BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2010
This week's coming events http://benton.org/calendar
NETWORK NEUTRALITY
Preserving Openness to Protect Jobs
Is GOP all Bark on Network Neutrality?
FCC network neutrality plan gets picked apart from all sides
Pay-as-go Internet access boon for cable, troublesome for Internet firms
See also: Comcast says no plan for usage-based pricing
Michael Powell: FCC Commissioner Copps could 'blow things up' for Obama
Comcast Defends Traffic Level In Face Of Level 3 Complaint
Comcast Asks FCC To Dismiss Zoom Complaint
INTERNET/BROADBAND
NTIA Likely To Get Broadband Oversight Funding
One incumbent takes it to the bank, another takes it to court. Who's the big winner?
Experts Link Economy And Broadband Adoption
ICANN's Proposal To Add New Domains Comes Under Fire
The 'Big Shift' to Cloud Computing
TELEVISION
Waxman Sends FCC Conditions for Comcast-NBC Merger
Markey wants wholesale broadband condition for Comcast-NBC merger
Comcast Agrees To Online Access Condition For Unaffiliated Nets
Small Cable Ops: We're Not Looking To Delay Comcast/NBCU Deal
Groups Push FCC To Schedule Hearing On Fox Stations Challenge
Low-Rated Cable Channels Soon to be History?
Which TV Channels Can't Cord-Cutters Live Without?
WIRELESS
NTIA Seeking Nominations for Spectrum Management Advisory Committee
FCC Sets Out To Overhaul Experimental Licensing
Study links cellphones to child misbehavior
Mobile Virtualization Bringing One Phone for Both Work and Play
PRIVACY
How Much Is That Doggie in the Browser Window?
Microsoft puts 'Do Not Track' function in next browser
CONTENT
Copyright and the Free Flow of Information
Digital Rights Groups Back Google In Trademark Fight With Rosetta Stone
FTC Looking for Ways to Strengthen Caller ID
Rural outsourcing on the rise in the US
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
Sec Locke Says Sprint’s Chief Was Called About Huawei Bid Concerns
The FCC and First Year of Open Government
POLICYMAKERS
Upton to Chair House Commerce Committee
Two New Disability-Focused Advisory Committees at the FCC
STORIES FROM ABROAD
These headlines presented in partnership with:
Average fixed broadband penetration hits 24.3% in OECD
Ofcom Report Finds Growing Dissatisfaction with Broadband ISP Speeds
MORE ONLINE
Israel to Ban the Use of SIM Locking on Mobile Phones
ETNO seeks EC incentives to boost private network investment
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NETWORK NEUTRALITY
PRESERVING OPENNESS TO PROTECT JOBS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski]
Small businesses and start-ups have accounted for more than 22 million new American jobs over the last 15 years. And broadband has played a central part, enabling small business to lower their costs and reach new customers in new markets around the country and, indeed, the globe. The success of these businesses has made America’s tech economy the envy of the world. These businesses are proof that the Internet’s open principles have helped clear the way for unfettered growth. Changing those principles, or regulating this growing market in a way that disfavors innovation, is unacceptable. This founding principle -- the openness of the Internet -- is at issue today. Interfering with this growth threatens jobs at a time when Americans can hardly afford the risk. This is not just a plan to protect a free and open Internet -- this is a plan to protect jobs, now and in America’s future. It is my responsibility to make sure that the economic and legal environment that allowed these jobs to grow remains just as healthy and competitive for future generations. I'm proud to oversee the FCC at a moment of unprecedented technological advancement. It’s my responsibility to act as a just steward for America’s technology economy and protect these valuable jobs. I've seen what works from some of the most dazzling entrepreneurs America has ever known. It’s my responsibility to fight to uphold the free and open principles that have brought us to where we are -- and I am committed to this goal.
benton.org/node/45984 | Federal Communications Commission
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GOP ON NETWORK NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Sara Jerome]
Former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell suggested the volume of Republican opposition to network neutrality might be related to the fierce battle for the House Commerce chairmanship. And outgoing House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) said Republicans are unlikely to put a priority on dismantling net-neutrality rules if the affected companies say they can live with the regulations. "If it is under Title I [of the Communications Act] and the broadband providers support it, I would have doubts that there would be a legislative effort to undo it," Chairman Boucher said. "There wouldn't be a constituency." Bruce Mehlman, co-chairman of the pro-industry group Internet Innovation Alliance, said, "I don't believe the new majority is going to undo a deal the majority of investors and carriers have said they can live with."
