The FCC's broadband speed test found improvements in actual speeds compared to advertised speeds across broadband providers. Actual download speeds during peak usage periods were near 100% of what was advertised, up from 87% in the previous year's test. However, a study by the New America Foundation found that US broadband prices are higher than other countries for slower speeds, and US "triple play" bundles are more expensive but provide slower speeds than bundles in European and Asian cities. While the FCC sees closing gaps and US leadership in mobile broadband, some groups question if US policies adequately address lack of competition in the broadband market.
This document summarizes an article about how the largest internet content providers like Netflix, Google, and Apple may bypass internet service providers (ISPs) like Comcast and Verizon by building their own broadband infrastructure in response to the lack of net neutrality regulations. The FCC's net neutrality rules were struck down by a court, allowing ISPs to potentially charge content companies for priority access. Netflix then saw slower streaming speeds on Comcast and Verizon and made a deal with Comcast to pay an unknown fee to maintain streaming quality. This sets a precedent where content companies must pay ISPs or risk being "throttled." However, content companies may disintermediate ISPs entirely by building their own broadband networks, widening the
A comparison of pstn and ip traffic from 1997 to 2015Shawn DuBravac
The document is a letter from Lampert, O'Connor & Johnston, P.C. to the FCC regarding Google's meeting with FCC staff to discuss proposed reforms to intercarrier compensation and universal service programs. The letter summarizes that during the meeting, Google reiterated its support for the FCC's focus on promoting IP broadband networks and ensuring support for their deployment. Google argued that ICC and universal service reforms should encourage efficient IP infrastructure and not be based around legacy TDM voice networks, as IP networks are more efficient and driving deployment of new services that benefit consumers.
Big Broadband: Public Infrastructure or Private MonopoliesWayne Caswell
This paper contrasts the different incentives of incumbent ISPs, municipalities and other stakeholders, suggesting that the cost of extending fiber closer to premises is high enough to cause IPSs to cherry pick the most profitable customers, leaving others to fend for themselves. That’s where public broadband comes in, but the politics can pose obstacles for municipalities that want their own networks, so this paper also includes a section explaining the fears of various stakeholders. Incumbent phone companies, for example, fear competition from VoIP alternatives and are using their deep pockets and powerful lobbyists to delay competition as long as they can.
Comcast threatened to block Netflix if a fee was not paid by Level 3, a partner in Netflix's online streaming. This raised concerns about net neutrality and allowing internet providers to control access. The FCC wants to regulate broadband to prevent discrimination, but was rebuked by a court. The FCC may allow different service levels but forbid blocking content. There are ethical issues around who controls internet access and preventing monopolies to ensure a free and open internet. Limited FCC oversight may be needed to enforce net neutrality and fair competition.
This document discusses the growth of mobile broadband and its implications. It argues that mobile broadband will drive significant growth in internet applications and services by providing ubiquitous connectivity. While mobile internet usage is growing, fixed broadband remains the primary access method. The document predicts that in the next 3-5 years, mobile broadband will stimulate demand and competition by complementing fixed broadband and putting competitive pressure on lower-quality fixed services. This will encourage upgrades to fixed infrastructure and have an overall pro-competitive impact on broadband markets.
This document discusses the issue of net neutrality and the debate around internet service providers prioritizing internet traffic through "fast lanes". It notes that ISPs began charging companies fees to avoid network congestion, affecting the delivery of content. In response, the FCC established Open Internet rules in 2015 banning paid prioritization and requiring equal treatment of all internet traffic. The document proposes that websites could participate in a coordinated day of slowing servers to display messages urging users to contact lawmakers about net neutrality and ending fast lanes. The goal would be to generate enough complaints to pressure legislators into addressing the issue.
Community based broadband report by Executive Office of the PresidentEd Dodds
This document discusses the benefits of community-based broadband and high-speed internet access. It finds that while broadband access has expanded, many areas still lack adequate competition and access. Some communities have developed their own municipal broadband networks to increase competition, access, and drive local economic development. These networks have encouraged private sector investment and improved service. However, 19 states restrict community broadband, limiting choices for consumers. The administration supports increasing broadband access and competition through community-based solutions.
