September 2012

Although the White House is drafting an executive order on cybersecurity, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) argues that Congress shouldn't abandon its efforts to pass legislation that would better protect the United States from cyberattacks.

Sen Collins was a key co-sponsor of a sweeping cybersecurity bill by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) that failed to pass the Senate in August. The momentum around cybersecurity legislation in Congress weakened after Senate Republicans blocked Lieberman's bill, but Collins believes lawmakers should still forge ahead and get a bill done this year. "Given the threat, I understand the administration’s desire to act, but an executive order should not be a substitute for legislative action," Sen Collins said. "I am deeply disappointed that the Senate failed to pass our bipartisan bill before the August recess, but it remains imperative that this Congress address this issue. "An executive order could send the unintended signal that congressional action is not urgently needed,” she added.

A group of smaller wireless companies are launching a new coalition to urge the Federal Communications Commission to take action on a proposal that would make it easier for them to use spectrum they already hold to launch their next-generation 4G wireless networks. The Interoperability Alliance wants the FCC to finalize rules that would require other wireless providers to use the same standard in a band of spectrum where smaller wireless providers hope to launch their 4G wireless networks.

Much of their ire appears to be targeted at AT&T, which opted to use a different standard in the 700 megahertz band than adopted by other wireless providers. Because of this, smaller providers argue they are having a difficult time obtaining handsets from manufacturers and will be unable to allow their customers to roam on AT&T's network, which is key if their customers want to use their phones anywhere in the country. Coalition organizers declined to release a list of members before the launch but the group is expected to include the Rural Cellular Association.

To see whose ads—and which ones—are getting the most viral traction, Unruly Media has put together a handy dynamic infographic that tracks videos from the official Obama and Romney campaigns, as well as the 12 Super-PACs that are most active in this year's contest.

The infographic, which will update twice a day until Election Day, tracks total shares across social media, as well as views and comments on YouTube—and shows the 10 most-shared clips for each candidate over the past seven days. So far, Obama leads Romney more than two-to-one in YouTube views, and more than three-to-two in total shares. The only tally where Romney leads is in YouTube comments, which indicates that his videos are the subject of more debate.

It's true that the Google Fiber project hasn't developed the way many liberal groups wanted it to. But it's important not to gloss over the fact that Kansas City's support for Google's network went well beyond deregulation to outright corporate welfare.

It's hardly an example of the free market in action. Fred Campbell, a former FCC official who now hangs his hat at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, writes, “Google received stunning regulatory concessions and incentives from local governments, including free access to virtually everything the city owns or controls: rights of way, central office space, power, interconnections with anchor institutions, marketing and direct mail, and office space for Google employees. City officials also expedited the permitting process and assigned staff specifically to help Google. One county even offered to allow Google to hang its wires on parts of utility poles—for free—that are usually off-limits to communications companies.” Indeed, the agreement between Google and Kansas City, MO, specifies that the city will "make space available to Google in City facilities for the installation of Google’s Central Office equipment and for additional network facilities," will "provide power necessary for Google’s equipment at City locations," and "will not charge Google for such space, power, or related services." Obviously, offering free (e.g. taxpayer-subsidized) power and rack space goes well beyond "regulatory concessions."