But Rep Joe Barton, one of the men aiming to be the next House Commerce Committee chairman, said, "We represent the American people, not companies, and our constituents don't want the FCC grabbing authority over an Internet that has succeeded precisely because it remains free of government intrusion."
benton.org/node/45986 | Hill, The | The Hill - Boucher | The Hill - Barton
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REACTION TO NET NEUTRALITY
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cecilia Kang]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski's network neutrality proposal has garnered support from labor unions, Web founders like Craig Newmark of Craig's list, some venture capitalists, and cautious support from large Internet service providers AT&T and Comcast. But it is also getting picked apart from many sides. Verizon says the broadband market doesn't need new rules. Public interest groups and a coalition representing tech giants Google and Skype urge that the rules should apply equally to wireless and fixed-wire broadband networks and that they clearly state priority delivery of content won't be tolerated.
benton.org/node/45952 | Washington Post
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USAGE-BASED PRICING
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cecilia Kang]
Analysts are applauding the Federal Communication Commission's endorsement of usage-based pricing for Internet broadband as part of the FCC chairman's net neutrality proposal. The move, they say, would be a significant benefit for cable firms concerned that video Web streaming could cause customers to cancel TV service. Craig Moffett, an analyst at Bernstein Research, wrote in a note to investors that the agency's approval of pay-as-you-go broadband access "can't be overstated." "Usage-based pricing will preserve, and even enhance, the economics of cable’s infrastructure... even if consumers eventually get some, or even all, of their video content over the Web," Moffett wrote. "Usage-based pricing is a clear positive for cable/telecom/wireless providers, but it also might be a concern for Netflix," said MF Global analyst Paul Gallant. "Depending on where the tiers were set, usage-based pricing on wire line broadband could end up deterring some people from dropping cable for over-the-top video."
benton.org/node/45950 | Washington Post
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POWELL ON COPPS
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Sara Jerome]
Former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell suggested that if FCC Commissioner Michael Copps votes against network neutrality, he is scuttling an opportunity for President Barack Obama. "Mr. Copps has to ask himself, are you gonna be the guy who blows it all up?" Powell said. Referring to an Obama campaign promise to support network neutrality policies, Powell suggested that a "no" vote from Copps, a Democrat, would compromise the president's agenda. "He'd have to take that view to his own party and his own president," said Powell, a Republican who represents an association for phone and cable companies, Broadband for America. Powell called Commissioner Copps a "principled guy" and then suggested that concessions from the chairman's office to Commissioner Copps could show up in proceedings other than network neutrality. "Somebody could cut a deal with Commissioner Copps somewhere else and it wouldn't even surface in this proceeding," he said.
benton.org/node/45948 | Hill, The
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COMCAST DEFENDS ITSELF VS LEVEL 3
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a filing to the Federal Communications Commission, Comcast contends that the exchange of broadband network traffic it sends out and receives as part of peering agreements with Internet backbone service providers is relatively equal, and where it isn't those fee-free agreements are adjusted, just as they were with Level 3. Comcast says Level 3 is trying to avoid paying fees the cable company normally charges other providers. Comcast argues that now Level 3, which struck a deal to deliver Netflix traffic, is sending it five times as much traffic as Comcast sends Level 3. Comcast says that in "almost all cases" of fee-free reciprocal agreements with other broadband services companies, the balance "does not approach that [5:1] level," and that across its 40 or so settlement-free peering arrangements, Comcast is actually sending more traffic than receiving in a third of those. It says that in only one of those 40 is the traffic out of balance to the extent that Level 3's is and that in that case Comcast has also informed them that a "settlement-free" peering arrangement is not acceptable, which means Comcast will have to start charging them, too. "Level 3 wants discrimination - in its favor - in a manner that will undermine the well-settled and successful framework that has governed the exchange of traffic on the Internet, around the globe, for a decade," said Comcast. "Instead, we continue to ask that Level 3 work with Comcast to find a reasonable business solution to Level 3's self-inflicted business problem." Comcast has said it is willing to negotiate with Level 3 to resolve the issue, which was being used by public interest groups both as ammunition for online access conditions on the Comcast/NBCU merger and for adopting network neutrality rules.