This document discusses alternatives to government-run broadband networks and analyzes why municipal broadband projects often fail. It argues that private sector companies operating in a competitive environment can more efficiently meet customer needs and respond to market changes. Rather than investing taxpayer money in government broadband operations, local governments should make private sector broadband expansion more attractive by reducing fees and regulations like franchise fees and pole attachment costs that were established during the monopoly era. The emergence of Google Fiber is pushing some cities to reform these types of policies to attract broadband investment from all providers, not just Google.
This document summarizes an article about how the largest internet content providers like Netflix, Google, and Apple may bypass internet service providers (ISPs) like Comcast and Verizon by building their own broadband infrastructure in response to the lack of net neutrality regulations. The FCC's net neutrality rules were struck down by a court, allowing ISPs to potentially charge content companies for priority access. Netflix then saw slower streaming speeds on Comcast and Verizon and made a deal with Comcast to pay an unknown fee to maintain streaming quality. This sets a precedent where content companies must pay ISPs or risk being "throttled." However, content companies may disintermediate ISPs entirely by building their own broadband networks, widening the
A comparison of pstn and ip traffic from 1997 to 2015Shawn DuBravac
The document is a letter from Lampert, O'Connor & Johnston, P.C. to the FCC regarding Google's meeting with FCC staff to discuss proposed reforms to intercarrier compensation and universal service programs. The letter summarizes that during the meeting, Google reiterated its support for the FCC's focus on promoting IP broadband networks and ensuring support for their deployment. Google argued that ICC and universal service reforms should encourage efficient IP infrastructure and not be based around legacy TDM voice networks, as IP networks are more efficient and driving deployment of new services that benefit consumers.
Big Broadband: Public Infrastructure or Private MonopoliesWayne Caswell
This paper contrasts the different incentives of incumbent ISPs, municipalities and other stakeholders, suggesting that the cost of extending fiber closer to premises is high enough to cause IPSs to cherry pick the most profitable customers, leaving others to fend for themselves. That’s where public broadband comes in, but the politics can pose obstacles for municipalities that want their own networks, so this paper also includes a section explaining the fears of various stakeholders. Incumbent phone companies, for example, fear competition from VoIP alternatives and are using their deep pockets and powerful lobbyists to delay competition as long as they can.
Comcast threatened to block Netflix if a fee was not paid by Level 3, a partner in Netflix's online streaming. This raised concerns about net neutrality and allowing internet providers to control access. The FCC wants to regulate broadband to prevent discrimination, but was rebuked by a court. The FCC may allow different service levels but forbid blocking content. There are ethical issues around who controls internet access and preventing monopolies to ensure a free and open internet. Limited FCC oversight may be needed to enforce net neutrality and fair competition.
This document discusses the growth of mobile broadband and its implications. It argues that mobile broadband will drive significant growth in internet applications and services by providing ubiquitous connectivity. While mobile internet usage is growing, fixed broadband remains the primary access method. The document predicts that in the next 3-5 years, mobile broadband will stimulate demand and competition by complementing fixed broadband and putting competitive pressure on lower-quality fixed services. This will encourage upgrades to fixed infrastructure and have an overall pro-competitive impact on broadband markets.
This document discusses the issue of net neutrality and the debate around internet service providers prioritizing internet traffic through "fast lanes". It notes that ISPs began charging companies fees to avoid network congestion, affecting the delivery of content. In response, the FCC established Open Internet rules in 2015 banning paid prioritization and requiring equal treatment of all internet traffic. The document proposes that websites could participate in a coordinated day of slowing servers to display messages urging users to contact lawmakers about net neutrality and ending fast lanes. The goal would be to generate enough complaints to pressure legislators into addressing the issue.
