F.C.C. Public Notice: COMMENT SOUGHT ON DEFINING “BROADBAND”
Comment Date: August 31, 2009
Reply Comment Date: September 8, 2009
In this public notice, we seek tailored comment on defining “broadband” for purposes of the
Commission’s development of a National Broadband Plan (Plan) pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), and for related purposes.
1 - The Recovery Act directs the Commission to create a national broadband plan by February 17, 2010, thatseeks to ensure that every American has access to broadband capability and establishes clear benchmarks formeeting that goal.
2 -To this end, on April 8, 2009, the Commission initiated a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seekingcomment on the approach to developing this Plan, key terms of the statute, and a number of specific policy goals.
3 - The Recovery Act also provides that the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of Agriculture (RUS) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce (NTIA) distribute grants and loans for broadband. The RUS and NTIA have provided guidance to potential applicants which included a definition of “broadband.”
4 - In addition, the Commission has begun holding a series of staff workshops
(Released: August 20, 2009) -
[read more] --> http://bit.ly/6PMDn - NTIA
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
AT&T Accuses Google of Violating Telecom Law
AT&T on Friday accused Google of violating the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules by blocking Google Voice calls to some rural areas.
In a letter to the FCC, the carrier said Google is claiming an advantage over other telecommunications providers by blocking calls, a cost-saving measure that traditional carriers are prohibited from using. "We urge the Commission to level the playing field and order Google to play by the same rules as its competitors," wrote Robert Quinn, a senior vice president for AT&T's federal regulatory issues, in a letter to the FCC.
Google systematically blocks calls to certain areas from consumers using Google Voice, AT&T said, citing press reports. By doing this, Google can reduce its access expenses, according to AT&T. The FCC in 2007 prohibited traditional carriers from blocking calls because it said the practice might degrade the reliability of telecommunications networks, Quinn wrote.
AT&T charges that Google's call blocking violates the fourth principle of the FCC's Internet Policy Statement, which says consumers should be able to reap the benefits of competition among network, application, service and content providers. Though Google has claimed that Google Voice is not a traditional phone service, it effectively is, AT&T says. And even if it's an application and not a phone service, Google Voice is still governed by that principle because it covers application providers, the letter said.
The carrier also accused Google of violating the fifth principle of the Internet Policy Statement, on nondiscrimination, which says one provider can't block fair access to another. Google itself is discriminating when it blocks calls to certain local exchange carriers, AT&T said.
http://is.gd/3HDvl
In a letter to the FCC, the carrier said Google is claiming an advantage over other telecommunications providers by blocking calls, a cost-saving measure that traditional carriers are prohibited from using. "We urge the Commission to level the playing field and order Google to play by the same rules as its competitors," wrote Robert Quinn, a senior vice president for AT&T's federal regulatory issues, in a letter to the FCC.
Google systematically blocks calls to certain areas from consumers using Google Voice, AT&T said, citing press reports. By doing this, Google can reduce its access expenses, according to AT&T. The FCC in 2007 prohibited traditional carriers from blocking calls because it said the practice might degrade the reliability of telecommunications networks, Quinn wrote.
AT&T charges that Google's call blocking violates the fourth principle of the FCC's Internet Policy Statement, which says consumers should be able to reap the benefits of competition among network, application, service and content providers. Though Google has claimed that Google Voice is not a traditional phone service, it effectively is, AT&T says. And even if it's an application and not a phone service, Google Voice is still governed by that principle because it covers application providers, the letter said.
The carrier also accused Google of violating the fifth principle of the Internet Policy Statement, on nondiscrimination, which says one provider can't block fair access to another. Google itself is discriminating when it blocks calls to certain local exchange carriers, AT&T said.
http://is.gd/3HDvl
Friday, September 25, 2009
Free Press Responds to AT&T Letter, Urges FCC to Ignore Net Neutrality Distraction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 25, 2009 Contact: Moira Vahey, Free Press, (202) 265-1490 x31
WASHINGTON -- AT&T filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission on Friday asking the agency to investigate whether the Google Voice application is blocking some calls. In the letter, AT&T misguidedly claims that Google Voice is violating the FCC's Internet Policy Statement, though this statement applies only to Internet access services -- not to applications or Web services.
AT&T's letter comes just days after FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed new Network Neutrality rules designed to protect the open Internet from discrimination by Internet Service Providers and to make their network management practices transparent for consumers.
Derek Turner, research director of Free Press, made the following statement:
"AT&T's letter to the Federal Communications Commission is a red herring – it appears to be a political stunt to distract attention from the important work the FCC has begun on Network Neutrality.
"Whether Google Voice should be subject to the same rules as a traditional telephone service has absolutely nothing to do with Net Neutrality rules. The FCC has been grappling for years with the issue of how to apply a regulatory classification to voice-over-the-Internet services that connect to the conventional phone network. AT&T raising this issue now is nothing new. The FCC certainly should not let AT&T's misdirection delay its rulemaking on the separate issue of Net Neutrality -- spats between two dueling giants cannot be allowed to stand in the way of Internet freedom.