benton.org/node/45946 | Broadcasting&Cable
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COMCAST AND ZOOM
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Comcast has filed a motion with the FCC to dismiss the complaint against the company filed by modem maker Zoom Telephonics. Zoom alleges that Comcast's process for testing cable modems it allows to connect to the network was an "unreasonable, irrelevant, time-consuming and costly regime." Zoom argues that the process is not about preventing harm to Comcast's network. Instead, said Zoom, it is about discouraging retail sales of modems in competition to Comcast's leased equipment. Comcast says that Zoom's complaint suffers from core procedural flaws that should deep-six it before any weight of its merits: Comcast says Zoom failed to meet the requirements that its information be accurate and complete, that it outline the steps taken to resolve the problem before bringing it to the FCC, and that there is a "duty of candor" that Zoom has failed to meet by not providing relevant correspondence about Comcast's explanation of its testing procedures, as well as Comcast's offer of what it calls a "rapid path to self-certify its modem at no additional charge."
benton.org/node/46004 | Broadcasting&Cable
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INTERNET/BROADBAND
BTOP OVERSIGHT FUNDING UPDATE
[SOURCE: National Journal, AUTHOR: Eliza Krigman, Humberto Sanchez]
The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration will receive an additional $20 million for oversight of broadband stimulus grants, according to a draft of the next proposed continuing resolution Congress is likely to pass.
benton.org/node/45976 | National Journal
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ECONOMY AND BROADBAND ADOPTION
[SOURCE: National Journal, AUTHOR: Eliza Krigman]
Forget how and if the Internet should be regulated. If the United States doesn't start reversing economic inequality and improving the nation's education system, Americans won't be able to take advantage of a cutting-edge Internet, experts say. "I think this country has an education crisis," Michael Powell, former Federal Communications Commission chairman, said at a forum convened by the Internet Innovation Alliance. "You can't be a great knowledge economy empire with a high school dropout rate over 30 percent." Several industry telecom analysts agreed with Powell's sentiment, and added that income disparity is another principle challenge for expanding broadband adoption. "Broadband affordability is a bigger problem than broadband availability," said Craig Moffett, an industry analyst at Sanford Bernstein. "We appear to be hitting a wall of [broadband adoption] penetration at 60 percent that's directly related to affordability," he said. Rebecca Arbogast, telecom analyst at investment firm Stifel Nicolaus, argued that industry won't be able to make investments in broadband infrastructure with a "populous that doesn't have education, jobs, or discretionary income."
benton.org/node/45934 | National Journal
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ICANN UNDER FIRE
[SOURCE: National Journal, AUTHOR: Juliana Gruenwald]
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, group that manages the Internet's domain name system, is meeting this week in Cartagena, Colombia where its board is expected to take up a controversial proposal that could dramatically increase the number of generic Internet domain names available to users. The Commerce Department has raised several concerns with the proposal, which would expand the number of generic top-level domains, such as .com and .info, from the current 21 to perhaps hundreds or more. In a letter to ICANN, National Telecommunications and Information Administration Secretary Lawrence Strickling voiced concern that ICANN had yet complete a comprehensive study on the economic benefits to consumers of expanding the number of generical top-level domain names compared with the potential costs. He also questioned whether ICANN has met the goal it agreed to meet to provide a "thorough and reasoned explanation" of its decisions, particular when it comes to launching new domain names.
benton.org/node/45936 | National Journal
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TELEVISION
WAXMAN SENDS FCC CONDITIONS FOR COMCAST-NBCU COMBINATION
[SOURCE: House of Representatives Commerce Committee, AUTHOR: Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA)]
House Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski regarding the proposed combination of Comcast and NBC Universal expressing his view that the FCC should impose conditions on the transaction in four key areas to protect consumers and promote competition in the marketplace. Chairman Waxman is suggesting that the FCC:
1) impose requirements to ensure that competing program distributors have access to programming or channels in which Comcast-NBCU has a financial interest;
2) impose conditions that a) prevent Comcast-NBCU from degrading or blocking online distribution of programming that competes with Comcast and its offerings, b) ensure that Comcast-NBCU does not prioritize or guarantee a higher quality-of-service for its own video-on-demand and other online offerings over competitive video services that are delivered over Comcast’s broadband network, and c) protect third-party programmers’ ability to make their content available online via competitive Internet websites and other competitive platforms;
3) not allow Comcast to isolate competitive offerings to these channels by placing them outside of the “neighborhood” for such content; and
4) impose conditions that measurably strengthen the creative and economic opportunities of independent writers, producers, and directors.