Community based broadband report by Executive Office of the PresidentEd Dodds
This document discusses the benefits of community-based broadband and high-speed internet access. It finds that while broadband access has expanded, many areas still lack adequate competition and access. Some communities have developed their own municipal broadband networks to increase competition, access, and drive local economic development. These networks have encouraged private sector investment and improved service. However, 19 states restrict community broadband, limiting choices for consumers. The administration supports increasing broadband access and competition through community-based solutions.
This document discusses alternatives to government-run broadband networks and analyzes why municipal broadband projects often fail. It argues that private sector companies operating in a competitive environment can more efficiently meet customer needs and respond to market changes. Rather than investing taxpayer money in government broadband operations, local governments should make private sector broadband expansion more attractive by reducing fees and regulations like franchise fees and pole attachment costs that were established during the monopoly era. The emergence of Google Fiber is pushing some cities to reform these types of policies to attract broadband investment from all providers, not just Google.
Comcast plans to merge with Time Warner Cable to become a leading technology and media company. The objectives are to provide faster innovation, better products and communicate the value of the merger to stakeholders. Key stakeholders include subscribers, employees, investors, government regulators and competitors. There are risks such as increased market control drawing regulatory scrutiny, and opportunities like competing against satellite providers. Metrics will measure social media sentiment, media coverage, sales reports and website traffic to assess the merger's success.
Shared Services Canada's $398 million contract with Bell Canada to consolidate the federal government's 63 email systems into a single system has faced significant delays, disappointing SSC. The project was supposed to start transitioning departments in March 2014 but has yet to begin. SSC blames Bell for missing deadlines but will not provide specifics. The delay raises concerns about potential lack of transparency and outsourcing expertise currently existing within the public service. There are also questions about how the private sector will handle sensitive government information and whether the needs of Canadians are being prioritized over corporate profits.
I canada fcc chairman remarks on open access and gigafying america apr 14 15Barry Gander
The document is the remarks of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler at the Broadband Communities Summit in Austin, Texas on April 14, 2015. In the summary:
Wheeler discusses the importance of fast, fair, and open broadband networks and the FCC's efforts to promote competition. He highlights examples where community broadband networks have expanded access and benefited local economies when private providers did not, such as in Chattanooga, TN and Wilson, NC. Wheeler argues that restricting community broadband limits consumer choice and that the FCC acted to preempt laws in two states that blocked municipal broadband expansion.
This document summarizes a paper analyzing whether data caps on broadband plans violate principles of net neutrality. It begins by providing background on net neutrality and data caps, noting justifications from broadband providers but also concerns they may discriminate against certain types of content. The document then reviews legal history and arguments around net neutrality, including the FCC's focus on maintaining innovation and competition. Finally, it previews an analysis of whether data caps should be considered impermissible violations of net neutrality.
The document discusses the debate around net neutrality. It explores the perspectives of internet service providers (ISPs) who want to charge content providers fees for priority bandwidth, versus net neutrality advocates who believe this would negatively impact consumers and competition. The author also shares their free market views, arguing that more competition among ISPs and letting private companies address bandwidth and piracy issues is preferable to government regulation.
UNDERSTANDING THE DEBATE OVER GOVERNMENT-OWNED BROADBAND NETWORKSEd Dodds
Context, Lessons Learned, and a Way Forward for Policy Makers Cedar Falls Case Study Charles M. Davidson Director, ACLP at New York Law School Michael J. Santorelli Director, ACLP at New York Law School From JUNE 2014
The document discusses the topic of net neutrality and analyzes arguments for and against it. It begins by defining net neutrality as the principle that internet service providers should allow equal access to all legal online content without favoring some sources over others. The document then examines debates around whether net neutrality regulations in the US successfully create a truly equal internet or if they are an "illusion." It also explores the importance of net neutrality for minority communities and small businesses. Finally, the document outlines current US policies, including net neutrality rules passed by the FCC, and concludes that net neutrality needs to be protected to maintain equality and prevent large corporations from gaining control over internet access.
