Public Knowledge

Digital transmissions of television broadcasts require much less spectrum than analog broadcasts. As a result, when over-the-air broadcasters change to a digital broadcast as mandated by Congress, they no longer need large areas of spectrum that they have traditionally controlled. This auction involves a large portion of that vacated spectrum.

In recent months, cable Internet provider Comcast has used spoofing technology to interrupt peer-to-peer applications and traffic on their network. Consumers groups have filed a formal complaint against Comcast with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), asking it to enforce its four policy principles on network neutrality.

“Orphan Works” are copyrighted works — books, music, records, films, etc — whose owner cannot be located. Works can become “orphaned” for a number of reasons: the owner did not register the work, the owner sold rights in the work and did not register the transfer, the owner died and his heirs cannot be found … the list goes on.