AT&T executives will meet with Austin and Texas officials seeking the same concessions that Google is getting in order to build out its gigabit network. As someone who has followed telecom in Austin, and in Texas, this mostly means the ability to cherry pick where it will deploy its gigabit network. And that points to both the upside and downside of Google’s influence.
AT&T and Google’s plans to give Austin a gigabit is an experiment. Is it a good one?
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
Will 21st century broadcasting use the airwaves?
Filed Under: Benton Headlines
The number of people watching broadcast TV with the aid of an antenna is a fraction of what it used to be; about 90% of U.S. homes tune in these channels via some form of pay TV. If Fox decided to shut down its transmitters tomorrow, it would cut off only 10% of its viewers, many of whom might quickly sign up for cable just so they could keep watching "American Idol." And doing so would not only end the threat Aereo poses to the retransmission fees Fox receives from pay-TV operators, it could conceivably enable them to demand higher amounts from those operators -- and from the Aereos of the world.
Mr. President: Media Diversity and Open Internet should be Priorities for next FCC Chair
Filed Under: UCC Media Justice
Spurred by the recent announcement that current Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission will soon be stepping down, the United Church of Christ, OC Inc. joined a letter with Common Cause and 46 other civil rights and public interest advocacy organizations last week, setting out for President Obama criteria for the next chair. While recognizing the important achievements of Obama's last term, it concluded that the FCC still has, "much to do." Highlighting the importance of media diversity and an open Internet, the letter outlined a number of media justice and communications rights issues President Obama endorsed as a Senator and presidential candidate and urged him to pursue those goals.