The switch to digital television from analog television took place on Friday. As expected, there were many television users around the United States who needed help to make the switch. In fact, the Federal Communications Commission says that they received more than 300,000 calls in the 24 hours following the switch. Originally, the FCC was predicting as many as 3,000,000 calls, so relatively speaking it was a quiet day. Michael J. Copps, who is the acting FCC chairman, emphasized how big of an undertaking this switch actually was for everyone involved. Said Copps: “We should not minimize …read more

Doesn’t that headline grab your interest? First thoughts? Its about time eh? Second thought? They’ve finally used some of that $200 billion the gov. handed them years ago…
Reality?
AT&T Boosts Bandwidth Choices and Speed with 10 Mbps Offer for U-verse Customers
“Millions of consumers now have a new option to keep them surfing in the fast lane with the nation’s leading provider of broadband services. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced plans to offer AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet Max in February 2008. The new tier, available exclusively to AT&T U-verseSM customers across the country, will deliver more bandwidth and faster available speeds …read more

Oh how I absolutely love Joel Johnson’s speaking out on “The Hugh Thompson Show!”
During the ensuing comments, Noen says;
“Your privacy is an illusion. And while Joel did good I don’t think that AT&T is too worried about him or even about BoingBoing. They have the administration and congress bending over backwards just for them. We are no threat.”
And I think – what if we became a threat? Joel became a threat during that taping and “God’s” voice rang out saying “Hold It!”
I believe that this world can still be saved and these are the kind of acts that will accomplish …read more

EFF Wins Fast-Track Release of Telecom Lobbying Records
Judge Cancels Friday Hearing, Orders Government to Comply by December 10
“San Francisco – Late Tuesday, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) won the speedy release of telecom lobbying records from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
The agency was ordered to comply with a new December 10 deadline — in time for the documents to play a role in the congressional debate over granting amnesty for telecommunications companies taking part in illegal electronic surveillance. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston vacates a hearing on the matter previously scheduled for Friday.”
In …read more

Damn good news!
F.C.C. Planning Rules to Open Cable Market
“The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to impose significant new regulations to open the cable television market to independent programmers and rival video services after determining that cable companies have become too dominant in the industry, senior commission officials said.
The finding, under a law that gives the commission expanded powers over the cable television industry if it becomes too big, is expected to be announced this month. It is a major departure for the agency and the industry, which was deregulated by an act of Congress in 1996.”
Oh, and Mr Cleland, take …read more

Monks Are Silenced, and for Now, Internet Is, Too

Don’t think it could happen? The original story (and one that we all ought to pay life or death attention to);
“It was about as simple and uncomplicated as shooting demonstrators in the streets. Embarrassed by smuggled video and photographs that showed their people rising up against them, the generals who run Myanmar simply switched off the Internet.”
How about a different version, one that could strike home here;
It was about as simple and uncomplicated as shutting a group of websites down. Embarrassed by smuggled YouTube videos and Flickr photographs that showed their people …read more

Really? This is some package, to me. If you don’t, I do, find it very interesting to put this complete scenario together in my mind.
First is the Teamsters announcement of their support for Net Neutrality, “Hoffa Urges Senate to Act on Net Neutrality to Protect Freedom of Speech,” pointed to by Matt Stoller. “Kovie” offered a plum in his/her comment at Matt’s entry about Sprint and their new broadband internet wireless technology, “Xohm.” Kovie’s understanding of Xohm was that “because it’s proprietary, they (Sprint) could use [it] to control web usage” meaning that Sprint would be running the technology from …read more

A perfect example that there really isn’t any competition in the market!
Selecting just these two posts (there are thousands);
AT&T threatens to disconnect subscribers who criticize the company
AT&T vows to use Terms of Service for good, not censorship
Folks, is anyone paying attention? I mean really? Thankfully, there are people who now scan through their cable and phone bills and make these discoveries otherwise “they’d” sneak them past us.
Telecoms are denying service, censoring and now claiming the right to cancel for what? Bad conduct by you and I, that’s what – in their discretion!
Their discretionary powers are more than very disturbing, seems …read more

Andy Davidson calls it – “I don’t want an internet dominated only by companies with deep pockets.”
I might like to change that personally to “I don’t want an internet dominated only by monopolistic Telcoms.”
Healthy competition Scott – healthy competition. I know the research has been done, I’ve read yours, I don’t have another. I’ll find others but reality is that the “competition” people like Scott Cleland speak of is actually managed and controlled by the larger Telcoms therefore they aren’t true, healthy competition.
More Thoughts;

I found this video very interesting. It is Bill Moyers interviewing FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on Big Media. “Among the topics are net neutrality and the current state of the media as well as proposed new rules which could allow further consolidation.” I especially found these thoughts provocative;
“Regulation, Deregulation – Mindless Rhetoric”
“Broadcasters Are Supposed To Serve The Public Interests!”
“Protecting The Public Interest”
“Citizen Action Can Still Work”
via videosift.com