reCAPTCHA: I’m Not a Robot But I’m Not Sure About You

Google is not a charitable enterprise, and essentially all of its income is made by monetizing personal information. 

July 10, 2019 0

Underestimating Rural Broadband Coverage

Is it justifiable to misrepresent the facts (to lie, actually) in order provoke a legislative reaction that improves rural life?

June 22, 2019 0

Behind the Curve: EFF’s Long Strange Trip

Perhaps the time has come to tell EFF what Barlow told lawmakers in 1996: “On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past to leave us alone.” The future of networking is intermodal competition between networks and services that control their destinies.

June 12, 2019 0

The Consequences of Russian Misinformation

Conspiracy nuts are drawn into an irrational world where normal behavior is to do irrational things. Conspiracy theories undermine confidence in institutions and conspiratorial reasoning also undermines institutions in their own right. We need to break out of this cycle. 

May 17, 2019 0

America’s 5G Plan Takes Shape

After months of speculation on the nature of the nation’s plan for the implementation of 5G, the White House has finally raised the curtain on some crucial details at a…

April 12, 2019 0

House Set to Aggravate Internet Problems

The only reason for Congress to turn the clock back to 2015 is to enjoy the comfort of a well-worn path. This is cowardly and counter-productive; the rank and file should say “no” and demand a more serious approach to Internet regulation from their party leadership.

March 26, 2019 0

You Don’t Need a Weatherman to Know Which Way the Wind Blows: Delaying Spectrum Auctions

Satellite-based systems are also vertical on nature, while 5G is a horizontal, land-based system. So it appears that a political constituency has asked for an unnecessary delay in order to protect itself from the consequences of 5G. 

March 19, 2019 0

Another Tale of Two Hearings

Privacy is a balancing and line-drawing exercise. Net neutrality is as well, but some of the more combative Democrats don’t see it that way. Perhaps their blindness is willful and perhaps it’s politically-driven. But either way, it’s not doing consumers or the Internet any favors. 

March 13, 2019 0

To Nationalize or Not; and What About the Trade Commission?

The 5G buildout is hampered on some areas by extortionate rents on small cell sites. These fees are driven the need of some municipalities – such as San Jose, California – to raise money for pension costs. While we’re sympathetic to retirees, there are ways to meet these needs without wrecking the technology sector. 

March 6, 2019 0

Small Victories in the War on Internet Disinformation

People like DeGette and Lindenberger are little points of light in the dark night of search engine optimization. Their success will depend on the willingness of millions of ordinary people to join their fight for reality-based public policy. 

March 4, 2019 0