CHALLENGES IN SIGNIFICANT ADOPTION OF ACTIVE QUEUE MANAGEMENT IN THE PHILIPPI...ijmpict
In an increasingly digital world, a strong and robust internet infrastructure is paramount; this is
more so considering the context in which this paper was made: during the Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome — CoronaVirus 2 pandemic, colloquially known as COVID-19. With
major events around the world being moved to a virtual medium in light of the virus spreading
through respiratory droplets, the internet is increasingly utilized to compensate for productivity in
many fields, including but not limited to the academe and commercial — events that generally
can be held from the comfort of an individual’s home. Hence, the aforementioned need for a
robust internet is essential since any further disruptions will increase the losses of productivity
that have been incurred due to the global pandemic. This premise is given weight thanks to the
medium of these events: video conferencing applications such as Zoom have risen to prominence
thanks to the need for virtually distant conferences. In light of this, video conferencing is a
latency-sensitive application which requires that the latency of the internet is kept at a minimum
to avoid video and audio degradation. Additionally, latency-sensitive activities such as Voice
over IP (VoIP), Video Streaming, and Online Gaming are some of the other examples where
sudden increases in latency prove significantly detrimental. This phenomenon in internet
networks is known as bufferbloat; according to DSLReports, this is characterized as “the
undesirable latency caused by routers and cable/DSL modems buffering more data than
necessary.” One of the mitigations that is present thanks to the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is Active Queue Management (AQM), characterized as the
management of data packets via proactively dropping packets before it exceeds the buffer,
preventing excessive latency thanks to heavy load. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the
reasons as to why AQM is noticeably absent in the Internet of Things: consumer electronics
space.
This document is a broadband infrastructure report prepared by BroadbandNow for the City of Norfolk, MA. It includes a summary of broadband availability and competition in Norfolk based on data from the FCC, NTIA, Census and speed tests. On average, Norfolk residents have faster download speeds than both the state and national averages. While most residents have a choice of 2 or more providers, approximately 700 residents only have access to 1 or fewer wired broadband options. The report also lists the internet service providers serving Norfolk and data centers within 50 miles.
An Analysis of Data-Usage Patterns in the most Advanced 4g LTE MarketsDavid Martin
While much has been written about the speed and size of uptake of LTE technology around the world, there has been very little commentary about the impact of LTE adoption on consumer usage behavior. Know more at: http://www.mobidia.com
Community Broadband Snapshot Report™ How to Navigate, Mitigate or Eliminate t...Ed Dodds
This document provides an analysis of state restrictions on public broadband networks in the United States. It discusses the challenges these restrictions pose and the importance of high-speed internet access. 21 states have laws that act as barriers to public broadband initiatives, ranging from procedural requirements to outright bans. The document examines potential strategies for navigating, mitigating or eliminating the impacts of these state laws, from lobbying the federal government to changing state legislation. It also highlights the economic and social benefits of public broadband networks based on evidence from existing initiatives. The overall aim is to inform efforts to roll back restrictive state laws and allow communities to expand broadband access.
Reviving the FORGOTTEN Information Superhighway (2003)Wayne Caswell
Debate still lingers over government’s role in building an Information Superhighway and whether our lack of a national broadband policy means the concept is forgotten. Broadband – the “always on” network connection that receives and transmits digital content and services at high speeds – was supposed to change the way we live, work and play … as well as how we learn, shop, make things, entertain ourselves, and interact with others. It was supposed to give us remote access to libraries, museums, medical care, jobs, and government – resources that are available only to people living nearby. But since that aging vision is coming slower than expected, this paper aims to revive the initiative.
Fiber-to-the-home deployments had their best year since 2008 according to a new industry analysis. Over 2.7 million homes in North America were passed with fiber between September 2011-September 2012, with 3 million homes marketed fiber services and 1.5 million new FTTH customers connected. The analyst forecasts stable growth over the next few years followed by increased expansion in 2016-2017 as funding becomes available and developments continue. Fiber connections are shown to increase home values by an average of $5,300-$6,450 and provide economic benefits to communities in terms of jobs and reduced traffic.
