Posts from June 2009

New FCC Chair Brings Us One Step Closer to Net Neutrality
Tim Karr
June 26, 2009

Julius Genachowski, a strong proponent of Net Neutrality, was confirmed by the Senate late Thursday to be the influential chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Behind the Rhetoric, Verizon Picture Not So Rosy
Tim Karr
June 25, 2009

Charlie Rose this week held a wide-ranging interview with Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg.

On the surface, it seemed a pretty tame affair, with Seidenberg dispensing corporate bromides that would make Verizon investors smile -- and Rose happily egging him on.

But behind the hype was a back story that should be cause for concern.

Don't Mess with Grandma
Phillip Dampier
June 23, 2009

AT&T’s pushback on Rep. Massa’s consumer protection legislation brought quite a reaction when the phone giant invoked a vision of “grandma” being forced to overpay for her broadband account.

AT&T 'Strikes Out' on Wireless Net Neutrality
Tim Karr
June 18, 2009

Think the iPhone is the free-flowing Internet in your pocket? Think again.

AT&T, the sole wireless carrier for the iPhone, has decided to allow Major League Baseball to stream video live to the new iPhone, but is blocking other companies from streaming sports or any other video via its closed network.

On Sock Puppet Reaction to Massa Legislation
Phillip Dampier
June 18, 2009

"This is not a rate increase, this is about fair pricing for everyone, seriously."

It’s always awful when you wake up with a bad taste in your mouth. That’s the flavor of industry hacks and sock puppets who spent a good part of yesterday and last night on the attack against Rep. Eric Massa and your consumer interests.

New Bill to Stop Internet Overcharging
Megan Tady
June 17, 2009

Congratulations, your activism against Time Warner Cable's outrageous Internet pricing schemes last month resulted in legislation today to stop them.

Who Really Owns Your Phone?
Sen. John Kerry
June 16, 2009

We've got a busy couple of days ahead in the Senate Commerce Committee, but they're exactly the kind of days you've been fighting to see for a long time.

Iran, Twitter and the CNN Fail
Josh Levy
June 15, 2009

As I write this, three of the top 10 "trending topics" on Twitter are related to the protests currently rocking Iran. In fact, the most popular trend on Twitter for the last few days has been #iranelection, which updates with hundreds of new tweets every minute.

Dial-Up Stalls Online Flower Business in Rural N.C.
Megan Tady
June 15, 2009

On a sloping hillside, Jack Kennedy cultivates 60 varieties of daylilies. He calls himself the “daylily man,” an interloper from the North who moved to his mountain perch in Rutherford County, North Carolina, to retire to his dream home and sink his hands into the earth.

Now Comcast Wants Open Meetings?
Megan Tady
June 14, 2009

If the FCC were to write a book using the cable and phone industry’s comments about the national broadband plan, they could title it Stupid Things They Said to Get Their Way and Control the Internet.

AT&T Plays Dumb as iPhone Romance Hits Rocks
Tim Karr
June 10, 2009

AT&T can’t decide whether it loves or hates the iPhone. But for many iPhone users there’s little doubt: They hate AT&T.

Thousands File Comments for an Open Internet
Megan Tady
June 9, 2009

At the close of yesterday’s FCC comment period about a national Internet plan, thousands of you filed comments in support of an open, affordable Internet. This could be the biggest docket in the FCC’s history.

While we were ushering your comments to the FCC, we also took a moment (or, more accurately, hours of our research director’s time) to submit our own.

Nothing Good from the Internet? Bollocks
Josh Levy
June 8, 2009

“I’m a guy who sees nothing good having come from the Internet. Period.”

Sounds like something your Grandpa might say — akin to boasting about the cost of gasoline when he was young and the glory days of ham radio.

FCC Comment Link Reopened – Send Yours Now
Megan Tady
June 4, 2009

We know it was frustrating yesterday when our links went haywire and you couldn’t post your comments to the FCC. But look at it this way – so many people were trying to contact the FCC, our servers were having trouble keeping up with the rush.

Tell the FCC What You Want from a National Internet Plan
Megan Tady
June 3, 2009

The Federal Communications Commission is busy crafting America's first national broadband plan, and they're asking for your input. Now's your chance to tell the FCC to support an open, fast, affordable and people-powered Internet without corporate gatekeepers.

Where Are the Public Interest Protections in Massachusetts’ Internet Plan?
Megan Tady
June 2, 2009

If Massachusetts is leading the nation in broadband expansion, we should be worried.

Last year, Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill to extend affordable high-speed Internet to thousands of Massachusetts residents. He has authorized $40 million in state bonds to develop public-private partnerships to connect the dozens of towns that still don’t have broadband access.

Industry Analyst: Internet Metering 'Is Going to Happen'
Phillip Dampier
June 2, 2009

Craig Moffett, cable and telecom analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company, is back rallying for consumption based billing, dismissing accusations it represents a stealth rate increase.