WebProNews

Consumer Groups Call For Information On Broadband Plans

A half dozen consumer and public interest groups have sent a letter to Federal Communications Chair Julius Genachowski offering a list of priorities for policy changes in broadband data collection. The groups are asking the FCC to require all providers to report census block-level broadband availability data. The FCC is currently collecting data that will be used to create a national broadband plan.

Why Bloggers (All People) Need To Count As Journalists

Recently WebProNews readers fired off a couple hundred comments regarding the US House of Representatives’ definition of journalist in the Free Flow of Information Act, a law shielding journalists from having to reveal their sources. A new development in Virginia involving a citizen journalist shows why this definition needs to be broadened to include bloggers, and any other type of journalist.

FCC Questions Comcast’s VoIP Policy

The Federal Communications Commission is investigating concerns that Comcast's new network management practices gives priority to its own digital voice services while degrading the quality of its competitors.In a letter sent to Comcast on Sunday, the FCC asked why the company had failed to disclose "the distinct effects Comcast's new network management technique has on Comcast's VoIP offering versus those if its competitors."

House Wants $6 Billion For Broadband Initiative

The House Appropriations Committee wants to put $6 billion towards expanding broadband to rural areas of America."For every dollar invested in broadband the economy sees a ten-fold return on that investment," the committee said in a report. The plan is part of an $825 billion stimulus package to be voted on by Congress.Broadband advocates support the proposal but want measures in place to ensure transparency and accountability.

Net Neutrality, Now With Less Spin

Have the telecoms and cable companies just abandoned the Net Neutrality fight altogether? It used to be they staged aggressive rhetoric battles, created questionable studies, and pretended to honor Net Neutrality on their own – without legislation.

FCC Chairman On Open Wireless: Gotcha!

Oh, man! He got me. He really did. I really, truly thought FCC Chairman Kevin Martin was taking the side of the good guys. Boy do I feel like a dope! What a cut-up this guy is.

Sen. Dorgan Praises Net Neutrality Coalition

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) criticized both AT&T head Ed Whitacre and Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) for their efforts against Network Neutrality protections during a conference call with reporters today, as the SaveTheInternet.com coalition celebrated its first anniversary.