[Cybertel-Ann] 6.6.8 :: "not much better than no service at all" :: Cuban Hogs :: Warrenton Gets Throttled :: "How long must we sing this song" Before We Get Royalties :: 50 Years of the Net :: You Gotta Fight, For Yur Right, To Spaaaam! ::

Fri Jun 6 07:01:10 PDT 2008

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             CyberTelecom News  
      Federal Internet Law and Policy
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"Will the Highways on the Internet become more few?"
George W Bush, -Concord, N.H., Jan. 29, 2000

OECD report on communications convergence and impact
on competition, OECD
OECD has just issued a new report on convergence and
next generation networks and their potential impact on
policies and regulations. The report addresses issues
of competition in the new fibre environment,
convergence of video, voice and data services, the
rapid growth of new technologies, such as HDTV and
mobile television, and the related demand for
spectrum, as well as new possible "divides" between
urban and rural areas created by the uneven
development of high-speed fibre networks.
http://www.oecd.org/department/0,3355,en_2649_34223_1_1_1_1_1,00.html?rssChId=34223#40781722
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/broadband/

LA Sues Time Warner Cable Over Adelphia Mess - Claims
company violated franchise agreement with sloppy
integration, dslreports
Time Warner Cable (TWC) had a hell of a time with the
acquisition and integration of Adelphia and Comcast
customers in Los Angeles last year. The deal increased
their subscriber count from 350,000 to 1.9 million
instantaneously, resulting in a very ugly impact on
service quality in the city. After the initial
integration, complaints about service tripled from a
year earlier, and our forums were filled with angry
users.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/LA-Sues-Time-Warner-Cable-Over-Adelphia-Mess-95055
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/broadband/cable.htm

Craven County, North Carolina goes wireless: rural
Wi-Fi connects schools, towns, Muni
Craven County, North Carolina (pop. 95,000) is
deploying a wireless broadband network that will
initially connect five schools in rural areas. It will
also be used for the police and fire departments.
Recently, the county installed a fiber optic network
but it does not reach all communities. As a result,
they will also use wireless to connect those towns
without fiber. Craven County has hired Windchannel to
deploy the network.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/muniwireless/~3/306049092/
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/broadband/muni.htm

Oklahoma City Builds World's Largest Muni-Fi Network -
Though it will only be used for municipal functions,
dslreports
Oklahoma City says they've launched "the largest city
owned and operated municipal Wi-Fi mesh network in the
world." However, according to a press release issued
by the city, the $5 million, 555 square-mile network
is to be used for public safety and other City
operations, and area residents won't be able to access
it. According to the release, public safety will be
one of the network's primary functions:
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Oklahoma-City-Builds-Worlds-Largest-MuniFi-Network-94991
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/broadband/muni.htm

Cuban on bandwidth hogs and tiered broadband, Tech
Liberation Front
In his own special way, the always-provocative Mark
Cuban throws down the gauntlet on bandwidth hogs:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techliberation/~3/305754562/
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm

Comcast Confirms New Throttling Tests - Pennsylvania
and Virginia users to be bandwidth guinea pigs,
dslreports
Yesterday I broke the news that Comcast will begin
testing their new "protocol agnostic" throttling
approach in two markets (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
and Warrenton, Virginia) starting Thursday. After my
story was published, Comcast updated their website
with information on the trials. As I've already
covered, the new approach, to be implemented at year's
end, only targets high-consumption users. Comcast's
existing system uses forged TCP packets to disrupt
BitTorrent communication for all users, 24/7,
regardless of consumption. Says Comcast of the new
system:
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Confirms-New-Throttling-Tests-94992
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm

Comcast and Time Warner's New Network Management
Techniques Are Neutral
For Now, PK
When discussing Net Neutrality, a phrase that often
gets bandied about is “reasonable network management”.
Just what, exactly, constitutes “reasonable” network
management? While ISPs like Comcast and AT&T would
have you believe that packet-spoofing and content
filtering are reasonable practices, we here at Public
Knowledge disagree. In accordance with the core
principles of Net Neutrality, we believe that a
reasonable network management technology is one that
does not privilege, degrade or prioritize traffic
based on the content, applications or services that it
is associated with. But what would such a technology
look like?
http://feeds.publicknowledge.org/~r/publicknowledge-main/~3/305568048/1598
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm

