network neutrality rules, but it’s having better luck with pushing consumer-friendly reforms in the wireless business. This week it plans to help consumers stop incurring giant and unexpected data charges on their mobile phones. Read more »
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has come under fire from all sides over his and the FCC’s stance on Net Neutrality. But if there is one bright spot, it has been the recent order to free up under-utilized TV spectrum and use it for broadband. Read more »
LightSquared, the upstart telecommunications company that hopes to build a Long Term Evolution network using both a terrestrial and a satellite network, is prepping to announce its involvement with a project this afternoon to provide wireless access for rural healthcare providers. Read more »
The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved new rules for the unlicensed use white spaces, the empty or under utilized TV spectrum that many are hoping could lead to a new form of super Wi-Fi. The release of such spectrum could make White Spaces bigger than Wi-Fi. Read more »