The Public's Knowledge of Broadcast and Non-Broadcast Network Indecency Regul...Kurt Rempe
This document summarizes a research study examining people's knowledge of indecency regulations for broadcast and non-broadcast television networks. The study surveyed 316 college students and adults about their TV viewing habits and understanding of the FCC's ability to regulate broadcast but not cable networks. The results showed that most people subscribe to cable/satellite and are unaware of the different regulations for each network type. Respondents felt regulations should be consistent. As cable adoption increases, the FCC may need to reevaluate its approach to indecency rules across all television platforms.
The document provides a situation analysis and recommendations for Bell Canada's consumer relations strategy regarding the Canadian Radio-telecommunications Commission's ruling allowing internet service providers to implement usage-based billing. It summarizes criticisms of the ruling, public outcry against it, and a software glitch by Bell that overcharged some customers. The analysis identifies Bell's key publics and recommends objectives, increasing communication, addressing the software issue, monitoring social media, utilizing polls, assessing competitors, and holding community meetings to improve consumer relations.
This document discusses critical political economy approaches to analyzing the internet and media. It outlines three schools of thought on political economy and provides examples. It then lists the top global websites and internet service providers in 2009. The document discusses the decline of newspapers in terms of advertising revenues, readership, and closures. It outlines the origins of the net neutrality debate and provides definitions and arguments from proponents and opponents. It discusses actions by Congress, the FCC, and Obama regarding net neutrality.
This document discusses LTE Broadcast/eMBMS and its potential to help mobile operators meet increasing demands for mobile data. LTE Broadcast allows the same content to be sent to multiple users simultaneously via broadcast, which is more efficient than unicasting content to each user individually. The document estimates LTE Broadcast could offload up to 15% of video traffic and 30% of audio traffic. This would result in up to an 11.5% reduction in total daily traffic per subscriber and 14.7% reduction during peak hours. If deployed, LTE Broadcast could allow mobile operators to reduce network capacity investments in 2016 by an estimated 9.8%, saving billions of dollars.
This document discusses network neutrality and the debate around it in Canada. It argues that net neutrality is important to maintain an open internet where all content is treated equally and not biased towards large corporations. However, internet service providers want to prioritize some traffic over others to gain revenue. This could negatively impact innovation and smaller companies. While the CRTC has not taken a strong stance, advocates want the government to regulate ISPs to require net neutrality.
Hank L. Torbert is the Managing Partner and Founder of Avondale Ventures, LLC, which he established in 2006. He has extensive experience in private equity, investment banking, and developing and operating small and middle market businesses. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Broadcast Capital, where he helped expand their investment focus. Mr. Torbert also held positions at JPMorgan Chase and AIG Capital Partners. He currently serves on multiple boards and speaks regularly on investment topics. He holds masters degrees from Columbia University.
The document discusses various attributes of the <body> and <table> tags that can customize web pages, including setting background images and colors, adjusting table borders, cell padding, and cell spacing. It provides examples of using rowspan and colspan attributes to merge table cells, and demonstrates how to add headers and captions. The document also briefly explains how meta tags can provide search engines with descriptions and keywords for a page.
Hank L. Torbert is the Managing Partner and Founder of Avondale Ventures, LLC. He has extensive experience in private equity, advisory, and investment banking as well as in financing, developing, and operating small and middle market businesses in the media and telecommunications, technology, and transportation sectors.
Comcast plans to merge with Time Warner Cable to become a leading technology and media company. The objectives are to provide faster innovation, better products and communicate the value of the merger to stakeholders. Key stakeholders include subscribers, employees, investors, government regulators and competitors. There are risks such as increased market control drawing regulatory scrutiny, and opportunities like competing against satellite providers. Metrics will measure social media sentiment, media coverage, sales reports and website traffic to assess the merger's success.
Shared Services Canada's $398 million contract with Bell Canada to consolidate the federal government's 63 email systems into a single system has faced significant delays, disappointing SSC. The project was supposed to start transitioning departments in March 2014 but has yet to begin. SSC blames Bell for missing deadlines but will not provide specifics. The delay raises concerns about potential lack of transparency and outsourcing expertise currently existing within the public service. There are also questions about how the private sector will handle sensitive government information and whether the needs of Canadians are being prioritized over corporate profits.