benton.org/node/45990 | House of Representatives Commerce Committee
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MARKEY URGES COMCAST CONDITIONS
[SOURCE: The Hill, AUTHOR: Gautham Nagesh]
In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, Rep Ed Markey (D-MA) said Comcast should be required to sell broadband access wholesale to other Internet service providers to prevent the cable giant from raising prices. Rep Markey asked Chairman Genachowski to impose several conditions on Comcast's proposed acquisition of NBC Universal to mitigate what he termed potential harms to the public interest. The conditions would include:
selling bandwidth to rival ISPs in to prevent Comcast from raising the price of stand-alone broadband service,
placing independent news programmers such as Bloomberg in the same programming tier as news stations owned by Comcast, which could eventually include MSNBC and CNBC, to ensure fair competition in that market,
arbitration and standstill agreements for retransmission negotiations for NBC TV stations and for negotiations by third parties for NBC-owned cable networks, and
network neutrality.
benton.org/node/45992 | Hill, The | B&C
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COMCAST AGREES TO CONDITION
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
According to a filing at the Federal Communications Commission, Comcast will agree to make an online access provision, though one involving outside suppliers rather than its owned content, a binding condition on its proposed Comcast/NBCU deal. Comcast says that its contracts already generally allow unaffiliated nets to make content available online, but "to assuage any concerns in this area," it will agree to the following-worded condition, subject to some caveats: “Comcast will not require unaffiliated content suppliers, as a condition of carriage on Comcast cable systems, to refuse to sell their programming to MVPDs and Online Video Distributors (‘OVDs’).” The caveats are that "Comcast should have the right, consistent with industry practice, to require that unaffiliated content suppliers not provide their programming for free over the Internet during an initial window," that the company "should also have the right to obtain from content suppliers parity treatment with other distributors, online or otherwise," and that "Comcast should be able to negotiate for a limited period of exclusivity for promotional programming."
benton.org/node/45988 | Broadcasting&Cable
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SMALL OPS AND COMCAST-NBC
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Executives with the American Cable Association (ACA) said they all expect the Comcast/NBCU deal to be approved by the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission, and by the beginning of next year. ACA President Matt Polka said that they were not looking to delay the deal, which he said would likely be approved "sometime soon," only to make sure it had conditions that ameliorated the possible harms to its members and customers. Polka said he expected the FCC would implement those conditions, which include requiring smaller operators be charged no more than a "clear market-based rate" for the regional sports nets and NBC O&O's owned by Comcast, as well as allowing a bargaining agent to negotiate collectively for national programming networks and use baseball style arbitration. If the FCC does that, he said it would "significantly address" his members' concerns.
benton.org/node/45938 | Broadcasting&Cable
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FOX STATION CHALLENGES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Media Access Project, Free Press, Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the United Church of Christ sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission Dec. 7 calling for action on their long-standing challenge to the license renewals of Fox's WNYW-TV New York and WWOR-TV Secaucus (NJ). "The commission’s protracted inaction conveys the impression that licensees are free to abandon specific legal obligations to the public," said the groups, contending that Fox has made "material misrepresentations to commissioners and staff, has lacked candor in its statements to commission staff and has failed to..update applications within 30 days of a material change," as required by FCC rules. The FCC granted Fox a temporary waiver of its newspaper-broadcast crossownership rules in 2001, followed that up with a second temporary waiver that expired, and has since not enforced its divestiture order, the groups said, which challenged the stations' licenses in 2007 on the grounds that Fox should not be able to continue to own a TV station and newspaper (The New York Post) in the same market, and because it had not done enough to serve New Jersey.
