Posts tagged Fcc at Switched

Posts with tag fcc

Obama Loads His Team With 'World of Warcraft' Fan and Bloggers

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 21st 2008 at 12:02PM

Despite the looming possibility that incoming president Barack Obama may have to give up e-mail, there is still strong expectation that an Obama administration will be sensitive to technology issues. One of those reasons is his continued appointment of people with deep connections to cyber culture.

Obama's latest appointment is Tom Daschle as head of Health and Human Services (we thought that job would have gone to Dean). Daschle is a former blogger, though he doesn't appear to have had much dedication to the idea of blogging -- the blog only reveals two entries about his travels through South Dakota.

Other appointees are much more active though. Peter Orszag, who has been tapped to head the Office of Management and Budget, is an avid blogger (though he keeps comments on his posts turned off). Heading up his FCC transition team are Susan Crawford and Kevin Werbach, grizzled veterans of the Net Neutrality battle. Both keep active blogs, and Webach even gets down with Twitter. There is even good news for gamers: Werbach is very active on 'World of Warcraft.' He belongs to a pair of guilds in the virtual world that consist mainly of academics and the tech elite.

What exactly this means for the policy of the incoming administration remains to be seen, but we're sure they'll be much more sensitive to the needs the tech industry and netizens than the Bush administration has been. [From: Silicon Alley Insider, and GigaOm]

FCC Expresses Concern Over Widespread Cable Price Hikes

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 5th 2008 at 10:06AM

You know those cable price hikes that have been going around lately? Looks like you're not the only one who's a tad upset about it. The Federal Communications Commission has actually come forward to express its concern from the rampant outbreak of cable pay-TV increases, with spokeswoman Mary Diamond proclaiming that "over the last decade, average cable rates have more than doubled, and now cable companies are charging consumers more but consumers are receiving less." Of course, it's not like the almighty FCC is going to step in and pony up for the delta or anything philanthropic like that, but it is good to see The Man standing up for the children. Even if it's just empty words in the end.

[Via Columbia Tribune, image courtesy of YouthRetirement]

FCC Official Predicts "Messy" Digital TV Switch

by Richard Lawler, posted Oct 16th 2008 at 3:41PM

Don't let the smooth transition experienced in Wilmington and other tests fool you, FCC member Kelly McDowell just returned from a tour in ~~Afghanistan~~ Alaska, Montana & Oklahoma, and he's seen things, terrible things. Things that have convinced him that the transition on February 17, 2009 "will be messy ... but we will get through it" when over the air broadcasts go all-digital. Hopefully there's enough time (and money left in the budget) to take care of any problems -- the General Accounting Office recently found that regulators are unprepared for the demand of consumers in need of help switching.

Wireless Providers Building Bird-Safe Cell Phone Towers

by Peter Mychalcewycz, posted Sep 5th 2008 at 7:11PM

Members of America's Wireless industry are working with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to authorize the construction of new cell phone towers that won't slaughter millions of migrating birds every year. They are under pressure to do so because the towers currently sprawled across the U.S., well, do kill millions of birds (between four and five million birds, according to estimates from the US Fish and Wildlife Service).

We know huge corporations are evil. But come on!

The FCC has been directed by a court to figure out "how it will provide notice of pending tower applications that will ensure meaningful public involvement in implementing NEPA procedures." Essentially, if a company wants to build a tower they will now have to prove that it wont hurt birds.

We are sure the wireless companies already have a way to win over local authorities obsessed with wildlife preservation: It's called money. [From: ars.tecnica via Textually]

FCC Chairman Dreams of Free Mobile Internet for All Americans

by Darren Murph, posted Aug 21st 2008 at 1:20PM

Just over a year ago, we were all making bitter beer faces at FCC chairman Kevin Martin for not going along with a delightful sounding "free Internet" plan. Now, it seems the main man's tune has changed. During a recent interview, Martin stated that there was a "social obligation in making sure everybody could participate in the next generation of broadband services because, increasingly, that's what people want."

He's reportedly looking to attach a free mobile broadband requirement to the AWS-3 spectrum that's set to be auctioned next year, which would require the winner to allocate 25% for gratis access. 'Course, we wouldn't get our hopes us for this to actually go down like it surely is playing out in your mind just now, but we won't fault you for dreamin'. [From: USAToday via phonescoop]

FCC Approves Sirius and XM Satellite Radio Merger

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 28th 2008 at 10:31AM

In a somewhat unsurprising move, the FCC has approved the merger of Sirius and XM after protracted -- and incredibly boring -- multi-year negotiations. The Federal Communication Commission decided tonight to allow a deal that will bring the two satellite radio providers together, creating a combined subscriber base of roughly 18 million users.

The deal isn't without catches, however, with the Commission stating that the companies must cap prices for three years following the merger, allow subscriber choice on content, and lower fees for channel packages. FCC head Kevin Martin seemed pleased with the final outcome, stating, "Consumers will get to enjoy the best of the programming on both services." You know who wasn't so stoked? Clear Channel. [Source: Washington Post]

MPAA Attempting to Limit HD Movie Recording in the Home

by Will Safer, posted Jun 9th 2008 at 11:38AM

The Motion Picture Association of America appears to be going down a path that puts it at odds with some of goals of the digital television transition, thanks to its move to restrict the ability of digital video recorders to save high definition movies when they're first distributed via satellite, cable or even broadcast TV.