I canada fcc chairman remarks on open access and gigafying america apr 14 15Barry Gander
The document is the remarks of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler at the Broadband Communities Summit in Austin, Texas on April 14, 2015. In the summary:
Wheeler discusses the importance of fast, fair, and open broadband networks and the FCC's efforts to promote competition. He highlights examples where community broadband networks have expanded access and benefited local economies when private providers did not, such as in Chattanooga, TN and Wilson, NC. Wheeler argues that restricting community broadband limits consumer choice and that the FCC acted to preempt laws in two states that blocked municipal broadband expansion.
This document summarizes a paper analyzing whether data caps on broadband plans violate principles of net neutrality. It begins by providing background on net neutrality and data caps, noting justifications from broadband providers but also concerns they may discriminate against certain types of content. The document then reviews legal history and arguments around net neutrality, including the FCC's focus on maintaining innovation and competition. Finally, it previews an analysis of whether data caps should be considered impermissible violations of net neutrality.
The document discusses the debate around net neutrality. It explores the perspectives of internet service providers (ISPs) who want to charge content providers fees for priority bandwidth, versus net neutrality advocates who believe this would negatively impact consumers and competition. The author also shares their free market views, arguing that more competition among ISPs and letting private companies address bandwidth and piracy issues is preferable to government regulation.
UNDERSTANDING THE DEBATE OVER GOVERNMENT-OWNED BROADBAND NETWORKSEd Dodds
Context, Lessons Learned, and a Way Forward for Policy Makers Cedar Falls Case Study Charles M. Davidson Director, ACLP at New York Law School Michael J. Santorelli Director, ACLP at New York Law School From JUNE 2014
The document discusses the topic of net neutrality and analyzes arguments for and against it. It begins by defining net neutrality as the principle that internet service providers should allow equal access to all legal online content without favoring some sources over others. The document then examines debates around whether net neutrality regulations in the US successfully create a truly equal internet or if they are an "illusion." It also explores the importance of net neutrality for minority communities and small businesses. Finally, the document outlines current US policies, including net neutrality rules passed by the FCC, and concludes that net neutrality needs to be protected to maintain equality and prevent large corporations from gaining control over internet access.
CHALLENGES IN SIGNIFICANT ADOPTION OF ACTIVE QUEUE MANAGEMENT IN THE PHILIPPI...ijmpict
In an increasingly digital world, a strong and robust internet infrastructure is paramount; this is
more so considering the context in which this paper was made: during the Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome — CoronaVirus 2 pandemic, colloquially known as COVID-19. With
major events around the world being moved to a virtual medium in light of the virus spreading
through respiratory droplets, the internet is increasingly utilized to compensate for productivity in
many fields, including but not limited to the academe and commercial — events that generally
can be held from the comfort of an individual’s home. Hence, the aforementioned need for a
robust internet is essential since any further disruptions will increase the losses of productivity
that have been incurred due to the global pandemic. This premise is given weight thanks to the
medium of these events: video conferencing applications such as Zoom have risen to prominence
thanks to the need for virtually distant conferences. In light of this, video conferencing is a
latency-sensitive application which requires that the latency of the internet is kept at a minimum
to avoid video and audio degradation. Additionally, latency-sensitive activities such as Voice
over IP (VoIP), Video Streaming, and Online Gaming are some of the other examples where
sudden increases in latency prove significantly detrimental. This phenomenon in internet
networks is known as bufferbloat; according to DSLReports, this is characterized as “the
undesirable latency caused by routers and cable/DSL modems buffering more data than
necessary.” One of the mitigations that is present thanks to the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is Active Queue Management (AQM), characterized as the
management of data packets via proactively dropping packets before it exceeds the buffer,
preventing excessive latency thanks to heavy load. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the
reasons as to why AQM is noticeably absent in the Internet of Things: consumer electronics
space.
