federal

Broadband subscribers mostly get what they pay for

Good news for U.S. broadband customers: On average major Internet service providers are delivering up to 80 percent of advertised broadband speeds, according to a study by the Federal Communications Commission.

This is a big improvement over 2009 when the FCC noted as part of its preparation for the National Broadband Plan that actual download speeds for broadband service were often about half of what broadband providers advertised as their maximum speeds.

"Most major ISPs are providing service close to what they're advertising," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said in prepared remarks at a Best Buy store in Washington, D.C., today, … Read more

Spectrum auctions not in debt ceiling agreement

The proposed debt ceiling bill that Congress is expected to pass in the next day or so will not give the Federal Communications Commission authority to auction additional wireless spectrum. But that doesn't mean that wireless incentive auctions are dead.

Wireless experts in Washington, D.C. say Congress could tack on the authorization for the FCC to conduct spectrum auctions to a package that may emerge later this year from the bipartisan deficit-reduction panel created by this week's debt agreement. President Obama said the "super committee," which will consist of six Democrats and six Republicans, will … Read more

Why spectrum debate is tied to debt ceiling plan

Congressional leaders seem to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the debate over the budget and raising the debt ceiling. Now it looks like the incentive wireless spectrum auctions proposed by the Federal Communications Commission may end up as part of a package that is being hashed out by Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid included the sale of wireless spectrum to mobile broadband providers in his proposed package of cuts and revenue-raisers. He said he expects the sale of wireless spectrum to generate $15 billion in revenue for the … Read more

Senate antitrust leader opposes AT&T/T-Mobile merger

The head of the Senate's committee on antitrust wants regulators to put a kibosh on AT&T's proposed $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA.

Today, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), who heads up the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, asked regulators in a letter to block the proposed merger, stating that the merger would be "highly dangerous to competition and consumers."

Separately today, Democratic leaders in the House also wrote their own letter to regulators asking for more scrutiny of the deal.

Kohl and the House Democrats addressed their letters to the U.S. Department of … Read more

The 404 858: Where dreams really do come true (podcast)

News of the Black Eyed Peas' hiatus proves that if you wish for something long enough, dreams really do come true. On today's episode, Jeff tells us about the long-awaited intersection of tech geekdom and hockey, we analyze WebMD's involvement in the spread of "cyberchondria," and we dispute a Dutch study that claims smoking marijuana makes you a better gamer.

The 404 Digest for Episode 858

Geekdom and hockey collide: The campaign for NHL player Mike Commodore to wear No. 64. The Black Eyed Peas go on hiatus; Jeff celebrates. WebMD reports: Internet makes hypochondria worse. Does marijuana make you a better gamer? Jeff's Cute Animal Video of the Week, starring a street-crossing sloth. Mitch B's custom 404 iPhone case and BodyGuardz iPad case!

Episode 858 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

FCC closer to finalizing Net neutrality rules

The Federal Communications Commission registered its Net neutrality rules with the Office of Management and Budget yesterday, which is the next step in making the new regulations official.

The rules, which were adopted in December, will now be available for comment for the next 30 days. At the end of the comment period and assuming that the OMB issues its approval, the new rules will then be published in the Federal Register and take effect 60 days later.

After years of debate on the topic, the FCC adopted rules codifying specific Net neutrality principles in late December. The new regulation … Read more

Microsoft turns to unused TV airwaves to solve spectrum crisis

Microsoft says it has the fix to the world's spectrum crisis: unused broadcast TV spectrum called "white space." But consumers shouldn't get too excited. It could take years before technology supporting white space spectrum finds its way into popular mobile products.

On Monday, Microsoft announced that it has joined forces with broadcasters and technology companies in the United Kingdom to launch the most wide-scale test network to date of the technology, designed to show how this spectrum can be used to offload wireless data traffic in urban areas as well as provide wireless broadband service in … Read more

Google versus trustbusters, a history

In light of yesterday's news that the Federal Trade Commission has officially launched an investigation into Google's business practices, it seems a good time to review the search giant's rich history in related antitrust matters.

The following is a timeline of some of some of the company's pivotal run-ins with trustbusters.

For its part, Google this morning acknowledged that it had received formal notification from the FTC about its probe and plans to work with the agency in coming months. But it stands by its principles and company mission and suggested the investigation is misguided.

The … Read more

Anonymous targeting Federal Reserve in next attack

The Anonymous hacker group says it plans to target the Federal Reserve starting tomorrow, most likely with a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack designed to shut down the agency's Web site.

In a YouTube video, the group is calling for public protests until Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke steps down. The campaign, dubbed Operation Empire State Rebellion, is timed to coincide with Flag Day in the U.S., which is June 14 and commemorates the adoption of the national flag in 1777.

The group, which has made a name for itself organizing random anonymous Internet users and getting them … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1488: Sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads (Podcast)

On today's show, it's the Summer of Hackers: Anonymous hits the Spanish police website and threatens the Federal Reserve (which, frankly, we find to be a target that's probably worthy of a little DDoS action). Plus, a nation-state may have hacked IMF, but they're not saying much, and the Bitcoin market crashes (buy low!). Plus, scientists create jellyfish that can shoot tiny, weak lasers ... a stepping stone to the scariest sharks ever.