Comcast Confirms New Throttling Tests We Reported
Yesterday - Pennsylvania and Virginia users to be
bandwidth guinea pigs, dslreports
Yesterday I broke the news that Comcast will begin
testing their new "protocol agnostic" throttling
approach in two markets (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
and Warrenton, Virginia) starting Thursday. After my
story was published, Comcast updated their website
with information on the trials. As I've already
covered, the new approach, to be implemented at year's
end, only targets high-consumption users. Comcast's
existing system uses forged TCP packets to disrupt
BitTorrent communication for all users, 24/7,
regardless of consumption. Says Comcast of the new
system:
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Confirms-New-Throttling-Tests-We-Reported-Yesterday-94992
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm

Bits: Comcast Tests a New Bandwidth Throttle, NYT
Comcast will test new devices that will keep track of
its users and assemble a blacklist of heavy users.
Those on the list will find that all of their online
activities may slow down at peak times.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/comcast-tests-a-new-bandwidth-black-list/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm

Time Warner Caps: Behind The Numbers - Prices company
propose 'don't pass the smell test.', dslreports
While the debate over caps rages on for some, I still
believe that Time Warner Cable's efforts to impose
metered pricing are primarily a way to take a
pre-emptive swipe at competing video operations. I
also continue to believe that the shift toward low
caps and per-byte billing opens the door to
anti-competitive (VoIP or content) abuse and price
gouging in this, a marginally competitive and poorly
regulated market.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-Caps-Behind-The-Numbers-95035
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/neutral.htm

A Policy Brief on the Future of the Internet Economy,
OECD
Major changes are affecting the scope and scale of the
Internet. As a result, the Internet is increasingly
high on the policy agenda in many OECD and non-OECD
countries. This Policy Brief reviews likely future
developments in the Internet economy and how
policy-makers can help the Internet to adapt to
evolving requirements caused by convergence, continue
to drive innovation, and be trustworthy.
http://www.oecd.org/department/0,3355,en_2649_34223_1_1_1_1_1,00.html?rssChId=34223#40781031
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ecom/

Keyword Metatags and Keyword-Triggered Ads Don't
Create Initial Interest Confusion--Designer Skin v.
S&L Vitamins, Tech & Marketing Law
Designer Skin, LLC v. S & L Vitamins, Inc., 2008 WL
2116646 (D. Ariz. May 20, 2008)...
http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2008/06/keyword_metatag_1.htm
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/ecom/advertising.htm

Verizon May Expand FiOS Deployment Targets - Won't be
selling off more rural networks -- for now
,
dslreports
Verizon's orginal goal was to spend $24 billion to
deploy FiOS to 18 million homes by the end of 2010,
but the company may be expanding those projections.
With 25% of their revenues now coming from FiOS and
landline customers continuing to jump overboard, the
company is hinting that they'll be announcing further
expansion later this year. Verizon's Chief Financial
Officer Doreen Toben had this to say late last week:
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-May-Expand-FiOS-Deployment-Targets-94998
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/industry/verizon.htm

Verizon Wireless to buy Alltel, CNET
Verizon Wireless announced Thursday it intends to
acquire Alltel in a deal worth $28.1 billion, creating
the largest cell phone company in the country.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9960664-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/industry/verizon.htm

Public Knowledge Raises Concerns Over Verizon Wireless
Purchase of Alltel, PK
The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn,
president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
http://feeds.publicknowledge.org/~r/publicknowledge-main/~3/305406914/1599
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/industry/verizon.htm

U2's Manager Lashes Out Yet Again: Blames Absolutely
Everyone For Not Making U2 Even Wealthier, Techdirt
Back in January, U2's longtime manager, Paul
McGuinness went off on a bit of a rant, blaming ISPs
and pretty much any internet company for destroying
the music business. His points were easily debunked --
especially coming off the fact that U2 had just
completed a year in which it made $355 million on
touring -- and I'd bet that a fair portion of that
came from folks who listened to U2 mp3s they didn't
pay for. Apparently, McGuinness chose not to read any
or understand any of the criticism towards his
position, because five months later, he's back again,
blaming absolutely everyone but the recording industry
for the industry's own failure to adapt (found via
Mathew Ingram who makes some excellent points in
responding to McGuinness). So who does he blame?
http://techdirt.com/articles/20080605/1215171317.shtml
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/ip/copyright.htm

Bits: The Inexact Science Behind DMCA Takedown
Notices, NYT
A new study from the University of Washington suggests
media industry trade groups are being imprecise in
their investigations of users who violate copyrights
on peer-to-peer file sharing networks.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/the-inexact-science-behind-dmca-takedown-notices/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ip/dmca.htm