The restriction, made possible by a kind of "switch" called Selectable Output Control, is already built in to DVRs but the FCC limits when it can be used. What the MPAA wants to do is have the FCC allow its use when a movie is first released over cable but before it is available on DVD. The movie organization claims this will protect the studios, which of course have an interest in making a profit on these releases. It claims that if people can record high definition copies of movies, then they will be less likely to buy hi-def copies on disc when they come out, or even share the hi-def copies from their DVRs.

Consumer advocacy groups, such as the Home Recording Rights Coalition (HRRC), say this kind of restriction, if allowed, will be a slippery slope that could lead to even greater interference with consumers' ability to record and watch content.

This, the HRRC says, could make the transition to DTV less appealing to consumers, which runs counter to the FCC's stated goals for consumer adoption of the hi-def technology.

Adding to the burgeoning controversy over the proposed restriction plan is the speed with which the MPAA's mission is being considered by the FCC. It rings a bit of insider manipulation, since one of the MPAA's lawyers in the matter is a former FCC commissioner.

So, could this lead to an unfair, or at least discouraging limit put upon consumers' ability to enjoy and record hi-def content? On the plus side, hi-def content could be distributed even sooner after theatrical release to consumers' homes. On the negative side, it could put restrictions in place that would make the experience a bit less than satisfying. [Source: Ars Technica]

FCC Considering Plan for Free Nationwide Wi-Fi

by Blake Besharian, posted May 31st 2008 at 10:10AM

As the FCC auctions off an unused spectrum of airwaves, the winner may be forced to provide free wireless internet for most of the country. No date or terms for the auction have been set, but the government's deal requires that free service on the 25 MHz spectrum reaches at least half the in five years and 95 percent within ten years. The agreement, proposed by FCC chairman Kevin Martin, also stipulates that the bidder must filter out obscene content for allowing the winner to use the remaining portion of the spectrum for commercial purposes.

"We're hoping there will be increased interest in the proposal; and because this will provide wireless broadband services to more Americans, it is certainly something we want to see," said FCC spokesman Rob Kenny.

CTIA, the principal trade group for wireless companies, is unenthusiastic about the proposal, taking issue with the provision that the service must be free. Prior to this proposal, there has been little interest in this portion of the spectrum, as wireless carriers preferred the 700MHz airwaves auctioned a few months ago.

A startup company called M2Z previously asked to use the airwaves for free, providing free wireless with a content filter and garnering revenue from advertising that would be shared with the government. The FCC turned M2Z down, saying the company needed to bid against other carriers, but Martin's proposal is very similar. The next step is a June 12^th meeting where more details are expected to be hammered out. [Source: AP Business and Yahoo! News]

National SMS Alert System Closer to Reality

by Chris Ziegler, posted Apr 9th 2008 at 9:46PM

The FCC is expected to get real with a nationwide SMS-based alert system on Wednesday, revealing the details of a program that will likely be adopted by all four national carriers in the US -- and very likely, we'd assume, most of the regionals as well. The program will be designed to send messages to in-the-know subscribers in the event of a natural disaster, attack, or child abduction, and naturally, folks will be able to opt out if they prefer the "ignorance is bliss" approach.

The system is also apparently going to feature specific provisions requiring participating carriers to make sure disabled users can get the alert via special vibration or audiable alerts, though it's not clear how those will differ from the vibrates and beeps the rest of the populace receives.

If all goes well, carriers who opt to implement the system will have to have it running within 10 months, so we'll finally be able to get that "OMG TRNDO" text we've always wanted to receive.

From Phone Scoop (via Engadget)

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Clear Channel Pushing For Restrictions In Sirius / XM Merger

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Mar 25th 2008 at 3:19PM

The Department of Justice approved the controversial merger between Sirius and XM Satellite radio yesterday. Now it's the FCC's turn to take a shot at the only two satellite radio providers in the country, which aim to become one monopolistic company.

Clear Channel is taking the unprecedented step of pressuring the FCC for stricter enforcement of decency standards, specifically making them applicable to satellite broadcasts. Currently satellite radio is not subject to the same standards that govern terrestrial radio broadcasts and television. In 2004 Clear Channel, the largest conglomerate of radio stations in the U.S., was slapped with well over half a million dollars in fines for indecent and started pressuring shock jock Howard Stern to clean up his act. Stern found a new audience Sirius, and now it seems that Clear Channel is looking to extract revenge on the satellite radio industry for stealing away one of its prime properties.

Among the qualifiers Clear Channel is seeking for the merger are the enforcement of decency standards for satellite broadcasts, opening up part of the satellite radio spectrum for a possible commercial competitor, five percent of the spectrum being set aside for public interest uses, and that the new unified Sirius / XM Satellite Radio be forced to integrate HD radio technology into its receivers, which Clear Channel is an investor in.

We find it quite interesting that Clear Channel is perfectly willing to support decency standards and public interest reforms... at least for its competitors.

From Ars Technica and AOL News

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