What’s a Tracker Network and What Can it See?

In Wednesday’s Senate floor debate over the Congressional Review Act resolution on the Wheeler FCC’s privacy regulations, each Democratic Senator made the same claim: ISPs can see all the web…

March 23, 2017 0

Digital Broadband Migration Conference

This is one of my regular stops and will continue to be one for the foreseeable future. If you’re in Boulder next February and interested in Internet policy, check it out.

February 21, 2017 0

Mysteries and Loopholes in the Open Internet Order

The claim that Internet regulation can only be carried out by an agency with rulemaking power remains to be proved because we don’t actually have concrete rules yet.

February 15, 2017 0

A Fresh Look at Internet Management

The FTC takes action to stop and prevent unfair business practices that are likely to reduce competition and lead to higher prices, reduced quality or levels of service, or less innovation. Anticompetitive practices include activities like price fixing, group boycotts, and exclusionary exclusive dealing contracts or trade association rules, and are generally grouped into two types: agreements between competitors, also referred to as horizontal conduct; and monopolization, also referred to as single firm conduct

February 9, 2017 0

Chairman Pai’s FCC Challenge

In this podcast, Shane Tews and Richard discuss key issues likely to grab the FCC’s attention this year, the impact of Chairman Pai, and whether the FCC needs to be reorganized. Beyond the issues themselves, Chairman Pai is likely to invest a lot of effort in changing the tone at the agency. Rather than forcing questionable issues through the agenda, expect him to work for consensus solutions that will outlast his tenure.

January 27, 2017 0

Is Net Neutrality Doomed?

Net neutrality is doomed by history and technology regardless of who sits atop the FCC. Neutrality is forced modularity, a losing proposition in every long run. Our reverence for for forced modularity comes from a fluke of history.

January 24, 2017 0

Reimagining the FCC for the 21st Century

I read an intriguing article on Airbus’s plans for flying cars in Digital Trends. Before the end of the year, Europe’s aircraft maker will be testing both single-passenger and no-passenger flying…

January 17, 2017 0

DirecTV Now Too Good to be Legal

AT&T’s Monday announcement of the DirecTV Now streaming service drew nearly unanimous applause from tech pundits. This is a new business model for cable TV that harnesses some of the power of the broadband networks to provide personalized sports, entertainment, and news packages to TV viewers. But some are critical, albeit for strange reasons.

December 1, 2016 0

Landing Team Invades the Echo Chamber

Technology regulation is a gatekeeper with an enormous role in determining the kind of future we will enjoy. Engineers can create awesome new systems, but if we can’t get buy-in…

November 24, 2016 0

The FCC’s Privacy Nudge

Privacy defaults determine choices. Advertisers should compete on a level playing field where outcomes aren’t pre-determined.

September 29, 2016 0