C-Net|News.com

Making sense of the tech meltdown on Wall Street

Big tech stocks lead the way down Monday. CNET's Technology Index, which tracks 66 publicly traded tech companies, dropped 4.08 percent to 1,276.67 Monday, its lowest close in more than two years.

'Capitol Tweet' widget follows Congress on Twitter

Now that the House and Senate have adopted rules allowing congressmen to join the Web 2.0 world, they can tweet to their hearts' content. Accordingly, a new widget released by a government transparency group allows people to follow their favorite politicians' latest micro-blogs.

Skype: We didn't know about security issues

Skype's president said that the company was largely unaware of a major security breach affecting Skype users in China. In a blog published Thursday, Josh Silverman, Skype's president, explained he did not realize that TOM-Skype, Skype's partner in China, was logging and storing users' instant messages that were deemed offensive by the Chinese government.

Craigslist founder criticizes telecoms for 'artificial' Network Neutrality debate

Craigslist.org founder Craig Newmark has found himself an unlikely advocate for career lobbyists. While lawmakers should embrace the online tools to make democracy more widespread, he said, industries like telecommunications have to play their part by steering away from deceitful lobbying practices.

Congressmen finally allowed on YouTube

Members of Congress can finally use Web sites like YouTube, after committees in both the House and Senate adopted new rules allowing members to post content outside of the .gov domain, as long as it is for official purposes.

Royalty rate doesn't change for Apple, music retailers

The Copyright Royalty Board on Thursday froze the rate that digital-music stores, such as iTunes and RealNetworks' Rhapsody, must pay music publishers. The three-member board that sets statutory copyright licenses e-mailed the Digital Media Association (DiMA), the National Music Publishers' Association, Apple, and other download stores with its decision to keep the royalty rate 9.1 cents.

UPDATED: Broadband data collection bill approved by Congress

Update: Congress passes bill aimed at measuring Internet access

Providing universal broadband may very well start with simply finding out who has broadband access and who doesn't. The House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill that could help answer that question by improving broadband data collection.

Consumers prefer phone company bundles

Results from a new customer survey suggest consumers would rather subscribe to a triple play bundle of services from a phone company than from a cable operator.

Net neutrality: An American problem?

The leaders of three of Australia's largest ISP's have declared the Network Neutrality debate as solely a U.S. problem -- and further, that the nation that pioneered the Internet might want to study the Australian market for clues as to how to solve the dilemma.

Congress expected to move on copyright, Internet radio issues

With Congress due to adjourn Friday, lawmakers worked late Thursday evening to resolve a couple of high profile digital-entertainment issues. A "Webcasting" bill was introduced in Congress on Thursday that would allow SoundExchange, the body that collects royalties on behalf of the music industry, to reach a settlement on royalty rates with the Digital Media Association (DiMA) after Congress adjourns.