benton.org/node/46002 | Broadcasting&Cable
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BLEAK FUTURE FOR SOME CABLE CHANNELS
[SOURCE: MediaPost, AUTHOR: Wayne Friedman]
In this age of testy retransmission battles, a remark from a DirecTV executive -- that some low-rated cable networks might be on the outs -- came as no surprise. Retransmission wars have been eating into TV/video programmers' revenue for some time -- all because big TV networks are selling the point that their viewership is big and valuable. Derek Chang, executive vice president of content development and strategy for DirecTV, didn't single out any networks, but did say some questions should be asked, perhaps "just to remove certain channels from our platform if they are not relevant." He might also make a case for those networks that cost satellite, cable, or telco video operators too much, or aren't a big local-advertising-generating machine for cable operators and other video retailers. What about program diversity, you say? The cable industry, for all its history, has never been a big philanthropic organization in this way.
benton.org/node/45974 | MediaPost
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CHANNELS WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
[SOURCE: paidContent.org, AUTHOR: Andrew Wallenstein]
In her latest research note, Needham & Co. analyst Laura Martin reported the results of a simple request she made of 300 respondents in October: “Please list which TV channels you must have available online for you to turn off your TV subscription.” The results contain a few surprises: 1) The Big Four broadcast TV networks hold the top four spots in the survey, 2) HBO subscribers really love their HBO -- even though less than one-third of all US homes subscribe, HBO placed behind the Big Four and just three other cable channels, and 3) Don't doubt the value of ESPN.
benton.org/node/45928 | paidContent.org
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WIRELESS
NTIA SEEKS SPECTRUM EXPERTS
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Department of Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC) for new two-year terms. The CSMAC provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator on spectrum policy matters. NTIA expects that, starting in 2011, the CSMAC’s work will focus on how best to execute the mandate of the President’s spectrum initiative, and specifically the "Plan and Timetable to Make Available 500 Megahertz of Spectrum for Wireless Broadband."
Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before January 10, 2011.
benton.org/node/45940 | National Telecommunications and Information Administration
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EXPERIMENTAL LICENSING PROCEEDING
[SOURCE: CommLawBlog, AUTHOR: ]
[Commentary] The Federal Communications Commission has always been friendly to experimenters, whether they are basement hobbyists or industrial researchers. Since 1934 the Communications Act has enjoined the FCC to “[s]tudy new uses for radio, provide for experimental uses of frequencies, and generally encourage the larger and more effective use of radio . . . .” Just as important, many of the engineers at the FCC who began as teenage hams and tinkerers are eager to encourage the next generation. The FCC imposes only minimal regulation on amateur radio equipment, allows DIYers to design and operate home-brew transmitters with hardly any regulation at all, and offers “experimental licensing” so researchers and commercial innovators can test out new devices. Nonetheless, while the pace of innovation accelerates, the rules on experimental licensing have stagnated. They require, among other things, separate FCC approval for each individual project. Ironically, considering their purpose, the rules are highly hospitable to minor variations on established uses of radio, while experimental licenses for more creative technologies can be hard to obtain. The FCC staff who do this work are technically capable and usually sympathetic to the applicants, but they are bound by the rules on the books. In a burst of candor that may surprise equipment manufacturers and scientists, the FCC now concedes that the process for issuing these licenses can be a “roadblock to innovation.” With this new self-awareness comes a comprehensive Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on experimental licensing rules so the FCC can (in its own words) “inspire researchers to dream, discover, and deliver” innovations to promote “a better way of life for all Americans.” The path to this Norman Rockwell ideal entails both updating the current rules and creating new licensing arrangements for research and development.
benton.org/node/45970 | CommLawBlog | track the proceeding
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PRIVACY
HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE BROWSER?
[SOURCE: Slate, AUTHOR: Annie Lowrey]
American consumers are hitting the malls, but they're also being choosy -- and comparison shopping is more easily done online. Web sales will rise 11 percent in November and December, according to ComScore, compared with about 3 percent for sales in bricks-and-mortar stores. Online shoppers can get better prices and perks like free shipping. Online merchants, however, are not exactly defenseless. One way they fight back against picky customers is through "dynamic pricing," also called "discriminatory," "personalized," or "variable" pricing. And, for the most part, customers have no idea it is happening. In its most brazen form, it works like this: Retailers read the cookies kept on your browser or glean information from your past purchase history when you are logged into a site. That gives them a sense of what you search for and buy, how much you paid for it, and whether you might be willing and able to spend more. They alter their prices or offers accordingly. Consumers -- in the few cases they recognize it is going on, by shopping in two browsers simultaneously, for instance -- tend to go apoplectic. But the practice is perfectly legal, and increasingly common -- pervasive, even, for some products.
