US Congress passes broadband open access stimulus

$2.88b will be spent on extending broadband into under-served areas, with open access and net neutrality provisions built into the grants. Republican objections were voted down with the obvious response that "this is public money so the whole public should get to use it".

The NTIA shall ensure that grantees:

(C) operate basic and advanced broadband service networks on an open access basis; 

(D) operate advanced wireless broadband service on a wireless open access basis; and

(E) adhere to the principles contained in the Federal Communications Commission’s broadband policy statement (FCC 05-151, adopted August 5, 2005).

Comcast falls foul of FCC on VoIP

Comcast is in trouble again, this time for peak-time congestion throttling on rival VOIP products. It was Martin's last substantive act in charge of the FCC.

Digital Britain according to Stephen Carter

According to the FT, he appears to be recognising that we'll be innovation-takers not givers:

Draft report’s main points

● A new broadcasting “entity” to replace Channel 4 using public and private assets as well as those of the existing broadcaster

● Long-term solution for provision of national, regional and local news

● Expanded role for BBC’s commercial arm, Worldwide, to act as UK rights marketing company for other broadcasters

● Legislation and formation of a rights agency to combat internet piracy

● Restructuring of digital radio networks and greater flexibility on mergers

● An OFT review of possible relaxation in competition law for regional press and radio

● A review of terms of trade between broadcasters and independent television producers

Jamie Boyle on net neutrality for the incoming US administration

Excellent article by Jamie Boyle taken from his new book - if WWW hadn't appeared under the radar in 1991, government would never have permitted it - or P2P - or open source - or encryption - or, or, or...

What the nomination of Julius Genachowski means

Obama's new FCC chair is a former senior legal advisor to FCC chairs under the Clinton administration (as well as Notes Editor on Harvard Law Review in 1991-  yup, Obama's notes editor). He also chaired Obama's tech panel in 2007.

So what does his nomination bring, beyond his commitment to telecoms regulation and net neutrality? It means a serious regulator is once more in charge of the FCC and it can get rapidly back on track - but not necessarily in convergence with European policy. First, the Obama plan involves far more detailed and extensive universal service for broadband to reach all Americans - imagine that in Europe? Nope. Second, the US does have 2 wires to each home, and promising use of the digital dividend from the 700MHz auction and elsewhere. So don't expect a return to UNE - the equivalent of European Unbundled Local Loop.

Do expect radical action on media pluralism, net neutrality and wireless. Change has come, and the FCC is no longer (soon) broken - its back in business.

Principles for Internet content censorship

El Reg celebrates the work of Derek Bambauer and our very own Pangloss, with principles for governments such as Oz and the UK on how to censor:

"any filtering or blocking ought to be transparent, open, democratically determined, judicially backed, and accountable."

Well, quite!

A New Year's message from Internet researchers

The widely respected Pew Internet Center on Obama's online fiscal stimulus:

"Researchers in the United States invented the Internet and have done the most to shape its architecture and principles of open access that have empowered so many Internet users. But in recent years, American has fallen behind in providing easy, inexpensive online access. Our nation ranks 15th in the world for high-speed Internet connections needed to make the best use of many Internet features.
"Beyond education, other potential benefits of high-speed Internet are apparent. Wider access would lead to more efficient and effective health care, spur entrepreneurial efforts, particularly in rural areas, and promote the arts, science and social interaction. Mr. Obama himself has shown how the Internet can be an effective tool in promoting a political agenda and spurring wider participation in the democratic process. 

"The president-elect also has energetically advocated "network neutrality," the idea that Internet service providers should not be able to discriminate against any of the information carried on the Net. We believe Net neutrality laws are needed to require that big Internet service providers do not block content they disagree with or provide more favorable access to corporate allies than to their smaller competitors."