Group items tagged

Ultility regulators weigh in on FCC proposed regulation, stressing non-discrimination on peer-to-peer and political content by broadband providers.

Berlusconi looks to regulate Internet video by banning the uploading of violent or pornographic content. The move raises issues of freedom of speech, technical challenges of such regulation, issues of jurisdiction, and media ownership and consolidation concerns since some of Berlusconi's channels offer pornographic content for sale.

Broadband companies are questioning the FCC's ability to regulate the Internet over fears they may be regulated similar to telephone companies. Chariman Genachowski remains adamant he will push ahead.

FCC's net neutrality regulations will allow ISPs to block BitTorrent. "The new proposed net neutrality regulations would allow the same practices that net neutrality was first invoked to prevent."

Clear Channel has lost in appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals to challenge a 70 year old billboard zoning regulation in New York.

"The Newspaper Guild accused Reuters of wrongly cutting the pay and benefits of 420 employees, in a complaint filed on Friday with federal regulators"

This blog post explores reasons behind industry reluctance for ISPs to be reclassified under common carriage and Telecommunications regulation.

More specific legal language on the Net-Neutrality court decision.

"To stop broadcasters from flexing their muscles, the coalition asked the FCC to mandate that disputes be settled by an arbitrator. They also want regulators to bar stations from withholding their programming, their most potent bargaining chip."

"Taiwanese regulator the National Communications Commission (NCC) has revised its mobile TV licensing plans, announcing that, contrary to its previous announcement, only one concession will be awarded in 2010. As reported by CommsUpdate on 18 January 2010, the NCC revealed that it planned to award two operators concessions for mobile TV services, allocating each licensee 6MHz in the 600MHz frequency band across which it will deliver 18-20 programme channels using either the Qualcomm-developed MediaFLO or DVB-H as its mobile TV standard."

Google announced plans to provide fiber-to-the-home-connections of 1Gbit/sec speeds. Some argue that the announcement may be a negotiating tactic to prompt federal regulators to push for net neutrality.

ROME - Three Google executives were convicted of violating Italian privacy laws on Wednesday, the first case to hold the company's executives criminally responsible for the content posted on its system. Enlarge This Image Paolo Bona/Reuters Bill Echikson, a spokesman for Google, called a judge's ruling against executives "astonishing." Related New Complaints Filed Against Google in Europe (February 25, 2010) Times Topics: Google Inc. The verdict, though subject to appeal, could have sweeping implications worldwide for Internet freedom: It suggests that Google is not simply a tool for its users, as it contends, but is effectively no different from any other media company, like newspapers or television, that provides content and could be regulated.

Federal regulators are voting on closing a loophole that allows cable TV operators to withhold sporting events and other popular programming that they own from satellite companies and other rivals.

Discussion of Comcast and NBC Merger, including opening promises from Comcast to preserve local over-the-air broadcasting and increase programming for children and minorities.

A look at media ownership in Kenya and current struggles with media regulation.

Google and Verizon join forces and submit a filing that outlines the points on which they agree in regards to the FCC's proposed net neutrality rules.

Google and Verizon are stepping up their support for net neutrality regulations.

UK regulators are considering relaxing rules that require public service broadcaster to sell advertising in their allotted commercial time at any cost.

"Federal regulators trying to bring high-speed Internet connections to all Americans will propose tapping the government program that now subsidizes telephone service in poor and rural areas. The Federal Communications Commission will include a proposal to revamp the Universal Service Fund as part of a national broadband plan due to Congress on March 17. Although the proposal itself has been expected for months, Friday's announcement offered the first solid details."

"Federal regulators are proposing to expand broadband services by tapping a program that now subsidizes phone service in poor and rural areas."