benton.org/node/45924 | Slate
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DO NOT TRACK BROWSER FEATURE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cecilia Kang]
Microsoft said a new version of its browser, Internet Explorer, will come with technology that can block third-party firms from tracking a user's activity on the Web. The announcement comes after the Federal Trade Commission last week recommended a blanket anti-tracking mechanism that would protect users' privacy online. Specifically, the IE9 browser will allow a user to set up a Tracking Protection list of Web sites that it doesn't want to track its information. A user would have to proactively set up the list. The default would be that Web sites -- including third-party firms -- could gather information about users as they do today.
benton.org/node/45978 | Washington Post | National Journal
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CONTENT
COPYRIGHT AND THE INTERNET
[SOURCE: Public Knowledge, AUTHOR: Rashmi Rangnath]
In a Department of Commerce proceeding on the Impact of Global Free Flow of Information on the Internet, Public Knowledge says copyright law can "easily act as a barrier to the free flow of information," and it recommends that Commerce look at domestic, as well as foreign restrictions on free flow of information. In addition, Public Knowledge said that there should be more public input for industry-derived policies and agreements. Public Knowledge also addresses the ACTA trade agreement and the new Combatting Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA).
benton.org/node/45972 | Public Knowledge
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GOOGLE VS ROSETTA STONE
[SOURCE: MediaWeek, AUTHOR: Wendy Davis]
First Amendment advocates and digital rights groups have weighed in on Google's side in a lawsuit by Rosetta Stone challenging the search giant's practice of allowing companies to use trademarks to trigger AdWords ads. "Both Google and typical advertisers make fair use of Rosetta Stone's marks. Therefore, Google is not liable for trademark infringement," Public Knowledge and the Electronic Frontier Foundation argue in a friend-of-the-court brief filed Monday with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Earlier this year, U.S. District court Judge Gerald Bruce Lee in Alexandria (VA) dismissed Rosetta Stone's trademark infringement lawsuit against Google, ruling that the search company's use of Rosetta Stone's name didn't confuse consumers.
benton.org/node/45944 | MediaWeek
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GOVERNMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
SPRINT AND HUAWEI
[SOURCE: Bloomberg, AUTHOR: Todd Shields]
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke called Sprint Nextel Chief Executive Officer Dan Hesse to express “deep concerns” that a Chinese company might win a contract to upgrade the mobile-phone carrier’s network. Sprint this week awarded work to companies from Sweden, France and South Korea for the project worth as much as $5 billion to build a faster network. Huawei Technologies Co., China’s largest telecommunications equipment maker, was among the bidders. “We wanted to learn more of their transaction and sit down with our intelligence folks and really understand what was possibly being contemplated,” Sec Locke said. “I did make a phone call to Mr. Hesse to relay some very deep concerns from the defense sector and also even members of Congress.”
benton.org/node/46000 | Bloomberg
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THE FCC AND OPEN GOVERNMENT
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: Steven VanRoekel]
In the modern federal landscape, the Federal Communications Commission finds itself increasingly at the intersection of technology, law, and citizen participation. It’s a challenging place to be -- these arenas change quickly, and move in ways that advancements in one ripple out and can change the others. But the opportunity to make progress on these fronts has never been greater. Modernizing the rulemaking process -- keeping up with these changes to best serve the American public -- was the focus of an event hosted by the Brookings Institute last week. Two key benefits that new technology offers to the rulemaking process:
First, erulemaking can make government work smarter. Moving from a largely paper-based system -- the norm very recently -- to a digital system has led to a rulemaking process that’s accessible, searchable and less weighed down by troves of paperwork.
