Technologizer

FCC Votes for Net Neutrality, McCain Wants to Stop Them

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Well net neutrality fans, your enemies list just got one person bigger. John McCain is the latest to come out against the FCC’s work, and has even proposed legislation to stop the agency in its tracks. On Thursday, the FCC approved a measure to begin the process of formalizing a set of net neutrality rules that [...]

House Republican Asks FCC to Stop Open Internet Vote

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

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If you’re a fan of net neutrality, meet your next enemy. Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, who has asked the FCC to stop a planned vote on open Internet rules. PresidentObama has pushed for the change, and it appears as if it will pass, as Chairman [...]

GOP Moves to Block Net Neutrality

Monday, September 21, 2009

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A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal that would require Internet service providers to treat all network traffic equally was met with resistance by Republicans on Capitol Hill today. FCC chairman, Julius Genachowski is expected to unveil a policy that advocates network neutrality this week. If the policy is implemented, providers would no longer be able to [...]

Courts Throw Out FCC Cable Market Share Limits

Friday, August 28, 2009

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In a potentially huge victory for Comcast, the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC threw out a rule limiting cable companies to under 30 percent of the market. The courts claimed that the FCC failed to take into account competition from satellite and fiber-optic providers when considering competition. Comcast currently controls about 25 percent of [...]

Incoming FCC Chief Wants Inquiry of Handset Exclusivity

Friday, June 19, 2009

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Yesterday, Senators grilled AT&T on the subject of mobile phone handset exclusivity deals. Today, it was revealed that incoming FCC chief Julius Genachowski plans to take a look at these deals as well, saying he wants to promote competition and choice. Genachowski’s plans were revealed as part of a response to questions from the same [...]

Attention, Analog TV Holdouts: You Have Until June 12th

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

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I’m kind of tired of the whole subject, but just in case you haven’t heard and care: The House has passed the bill that delays the digital-TV transition from February 17th to June 12th. If you’ve got any analog TVs bumping around the house that aren’t connected to a digital source, you’ve got slightly under [...]

House Fails to Pass Digital TV Deadline Extension

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

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If you’re reading these words, you’re all set for the end of over-the-air analog TV–you’ve got a reasonably modern TV and/or cable or satellite service. (Actually, some of you seem to be getting your TV over the Internet.) But there are those who aren’t ready for the planned February 17th switchover to digital transmissions–in part, [...]

Copps to Serve As Acting FCC Chief

Thursday, January 22, 2009

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President Obama has selected current Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps as acting head of the Federal Communications Commission in the wake of Kevin Martin’s resignation, the Administration announced late Thursday. The Commissioner has served with the FCC since 2001. The selection of Copps is somewhat interesting, and his philosophy is quite different from that of Martin. He [...]

FCC At Odds With Obama Over DTV Switch

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

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While the Obama team has asked Congress to delay the February 17 switch to digital television, FCC chairman Kevin Martin has publicly come out against any type of postponement. His argument is somewhat sound: he suggests that any delay could confuse consumers, and possibly have the negative side effect of giving consumers a reason not [...]

Julius Genachowski to Chair FCC

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

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Reports indicate President-elect Obama is set to tap Juilus Genachowski to head the Federal Communications Commision. Genachowski has experience with the agency: he served as general counsel to former chair Reed Hunt, who served during the Clinton Administration. Obama and Genachowski are close associates. He was the President-elect’s chief technology counsel and they were classmates at [...]

FCC Chair Backs White Space Usage Plans

Thursday, October 16, 2008

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Those who have been looking to use so-called “white space” for national broadband wireless Internet got a huge boost Wednesday. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has thrown his support behind those plans in a report issued by the commission. Better yet, he plans to bring the issue up for vote at the next meeting on November [...]