Firehose #6: Content & Copyright; Software; Patents; The Net; Competition; Innovation; China; Events

ABI Research takes a look at worldwide wireless deployment and has projected that the next several years will be very big for the roll out of these technologies.

The Open Internet Coalition (OIC) which has been lobbying hard for reclassification seems to have gotten their wish from the FCC chairman, but neither has offered a good explanation of what such a legally risky maneuver can actually accomplish even if it is successful. When asked about the parts of the Internet that would be regulated under Title II, the Open Internet Coalition dodged the question.

It was reported last month that Google was mapping MAC addresses (uniquely identifiable hardware ID) over Wi-Fi.  Google has now revealed that they were collecting web surfing traffic as well.  Google initially denied collecting this data but an audit from the German Data Protection Authority (DPA) forced Google to reexamine their own practices which lead [...]

In 2007 Congress passed the COMPETES Act, or Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act. The act was created to bolster education in the areas of math and science to encourage innovation in the United States.

In an article on Making Finance Easy to Fix, Not Hard to Break in yesterday’s American, I comment on the Populist outrage against the bankers, who have a serious problem of providing a satisfactory explanation of exactly what social functions they perform that justify their habit of collecting 30% of all the profits that accrue to the S&P 500.

When it comes to exploiting fabricated conspiracy theories to smear their enemies, the extreme Net Neutrality advocacy groups seems to have mastered every trick over the last 4 years.  From knowingly and falsely smearing phone companies of blocking earth quake relief efforts this year to wrongly accusing Cox Communications of blocking Craig’s List, they’re at [...]

Dixon discusses the difference between Netflix streaming clients. He points out that a streaming client from the company is now available on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Blu-Ray players from Vizio, Insignia, LG, Sony, Panasonic, and TiVo DVR’s. And is also available on 12 different brands of televisions, the iPad, and iPhone and Android applications are in the pipeline.

Arlington VA has a community garden program – eight sites with 200 plots where residents can garden. Base fees are $60/year, plus some surcharges that vary with the location. One site is near my apartment, and while walking the dog this morning I noticed some promising Boston lettuce. Being a graduate of Harvard University (twice [...]

FCC Commissioner Clyburn has accused AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon of misleading statements suggesting that the DC Circuit Comcast ruling stripped the FCC of its Title I ancillary authority. The only problem is that it was Free Press and the Open Internet Coalition that made those misleading claims.