Second, moving rulemaking online has allowed the FCC to open a process that was closed for too long. Traditionally, access to rulemaking required access to the expert legal mechanisms typically out of the reach of most citizens, yet the rules we are creating are created for all and often impact people who don't have access to legal support. We've made strides on this front - You may be familiar with our online comment crowdsourcing platforms, the ability to integrate blog comments into the public record, and our other moves to make the FCC process as open as possible – there’s more to come.
benton.org/node/45996 | Federal Communications Commission
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POLICYMAKERS
UPTON TO CHAIR HOUSE COMMERCE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Felicia Sonmez]
The House Republican Steering Committee selected Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) to be the next leader of the House Commerce Committee. Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY) will be the next chairman of the Appropriations Committee. The two were among the slate of new committee chairs elected by the 34-member steering committee, according to House GOP aides. The full House Republican Conference is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to ratify the panel's recommendations, a step that is largely a formality. These chairmanship battles were particularly contentious because of the enormous power wielded by the two committees in areas of keen interest to conservatives who energized the Republican surge in the midterm elections—federal spending, health-care policy, environmental regulation and energy policy. Rep Upton won out over Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), John Shimkus (R-IL) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL). Rep Upton had to beat back some criticism that he was too moderate for the post as opponents criticized his authorship of a law to require more energy-efficient light bulbs. But he promised to give close scrutiny to the new health care legislation and step up oversight of the Obama administration. Rep Barton is currently the Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee but needed a waiver to become chairman since GOP party rules prohibit any lawmaker from holding the top slot on a panel for more than six years. Many of the more than 80 newly elected Republicans made it clear they didn't want to circumvent that rule. "Consistently, the freshman class thinks that the rule, which doesn't allow waivers, is a good one," said Rep.-elect Tim Scott (R-SC).
benton.org/node/46006 | Washington Post | NYTimes | WSJ | The Hill
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ADVISORY COMMITTEES NAMED
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission, AUTHOR: ]
The Federal Communications Commission has established and named members to two advisory committees that will aid the implementation of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. The first committee is the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC), which will focus on the most effective and efficient technologies and methods by which to enable access next generation 911 access for persons with disabilities. The Accessibility Act directs that within one year after the EAAC's members are appointed, it will conduct a national survey, with the input of groups represented by the Committee's membership, and then submit to the Commission recommendations to implement technologies and methods to achieve its goals. The first meeting of the EAAC will be Friday, January 14, 2010, at the Commission's headquarters. [for membership, follow link below]
The second committee is the Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee (VPEAAC), which will focus on matters pertaining to the accessibility of video programming. The VPEAAC will develop recommendations on closed captioning of Internet programming previously captioned on television; the compatibility between video programming delivered using Internet protocol and devices capable of receiving and displaying such programming in order to facilitate access to captioning, video description and emergency information; video description and accessible emergency information on television programming delivered using Internet protocol or digital broadcast television; accessible user interfaces on video programming devices; and accessible programming guides and menus. Within 6 months of its first meeting, the VPEAAC must submit recommendations concerning the provision of closed captions for Internet-delivered video programming and the ability of video devices to pass through closed captions contained on Internet-based video programming. By April 8, 2012, it must submit recommendations on the remaining issues. The first meeting of the VPEAAC is scheduled for January 13, 2011, at the Commission's headquarters. [for membership, follow link below]
benton.org/node/45994 | Federal Communications Commission | Emergency Access Advisory Committee | Video Programming and Emergency Access Advisory Committee
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STORIES FROM ABROAD
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AVERAGE FIXED BROADBAND PENETRATION HITS 24.3% IN OECD
[SOURCE: TelecomPaper, AUTHOR:]
There were 295 million fixed broadband subscriptions in June 2010 in the OECD area minus Israel and Slovenia, which joined the 33-country body since then. This was up from 283 million in December 2009. The average penetration rate has grown to 24.3 percent of inhabitants up from 23.3 percent a year earlier. DSL is still the most widely used technology in the world's developed economies, accounting for 58 percent of all lines. Cable makes up 29 percent and fiber based connections have grown to 11.5 percent of all lines.
benton.org/node/45968 | TelecomPaper
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OFCOM REPORT FINDS GROWING DISSATISFACTION WITH BROADBAND ISP SPEEDS
[SOURCE: Ofcom AUTHOR: ]
Ofcom’s fifth annual report on the consumer experience of telecoms, the Internet and digital broadcasting discusses the results of research which measured how well consumers have fared over the past year in their use of these services. Key findings include:
Increases in take-up levels across all communications services, except fixed line
Consumer awareness of choice in communications services varies by market
Switching levels have remained stable across most markets while levels of engagement are falling in all but the broadband and TV markets
An improvement in a number of areas of consumer complaints
While fixed-line mis-selling, silent calls and customer service continue to be the main complaint generators, there have been significant developments in these areas in 2010
benton.org/node/45966 | Ofcom AUTHOR:
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