Promoting a Creative and Connected Future
Front Page Tabs
FCC: Agreement Between Major Corporations is Not “Consensus”
Follow @haroldfeldFCC Commissioner Ajit Pai calls the agreement between the biggest wireless companies and the broadcast incumbents over the Incentive Auction band plan a ‘consensus,’ ignoring objections from consumers and competitors. But an auction designed by the biggest incumbents will be a disaster for everyone, and a ‘consensus’ of incumbents that ignores consumers is no consensus for an FCC Commissioner.
Last week, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Wireless Bureau issued what should have
been a fairly routine and highly technical Public
Notice about possible alternative band plans for the 600
MHz Auction aka the Incentive Auction.
This could also be called “that incredibly crazy, complicated deal Congress came up with last year where broadcasters sell back spectrum licenses to the FCC so the FCC can sell them to wireless companies.”
Since public comment makes it clear that the various proposals present a lot of challenges (see my incredibly long and wonky explanation here), it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the Wireless Bureau asked for further comment after holding a band plan workshop a few weeks ago.
AT&T Will Eventually Do the Minimum Users Expect
Follow @bergmayerAT&T has clarified that its bad policy of restricting video chat apps is still in place. We've also found out that handset providers need to jump through hoops to avoid being blocked. But AT&T has promised to end these practices by the end of the year.
When I wrote about AT&T's blocking of Google Hangouts over cellular last week I admit I was confused. I didn't understand why AT&T would allow Hangouts on iOS but not Android. It really looked like some kind of oversight, because the Android app, just like the iOS app, was installed from an app store and not "pre-loaded," which is a distinction AT&T has made before. I also wondered if app developers had to somehow work some special magic to make their apps work on AT&T's network.
But, yesterday AT&T put out a statement that clarifies some things while confusing others. First, it really does appear that AT&T defines Hangouts for Android as "pre-loaded." Even though it hasn't actually been pre-loaded on any phones yet, an app by the OS developer appears to count.
3D/DC II: 3D Printing Comes to Washington, DC
Apr 24, 2013 05:30 PM - Apr 24, 2013 07:30 PM
Location: Cafeteria of the Rayburn House Office Building
Come see the remarkable, disruptive technology of 3D printing in person. Chat with some of the people and companies that make it happen. Mingle with other 3D printing fans and curiosity seekers.
This is the second time PK has hosted the 3D printing community to come together in Washington, DC. Don't miss your chance this time around!
The 2013 PK Policy Symposium
Feb 26, 2013 10:00 AM - Feb 26, 2013 03:00 PMLocation: The US Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC
Join Public Knowledge for conversations on the future of internet, communications, and copyright policy. From "fixing" TV to copyright reform, we'll discuss obstacles and solutions to what are sure to be this year's most interesting policy questions. How do we ensure that broadband is a catalyst for growth? That the video marketplace has room to grow? That copyright balances the needs of creators with the needs of the public?
These questions go right to the heart of what PK cares about - and is working on every day. We hope you can join the debate!
The FCC Rolls Out Rural Broadband Access Through the Connect America Fund
Today Mignon Clyburn, Chairwoman of the FCC, announced the distribution of the the Connect America Fund (CAF). The CAF is a portion of the Universal Service Fund (USF) that goes to building out broadband in high-cost rural communities.
The following can be attributed to Harold Feld, Senior Vice President:
"It's heartening to see Chairwoman Clyburn true to her commitment to move important items forward. The decision on how to allocate the CAF money was already made some time ago. Moving forward keeps the FCC on track in its ongoing efforts to address the continuing and urgent problem of rural broadband deployment. We look forward to working with the Chairwoman Clyburn and Commissioners Pai and Rosenworcel in the coming weeks on broadband, prison phone rates, media policy, spectrum, and other issues."
New Patent Reform Bill Takes Aim at Patent Trolls and Other Abuses
Today, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Patent Abuse Reduction Act of 2013. The bill introduces several reforms to patent litigation. In particular, it requires parties asserting patents to explain their infringement case in detail early on at the pleading stage, it limits discovery during the lawsuit, shifts litigation costs and fees, and empowers defendants to join into the lawsuit other parties with interests in the patents.
The following can be attributed to Charles Duan, Director of Public Knowledge's Patent Reform Project:
Testimony of Public Knowledge Before the US Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet Hearing on the State of Video
Testimony
of John Bergmayer
Senior
Staff Attorney
Public
Knowledge
Before
the
U.S.
Senate
Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Technology
Subcommittee
on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
Hearing on “The State of Video”
May 14, 2013
preservesthe openness of the Internet and the public's access to knowledge, promotes creativity through balanced copyright, and upholds and protects the rights of consumers to use innovative technology lawfully.
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