"To be clear, the FCC's open Internet principles apply to Internet Service Providers -- those companies that control the on-ramps to the information superhighway. The Internet Policy Statement applies only to Internet access services. Whatever regulatory or technical classifications it may eventually fall under, Google Voice is certainly not an Internet access service.
"If AT&T would like to bring clarity to services that currently sit in regulatory limbo, then we'd like to add AT&T's U-verse video service and its text messaging service to the list. The company has resisted a clear regulatory classification on those services for years. We would be glad to see the FCC bring certainty to the consumer marketplace across the board. AT&T should be careful what it wishes for."
###
Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications. Learn more at http://www.freepress.net/
Date: September 25, 2009 Contact: Moira Vahey, Free Press, (202) 265-1490 x31
WASHINGTON -- AT&T filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission on Friday asking the agency to investigate whether the Google Voice application is blocking some calls. In the letter, AT&T misguidedly claims that Google Voice is violating the FCC's Internet Policy Statement, though this statement applies only to Internet access services -- not to applications or Web services.
AT&T's letter comes just days after FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski proposed new Network Neutrality rules designed to protect the open Internet from discrimination by Internet Service Providers and to make their network management practices transparent for consumers.
Derek Turner, research director of Free Press, made the following statement:
"AT&T's letter to the Federal Communications Commission is a red herring – it appears to be a political stunt to distract attention from the important work the FCC has begun on Network Neutrality.
"Whether Google Voice should be subject to the same rules as a traditional telephone service has absolutely nothing to do with Net Neutrality rules. The FCC has been grappling for years with the issue of how to apply a regulatory classification to voice-over-the-Internet services that connect to the conventional phone network. AT&T raising this issue now is nothing new. The FCC certainly should not let AT&T's misdirection delay its rulemaking on the separate issue of Net Neutrality -- spats between two dueling giants cannot be allowed to stand in the way of Internet freedom.
"To be clear, the FCC's open Internet principles apply to Internet Service Providers -- those companies that control the on-ramps to the information superhighway. The Internet Policy Statement applies only to Internet access services. Whatever regulatory or technical classifications it may eventually fall under, Google Voice is certainly not an Internet access service.
"If AT&T would like to bring clarity to services that currently sit in regulatory limbo, then we'd like to add AT&T's U-verse video service and its text messaging service to the list. The company has resisted a clear regulatory classification on those services for years. We would be glad to see the FCC bring certainty to the consumer marketplace across the board. AT&T should be careful what it wishes for."
###
Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media, and universal access to communications. Learn more at http://www.freepress.net/
Monday, September 21, 2009
AT&T Calls FCC Neutrality Plan a ‘Bait and Switch’
AT&T Calls FCC Neutrality Plan a ‘Bait and Switch’ - http://ping.fm/2jQ7y
By Saul Hansell - New York Times Technology
You’ve got to hand it to AT&T. They don’t like Julius Genachowski’s plan to apply network neutrality rules to wireless networks, and they aren’t shy about saying so.
Not so for Verizon and Sprint, which declined to answer a direct question about whether they think wireless systems should be covered by net neutrality rules.
The current state of play is vague. In 2005, the Federal Communications Commission issued a broad policy statement for broadband networks, never specifying whether it applied only to wireline Internet service or to wireless service as well. On Monday, Mr. Genachowski, now the commission’s chairman, proposed expanding those principles, formalizing them into official rules and explicitly extending them to wireless networks.
(In typical Obama administration style, the commission has set up a site, OpenInternet.gov where the public can watch Mr. Genachowski’s speech and comment on the issue.)
In its statement, AT&T said it supported applying the existing four neutrality principles to wired networks, and is open to adding a fifth principle that would prevent companies from discriminating against certain services and applications on wired networks. But the company drew the line at wireless networks.
[read more]
By Saul Hansell - New York Times Technology
You’ve got to hand it to AT&T. They don’t like Julius Genachowski’s plan to apply network neutrality rules to wireless networks, and they aren’t shy about saying so.
Not so for Verizon and Sprint, which declined to answer a direct question about whether they think wireless systems should be covered by net neutrality rules.
The current state of play is vague. In 2005, the Federal Communications Commission issued a broad policy statement for broadband networks, never specifying whether it applied only to wireline Internet service or to wireless service as well. On Monday, Mr. Genachowski, now the commission’s chairman, proposed expanding those principles, formalizing them into official rules and explicitly extending them to wireless networks.
(In typical Obama administration style, the commission has set up a site, OpenInternet.gov where the public can watch Mr. Genachowski’s speech and comment on the issue.)
In its statement, AT&T said it supported applying the existing four neutrality principles to wired networks, and is open to adding a fifth principle that would prevent companies from discriminating against certain services and applications on wired networks. But the company drew the line at wireless networks.
