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politics
wireless
Mr. Page goes to Washington, demanding bandwidth
"If we have 10 percent better connectivity in the U.S., we get 10 percent more revenue in the U.S.," Google cofounder Larry Page told the FCC. He argued in short, that what's good for Google is good for America, speaking in favor of opening unlicensed spectrum known as "white spaces" between television broadcast frequencies. The National Association of Broadcasters and major sports leagues are opposed to the measure, with the NAB citing the FCC's failed tests of equipment made by Microsoft in 2007. More »
network neutrality
Comcast lies to FCC about blocking file-sharing
Cable copmany Comcast assured the FCC that the company's "network management" practices that involved blocking file-sharing traffic only affected heavy users during peak hours. However, tests found that the Internet service provider blocks such traffic for a majority of users all day, every day, as does fellow ISP Cox. [Torrentfreak]
google
Spectrum winner Verizon not concerned with letter of the law adherence to Google's "open rules"
The members of Google's team for its multibillion-dollar wireless-spectrum bid worked themselves to exhaustion and sickness. That was all in an effort to force the contest's eventual winner to abide by "open access" rules Google convinced the FCC to adopt last summer for its 700-Mhz spectrum sale. The auction winner, Verizon, seems to have little concern for Google's mobile whimsy. It plans to launch and heavily market "crippled, walled garden phones with no VoIP, Verizon content, highly restricted [terms of service], [and] high priced SMS," according to Broadband Reports. More »
politics
Comcast, telcos ritually abused at FCC hearings in Palo Alto
Young San Jose resident Alex Polvi presented the least informed, but probably most typical argument for net neutrality in his public comment featured in this video clip from the rescheduled network neutrality hearings hosted by the FCC at Stanford today. But hey, even if he said "Internet" more than a dozen times, he didn't say "marketplace of ideas" or "fascism," like many of the other commenters. The people who should be most worried about the complex debate aren't free speech advocates or corporations, however, but big pharma. Listening to arguments for and against were a more powerful soporific than Ambien. Highlights from the seven hour session after the jump. More »
7:00 PM on Thu Apr 17 2008
By Jackson West
885 views,
4 comments
Latest by matt buchanan: This also left out that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin looks to be leaning toward regulating the ISPs in some fashion, most probably with transparency regulations. more »
politics
Comcast chickens out of FCC hearings at Stanford
Superlawyer Lawrence Lessig won't have Comcast to kick around at the FCC hearing on network neutrality — the principle that broadband providers can't discriminate against certain kinds of Internet traffic — being held at Stanford tomorrow. The event was only scheduled after Comcast paid chumps to fill chairs at an earlier hearing at Harvard in an obvious effort to squelch debate. With Comcast working with BitTorrent and just today joining with legal file-sharing startup Pando to work on a "bill of rights" for file sharers and ISPs, the company is trying to make voluntary moves in an effort to stave off involuntary regulation. I was planning on attending, if only because it promised to be an entertaining nerdfight — now, I'm not so sure. Since public hearings are supposedly democracy in action, you tell me if I should bother buying a Caltrain ticket. More »
file sharing
Sandvine reports $7 million first quarter loss
Canadian network equipment manufacturer Sandvine reported a $7 million loss for the quarter ending February 29th, the first "disappointing" quarter in the company's history according to CEO Dave Caputo. The company makes network management equipment such as the deep packet sniffers Comcast was accused of using to throttle file sharing protocols such as BitTorrent. Caputo assured investors that the debate over ISP traffic management and network neutrality is "cooling somewhat." I'm not so sure — I'm expecting the rescheduled public hearings on Comcast's traffic management policies at Stanford next Thursday to be rather charged. Sandvine's stock is trading at a quarter of it's one year high.
copyfight
Bell Canada's peer-to-peer throttling mess
Bell Canada, the largest Internet service provider for our neighbors to the north, has admitted to using "deep packet sniffers" [Ed's note: Sounds intriguing, am assigning Melissa to look into these people] to throttle peer-to-peer protocol transfers such as BitTorrent downloads. Executives there obviously hadn't spoken to peers at national broadcaster CBC, which recently started legitimately distributing shows via P2P, as has American network NBC and musicians like Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. The company also throttled traffic from ISPs that buy bandwidth wholesale from the company. Net neutrality groups are lobbying Canadian officials to regulate Bell Canada into submission. But Minister of Industry Jim Prentice is opposed to any further regulation, and the Conservative Party-led government has been in favor or easing current regulations on telcos. Meanwhile, here in the states, Comcast has cozied up to BitTorrent and the FCC has proven more amenable to arguments in favor of net neutrality.
