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HR 5252 (Archived)
Cities Weigh In Against Franchise Changes
Submitted by Benton Foundation on October 9, 2007 - 9:26amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 8:49am
The Alliance for Community Media filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Thursday arguing that the FCC's video franchise decision was arbitrary and capricious and that the Commission does not have the authority to regulate local franchising authorities.
YOU - Person of This Year, But Next Year's Toast?
Submitted by Benton Foundation on December 19, 2006 - 8:12amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 4:07am
Alas, the incredible euphoria of Time Magazine picking You and Me as their Person(s) of the Year for 2006 can't last forever. Time to sober up and realize how all this wonderful - and less wonderful - user created content celebrated by Time almost didn't happen; how fragile our ability to post our content on the Internet really is; and, how the telephone and cable companies that monopolize broadband Internet access want 2007 to be the year not of Us, but of Them.
Political, Telco Dollars Drive Local TV Revs
Submitted by Benton Foundation on December 15, 2006 - 8:19amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 4:03am
Local broadcast TV revenues were up 10.4% in the third quarter over the same quarter last year, helped by political dollars and telecommunications spending from companies seeking franchise reform from Washington as well as new customers for their service.
Alaska's Stevens Left Out In The Cold
Submitted by Benton Foundation on December 14, 2006 - 8:35amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 4:01am
Who woulda thunk that "a rowdy coalition" fighting for net neutrality could kill legislation sponsored by the powerful Sen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)?
Congress and tech: Little to show
Submitted by Benton Foundation on December 13, 2006 - 11:10amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 4:00am
Politicians in Washington, D.C., spent the last two years promising new laws on everything from Net neutrality to computer security and social-networking sites. But when the 109th Congress finally adjourned over the weekend, ending 12 years of Republican rule of the U.S. House of Representatives, few technology-related bills had actually made it through the legislative process. Network Neutrality remains on the "to-do" list.
Congress ends with a Flurry of Legislation
Submitted by Benton Foundation on December 11, 2006 - 8:19amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 4:00am
The Republican-led 109th Congress ended on Saturday, sending President Bush a stack of bills the Senate and House of Representatives passed as Democrats, victorious in last month's elections, prepared to take control of the new 110th Congress set to convene on January 4. Below see links to some of what was done -- and wasn't done -- in the 109th's last few hours: Telecom bill dies; US SAFE WEB Act passes; Senate Approves Pretexting Legislation; Congress Passes Call Home Act of 2006; Kneuer Confirmed to head NTIA
Phone firms' TV market bid may skip Congress
Submitted by Benton Foundation on November 28, 2006 - 9:46amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 3:49am
Big phone companies trying to dial in an overhaul of telecommunications laws will have to hang up and try the call again next year. Instead, they probably will focus their efforts on state legislatures as they try to deliver more services to compete against cable companies.
Network Neutrality could Hobble Initiative
Submitted by Benton Foundation on November 27, 2006 - 9:55amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 3:48am
Rather than expanding Internet opportunities, network neutrality could sharply curtail them.
Sen DeMint Advocates New Approach On Reform
Submitted by Benton Foundation on November 16, 2006 - 8:30amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 3:45am
Chances for market-based communications reform in the Democratic-led Congress are "slim to none," Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) said. But in the next few years, he said administrative changes at the FCC and "incremental legislation" could thwart more burdensome regulations on industry.
Don't Import Bad Broadband Policies
Submitted by Benton Foundation on November 15, 2006 - 10:05amLast updated: February 21, 2008 - 3:43am
Proponents of a new federal broadband policy have hailed the results of a United Nations study that finds America is ranked 15th or lower in the world for broadband services. Washington activists make three arguments in support of a new policy: 1) America is behind the rest of the world in broadband. 2) Other countries are ahead because their broadband policies favor competition. 3) More broadband leads to greater economic activity. Each of these arguments is wrong.