[read more]
Sunday, September 20, 2009
AT&T To Deploy Femtocells aka 3G Microcell Next Week
Many of you will be very happy to hear that AT&T is working to improve their services. A few days ago we reported that AT&T has expanded its 3G coverage, and now we are pleased to announce you that the carrier will be deploying femtocells as soon as next week. Rumors say that the “soft launch” will occur in a few cities like San Antonio, Atlanta, Seattle, and one city in North Carolina with the help of Cisco Systems.
AT&T is the last major carrier in US which doesn’t feature femtocells as both Sprint and Verizon feature 2G CDMA boxes that improve voice call quality within homes. Although it’s been more than a year since we first heard that AT&T is deploying femtocell technology, it seems like the carrier’s subscribers will not have to wait anymore for good data speeds so that they can use their iPhone properly.
At the moment is nothing official as both companies declined to comment on the rumors, however, a statement of an AT&T spokeswoman says that “we will have more news closer to launch” and you know what does this mean, right? It means that there is a launch, and hopefully, AT&T will launch femtocells next week.
source: http://www.softsailor.com/news/7821-att-to-deploy-femtocells-aka-3g-microcell-next-week.html
AT&T is the last major carrier in US which doesn’t feature femtocells as both Sprint and Verizon feature 2G CDMA boxes that improve voice call quality within homes. Although it’s been more than a year since we first heard that AT&T is deploying femtocell technology, it seems like the carrier’s subscribers will not have to wait anymore for good data speeds so that they can use their iPhone properly.
At the moment is nothing official as both companies declined to comment on the rumors, however, a statement of an AT&T spokeswoman says that “we will have more news closer to launch” and you know what does this mean, right? It means that there is a launch, and hopefully, AT&T will launch femtocells next week.
source: http://www.softsailor.com/news/7821-att-to-deploy-femtocells-aka-3g-microcell-next-week.html
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Verizon divestiture to impact 38 counties in Minnesota
As a result of federal anti-trust regulations, cellular telephone provider Verizon Wireless will divest operations to AT&T in 38 Minnesota counties including Freeborn, Steele and Faribault counties : http://is.gd/3tbra
AT&T announced the acquisition earlier this week.
It means that the Unicel office in Northbridge Mall in Albert Lea is slated to become an AT&T office next year. AT&T is the provider for the latest version Apple’s iPhone. The changeover could impact choices for smartphones across much of outstate Minnesota. Blackberry phones — iPhone’s main competitor — typically are not provider-specific.
Meanwhile, the Alltel stores across southern Minnesota remain on track to adopt the Verizon brand by September, according to Verizon spokeswoman Robin Nicol.
When Verizon purchased Alltel in January, it already had possession of Rural Cellular Corp. from a purchase in 2008. Rural Cellular Corp., which operates with the Unicel brand, in southern Minnesota is managed by a trust company during the regulatory process of Verizon’s Alltel purchase.
Nicol said federal regulators required Verizon to sell off Unicel service in areas where the company offered Alltel or Verizon brands and required it to sell off Alltel service in areas where there already was Verizon service.
“That was something we had anticipated back when we closed the Unicel purchase back in 2008,” Nicol said.
The divestiture is part of a nationwide, $2.35 billion agreement with Verizon. Under terms of the agreement, AT&T will acquire wireless properties, including licenses, network assets and 1.5 million current subscribers in 79 service areas, primarily in rural areas across 18 states.......
[read more]
AT&T announced the acquisition earlier this week.
It means that the Unicel office in Northbridge Mall in Albert Lea is slated to become an AT&T office next year. AT&T is the provider for the latest version Apple’s iPhone. The changeover could impact choices for smartphones across much of outstate Minnesota. Blackberry phones — iPhone’s main competitor — typically are not provider-specific.
Meanwhile, the Alltel stores across southern Minnesota remain on track to adopt the Verizon brand by September, according to Verizon spokeswoman Robin Nicol.
When Verizon purchased Alltel in January, it already had possession of Rural Cellular Corp. from a purchase in 2008. Rural Cellular Corp., which operates with the Unicel brand, in southern Minnesota is managed by a trust company during the regulatory process of Verizon’s Alltel purchase.
Nicol said federal regulators required Verizon to sell off Unicel service in areas where the company offered Alltel or Verizon brands and required it to sell off Alltel service in areas where there already was Verizon service.
“That was something we had anticipated back when we closed the Unicel purchase back in 2008,” Nicol said.
The divestiture is part of a nationwide, $2.35 billion agreement with Verizon. Under terms of the agreement, AT&T will acquire wireless properties, including licenses, network assets and 1.5 million current subscribers in 79 service areas, primarily in rural areas across 18 states.......
[read more]
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
President Barack Obama @ the AFL-CIO Convention 2009
Copyright © 2009 AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations
Sunday, September 6, 2009
If you are an AT&T customer....
If you’re an AT&T customer, we especially hope you’ll give them a piece of your mind. AT&T’s workers are dedicated to giving their customers the best service possible. They are being pushed around by a faceless corporation that cares only about the bottom line and their corporate executives’ outrageous compensation plans.
Click here to sign the letter.
Click here to sign the letter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
