Five tech issues to watch

[Commentary] The New Year could bring a flurry of activity on technology policy. Here’s a look at the five issues likely to dominate the tech agenda.

1. NSA reform -- The push to rein in the National Security Agency is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill. A federal judge has declared the NSA's phone data collection unconstitutional (the government is expected to appeal), and President Barack Obama's own review group has recommended sweeping reforms.
2. Patent legislation -- Congress passed major patent reform legislation just a few years ago, and most observers predicted it would be a generation before Congress returned to the issue. But the problem of "patent trolls" -- firms that use bogus patent suits to extort settlements out of businesses -- has escalated so quickly that Congress is now poised to pass new legislation to curb abuse.
3. Network neutrality -- The controversy over net neutrality could be reignited in 2014. The DC Circuit is expected to rule on the Federal Communication Commission's regulations in January, and based on the oral argument in September, it's not looking good for the FCC. Two of the three judges on the panel appeared ready to strike down significant portions of the rules, which bar Internet service providers from discriminating between websites.
4. Spectrum auction -- The top priority for Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is holding a successful auction of spectrum -- the frequencies that carry all wireless traffic. The actual auction won't take place until 2015, but the FCC will have to make the most important decisions about the rules in 2014.
5. Merger mania -- Speculation is swirling about whether Sprint, the third largest cellphone carrier, will try to buy T-Mobile, the No. 4 carrier. The cable industry could also see consolidation in 2014. Comcast, Charter and Cox are all reportedly interested in buying Time Warner Cable, the nation's second largest cable operator. In an unusual move, FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai predicted that the FCC would block Comcast from acquiring Time Warner Cable.

[Jan 1]