I Dabble in Fair Use Parody: What Would Hilary Clinton
Do., Tales from the Sausage Factory
Maybe it's just that I am sick of the endless talking
head cycle. Maybe it's because I'm stuck here in
Chicago on my way to the National Conference on Media
Reform due to “severe weather” in DC, but I have
perhaps rashly indulged myse.
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/1217
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/ip/fair.htm

Back in the N-C, Back in the N-C, Back in the
N-C-M-R!, Tales from the Sausage Factory
Once again, I am coming to live from the National
Conference on Media Reform, the whatever the word is
for “held every 18 months” conference on media reform
by Free Press. Already our the
socialist-radical-gay-lesbian-transexual-Wicca...
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/1218
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/media/

The First Fifty Years Of The Internet, Techdirt
Paul Kedrosky points us to an article in the latest
issue of Vanity Fair recounting the first fifty years
of the internet's history by assembling a bunch of the
people who were involved in different stages from
conception right up until today, and getting them to
talk about it. As Kedrosky notes, there are a few
small problems with it (most notably, it's very much
history as written by the "winners" leaving out quite
a bit and perhaps "enhancing" some stories a bit), but
overall it's a fantastic and fun read full of great
quotes.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20080604/0337001308.shtml
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/notes/internet_history.htm

Timeline: A brief history of the x86 microprocessor,
CW
Here's a look at the precursors to Intel's x86
architecture and the milestones in its 30-year span.
http://feeds.computerworld.com/~r/Computerworld/News/~3/305021788/article.do
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/notes/timeline.htm

Commerce Committee to Examine Impact of Spyware on
Consumers and Businesses, US Senate
No description
http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=2438023f-518f-4e96-b8a9-452b8308066c
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/privacy/spy.htm

McCain tangled in flip-flop flap over wiretapping
immunity, CNET
Republican says he hasn't changed his position on
shielding telecommunications companies that illegally
opened their networks to the Feds. But his statements
suggest otherwise.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9960493-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/security/fisa.htm

Operator Who Crammed Unauthorized Charges For Web Site
Services Onto Phone Bills Ordered to Pay $4.1 Million
Over FTC Charges, FTC
A U.S. district court has ordered a halt to the
illegal operations of an defendant who crammed
unauthorized charges for Web site services onto the
phone bills of hundreds of thousands of small
businesses and non-profit organizations. The Federal
Trade Commission charged that the operation violated
federal law and, following a trial, District Judge
Kenneth M. Hoyt ordered the defendant to permanently
halt the unlawful practices and give up more than $4.1
million in ill-gotten gains.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/06/websource.shtm
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/security/fraud.htm

Spear-phishing attacks have hooked 15,000, says
Verisign, CW
Verisign estimates that spear-phishing attacks have
taken in 15,000 victims over the past 15 months.
http://feeds.computerworld.com/~r/Computerworld/News/~3/306018415/article.do
More Info:
http://www.cybertelecom.org/security/worms.htm

Anti-Spam Law Violates Free Speech Protections, Says
Virginia Court Appeal, CircleID
A lawyer for Jeremy Jaynes, a man once considered one
of the world's most prolific email spammers, has urged
the Virginia Supreme Court to strike down a state
anti-spam law, arguing it violates free speech
protections under the First Amendment.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/anti_spam_law_free_speech/
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/spam/

How Could Anyone Possibly Mess With With E-Voting
Machines... When They're Left Unguarded For Days?,
Techdirt
One of the common complaints from the e-voting
companies about the various independent security tests
that find problems with their machines, is that those
test occur under conditions that would never happen in
the real world. Specifically, the e-voting companies
like to claim that most of the "hacks" revealed would
require a lot of access to the machines with no one
noticing -- and that just wouldn't be feasible during
an election with election officials all around. While
even that might be questioned, a much bigger issue is
that most polling places leave the e-voting machines
totally unguarded and totally unprotected, sometimes
for days before the election -- giving anyone with
nefarious intent plenty of time to mess around with
the machines.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20080605/1832271323.shtml
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/vote/

McCain Campaign Staffed By Telecom Immunity Lobbyists,
EFF
Senator John McCain's presidential campaign has strong
connections to the high-powered lobbyists employed by
AT&T and other telecommunications companies to escape
from responsibility for violations of federal law,
with paid lobbyists occupying prominant positions in
the upper echelons.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/06/mccain-campaign-staffed-telecom-immunity-lobbyists
More Info: http://www.cybertelecom.org/vote/2008.htm

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