larry alder
Google's wireless-spectrum team begged board to stay in auction
Google's public stance: Shucks, it never wanted to win the FCC's airwaves auction. The company just wanted to bid the auction's reserve and thereby force the winner into opening the spectrum, Google lobbyist Richard Whitt told the New York Times. The plan almost failed. More »
lazy valleywag
Failed spectrum bid taxes Googlers' health
Google PR's party line: Even though Verizon Wireless and AT&T mostly won the FCC"s 700-Mhz spectrum auction, Google got what it wanted out of the bid by forcing the carriers to agree to "open" their new airwaves to any wireless device, including the still-mythical Googlephone. Google's latest actions speak otherwise: Google telecom lawyer Richard Whitt has moved from talking about 700 Mhz to new spectrum, formerly used by TV channels, that will become available next year. Some suspect Google's top management was always bluffing with its spectrum bid. If so, we're guessing they never let the team working on the project in on the secret. More »
FCC chair: $19.6 billion spectrum auction totally competitive
"I don't think people anticipated an incumbent would purchase the spectrum with an open-access provision." — FCC chairman Kevin Martin, on why he's not disappointed that Verizon and AT&T got more of the nation's airwaves in an auction meant to spur new wireless competition. [Creative Capital] (Photo by AP/Jeff Roberson)
confirmed
FCC schedules "do-over" Comcast hearing at Stanford
The FCC has announced that it will hold a second hearing on "net neutrality" — the debate over whether broadband providers can favor some kinds of Internet traffic — at Stanford University on April 17 (PDF). We wrote back in February that FCC chairman Kevin Martin was considering a "do-over"; the FCC's first hearing at Harvard was deemed botched after Comcast was caught packing the room with seatwarmers hired off the street. Now, Comcast has to deal with a hostile crowd and Professor Lawrence Lessig, a strong proponent of net neutrality. Lessig v. Comcast at Stanford? Sign me up! More »
wireless spectrum
Who are the big wireless spectrum auction winners?
The FCC's auction of the 700MHz spectrum, soon to be abandoned by analog television broadcasters, is over. Bids totaled $19.6 billion for licenses across the country. But it may be weeks until the winners are announced publicly. Among the big bidders, AT&T and Verizon are the most likely, and the most boring. Google tried to shape the debate over access to the spectrum with a promised bid, and have been acquiring infrastructure over the years. And there's a chance an unknown or three might make a splash. Valleywag is, of course, all ears at tips@valleywag.com. More »
comcast
FCC chair "ready to act" against Comcast -- so what is he waiting for?
Federal Communications Commission chair Kevin Martin reiterated the FCC's position on Comcast's file-sharing misdeeds. Giving a speech at Stanford Law School, Martin said the commission is "ready, willing and able" to take action against the company. But this is the exact same wording he used at the first net neutrality hearing at Harvard several weeks ago. The FCC remains "ready" — but it isn't doing anything. Mr. Martin, sir, as my grandmother would say: "Shit or get off the pot."
followup
FCC chief says no new hearing "planned" after Comcast debacle
Freakishly boyish FCC chairman Kevin Martin isn't exactly denying our earlier report that his commission was considering a "do-over" hearing on net neutrality. The first hearing, held at Harvard, dealt with regulations on what Internet service providers can do to privilege some kinds of Net traffic over others. It was marred by a seat-packing scandal: Comcast paid people to hold spots in line for Comcast employees who never showed up. A FCC representative gave News.com this unhelpful quote on the subject of a new hearing, which we've heard could be held at Stanford: More »
exclusive
The FCC is considering holding a fresh hearing on net neutrality, with Comcast and Verizon again in attendance — and this time it may be at Stanford. The do-over comes after a mini-scandal erupted over the first hearing, held at Harvard; Comcast flacks confessed they'd paid people off the street to act as seatwarmers. Let this be a lesson to you all: If you're going to meddle in politics, do it skillfully enough not to get caught.
More »
FCC contemplating do-over Comcast hearing at Stanford
The FCC is considering holding a fresh hearing on net neutrality, with Comcast and Verizon again in attendance — and this time it may be at Stanford. The do-over comes after a mini-scandal erupted over the first hearing, held at Harvard; Comcast flacks confessed they'd paid people off the street to act as seatwarmers. Let this be a lesson to you all: If you're going to meddle in politics, do it skillfully enough not to get caught.
More »
great moments in pr
Comcast spokeswoman Jennifer Khoury admitted that the cable giant paid some people to arrive early for an FCC hearing on network neutrality. The purpose? Supposedly to hold places for Comcast employees who wanted to attend the hearing. Some of those lineholders didn't just wait in line — they attended the meeting, taking spots which would otherwise have gone to members of the public. Some even fell asleep. Comcast says it didn't intend to block anyone from the hearing, but it doesn't really matter. What Comcast did wasn't illegal, just bad PR, done on the cheap. Next time, ply the seatwarmers with extra-shot Starbucks so they don't get caught napping. That seems easier. (Photo by AP/Stephan Savoia)
Comcast caught packing FCC hearing at Harvard
Comcast spokeswoman Jennifer Khoury admitted that the cable giant paid some people to arrive early for an FCC hearing on network neutrality. The purpose? Supposedly to hold places for Comcast employees who wanted to attend the hearing. Some of those lineholders didn't just wait in line — they attended the meeting, taking spots which would otherwise have gone to members of the public. Some even fell asleep. Comcast says it didn't intend to block anyone from the hearing, but it doesn't really matter. What Comcast did wasn't illegal, just bad PR, done on the cheap. Next time, ply the seatwarmers with extra-shot Starbucks so they don't get caught napping. That seems easier. (Photo by AP/Stephan Savoia)
politics
