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Wired: The Tech Antitrust Problem No One is Talking About

Americans pay more for broadband internet service and have fewer choices than consumers in other countries. After years of building political pressure for antitrust scrutiny of major tech companies, this month Congress and the US government delivered. The House Antitrust Subcommittee released a report accusing Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook of monopolistic…

Posted on October 29, 2020November 2, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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Bloomberg: Trump Foes Fume Over FCC’s Efforts to Rein in Twitter

A U.S. Federal Communications Commission decision to review a liability shield for Twitter Inc. and Facebook Inc. fulfills the wishes of President Donald Trump and his conservative allies, yet has prompted questions about the agency’s authority and political motivations. With less than three weeks before the American election, the FCC’s…

Posted on October 16, 2020October 19, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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Vox Recode: What the FCC can and can’t do to Section 230

The Trump administration is once again trying to force social media platforms to do its bidding. This time, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been tapped to use a law called Section 230 to prevent websites from moderating content in a way that many conservatives believe is biased against them. Despite the…

Posted on October 16, 2020October 19, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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Vice Motherboard: AT&T’s Decision to Kill DSL Could Leave Millions Without Broadband

AT&T has quietly announced it has stopped selling digital subscriber line (DSL) broadband as of October 1. But while the company says the move will help it focus on delivering better options to U.S. consumers, a new report says these customers shouldn’t hold their breath. “Current DSL customers will be…

Posted on October 6, 2020October 7, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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Medium: Breaching the Broadband Divide With Offline-First Capability

Broadband, or high speed internet, seems as essential to life since Covid-19 as oxygen: it’s how we work, interact with friends and families, educate our children, and receive medical care. For many, however, high-speed internet is either unavailable or unaffordable. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 20–24 million Americans…

Posted on October 5, 2020October 7, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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USA Today: AT&T shelving DSL may leave hundreds of thousands hanging by a phone line

One of America’s largest internet providers is uploading its oldest broadband technology into the sunset. On Oct. 1, AT&T stopped selling digital-subscriber-line connections, stranding many existing subscribers on those low-speed links and leaving new residents of DSL-only areas without any wired broadband. “We’re beginning to phase out outdated services like DSL…

Posted on October 3, 2020October 7, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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Bloomberg: FCC, Broadcasters Get Top Court Hearing on Ownership Rules

The Supreme Court will consider letting the Federal Communications Commission ease limits on the ownership of local media outlets, agreeing to hear appeals from the broadcast industry and President Donald Trump’s administration in a fight that dates back almost two decades. The justices will review a federal appeals court decision…

Posted on October 2, 2020October 7, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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Medium OneZero: Should Big Tech Whistleblowers Quit Their Jobs?

Whenever big tech employees protest their companies’ policies, there’s always a contingent of people who demand they leave their jobs. “Quit, you losers!,” one such critic said last month, speaking of whistleblowers at Facebook. “At this point working there shows you have no values.” Whether it’s Facebook employees standing up for…

Posted on October 1, 2020October 9, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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National Journal: Democrats press FCC to release funds for remote learning.

Lawmakers are urging the commission to allow funds meant for schools and libraries to help students stuck at home without access to broadband. But the FCC says its hands are tied. More at National Journal.

Posted on September 30, 2020September 30, 2020 by Kip Roderick

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National Journal: Crunch time for Section 230 reform

The weeks between now and the election will likely determine whether big tech’s treasured legal shield survives this moment unscathed—and things are so far looking good for Silicon Valley. More at National Journal.