TV blackouts are at a record high this year, as content providers try to squeeze more and more money out of cable bundle customers. The latest network to play the game is FOX, who are demanding a modest 114% fee increase from Cablevision. The cable company knows that customers are already cutting cable and switching [...]
The ACLU has identified net neutrality as critical to freedom of speech: In its report, the ACLU called on the FCC to apply longstanding “common carrier” rules that would bar network owners from halting, slowing or otherwise tampering with the transfer of data to Internet users. Common carrier rules included by Congress in the Telecommunications [...]
From AP via SkunkPost: House Democrats have shelved a last-ditch effort to broker a compromise between phone, cable and Internet companies on rules that would prohibit broadband providers from blocking or degrading online traffic flowing over their networks. House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., abandoned the effort late Wednesday in the face of Republican opposition [...]
Google has responded to the (pretty venomous) criticism of their joint proposal with Verizon. Meanwhile, AT&T has come out in support of the proposal, which doesn’t make me any more keen on it.
The actual document that caused the rumors about a Google/Verizon net neutrality deal is now available for perusal. The EFF analysis is probably worth reading.
Everybody’s talking about a rumored deal between Google and Verizon, that would allow Verizon to “allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege”. If true, this would be the first major strike against net neutrality. Accordingly, people are setting up [...]
Update: The anti-net-neutrality astroturfing campaign presentation was a class project. The industry-backed web site, however, is sadly genuine. It states that it “opposes a government-run Internet”, clearly trying to imply that net neutrality advocates favor that. It all seems transparently dishonest to me, but perhaps it will fool someone.
Time-Warner’s nightmare is coming true: The Yankee Group is predicting that 1 in 8 households will drop cable or satellite TV in 2010. Will you be one of them?
A new report says that around 800,000 households have dropped TV service in favor of TV via Internet. This is only 1% of the total customer base, but still, it’s an important trend that is likely scaring the hell out of the cable companies. Combined with last week’s decision that the FCC can’t enforce net [...]
A Federal Appeals Court has ruled that the FCC has no power to regulate the Internet and enforce net neutrality. This is a big victory for Comcast, Time Warner and other cable companies.