This document is a broadband infrastructure report prepared by BroadbandNow for the City of Norfolk, MA. It includes a summary of broadband availability and competition in Norfolk based on data from the FCC, NTIA, Census and speed tests. On average, Norfolk residents have faster download speeds than both the state and national averages. While most residents have a choice of 2 or more providers, approximately 700 residents only have access to 1 or fewer wired broadband options. The report also lists the internet service providers serving Norfolk and data centers within 50 miles.
An Analysis of Data-Usage Patterns in the most Advanced 4g LTE MarketsDavid Martin
While much has been written about the speed and size of uptake of LTE technology around the world, there has been very little commentary about the impact of LTE adoption on consumer usage behavior. Know more at: http://www.mobidia.com
Community Broadband Snapshot Report™ How to Navigate, Mitigate or Eliminate t...Ed Dodds
This document provides an analysis of state restrictions on public broadband networks in the United States. It discusses the challenges these restrictions pose and the importance of high-speed internet access. 21 states have laws that act as barriers to public broadband initiatives, ranging from procedural requirements to outright bans. The document examines potential strategies for navigating, mitigating or eliminating the impacts of these state laws, from lobbying the federal government to changing state legislation. It also highlights the economic and social benefits of public broadband networks based on evidence from existing initiatives. The overall aim is to inform efforts to roll back restrictive state laws and allow communities to expand broadband access.
Reviving the FORGOTTEN Information Superhighway (2003)Wayne Caswell
Debate still lingers over government’s role in building an Information Superhighway and whether our lack of a national broadband policy means the concept is forgotten. Broadband – the “always on” network connection that receives and transmits digital content and services at high speeds – was supposed to change the way we live, work and play … as well as how we learn, shop, make things, entertain ourselves, and interact with others. It was supposed to give us remote access to libraries, museums, medical care, jobs, and government – resources that are available only to people living nearby. But since that aging vision is coming slower than expected, this paper aims to revive the initiative.
Fiber-to-the-home deployments had their best year since 2008 according to a new industry analysis. Over 2.7 million homes in North America were passed with fiber between September 2011-September 2012, with 3 million homes marketed fiber services and 1.5 million new FTTH customers connected. The analyst forecasts stable growth over the next few years followed by increased expansion in 2016-2017 as funding becomes available and developments continue. Fiber connections are shown to increase home values by an average of $5,300-$6,450 and provide economic benefits to communities in terms of jobs and reduced traffic.
The Public's Knowledge of Broadcast and Non-Broadcast Network Indecency Regul...Kurt Rempe
This document summarizes a research study examining people's knowledge of indecency regulations for broadcast and non-broadcast television networks. The study surveyed 316 college students and adults about their TV viewing habits and understanding of the FCC's ability to regulate broadcast but not cable networks. The results showed that most people subscribe to cable/satellite and are unaware of the different regulations for each network type. Respondents felt regulations should be consistent. As cable adoption increases, the FCC may need to reevaluate its approach to indecency rules across all television platforms.
The document provides a situation analysis and recommendations for Bell Canada's consumer relations strategy regarding the Canadian Radio-telecommunications Commission's ruling allowing internet service providers to implement usage-based billing. It summarizes criticisms of the ruling, public outcry against it, and a software glitch by Bell that overcharged some customers. The analysis identifies Bell's key publics and recommends objectives, increasing communication, addressing the software issue, monitoring social media, utilizing polls, assessing competitors, and holding community meetings to improve consumer relations.
This document discusses critical political economy approaches to analyzing the internet and media. It outlines three schools of thought on political economy and provides examples. It then lists the top global websites and internet service providers in 2009. The document discusses the decline of newspapers in terms of advertising revenues, readership, and closures. It outlines the origins of the net neutrality debate and provides definitions and arguments from proponents and opponents. It discusses actions by Congress, the FCC, and Obama regarding net neutrality.
This document discusses LTE Broadcast/eMBMS and its potential to help mobile operators meet increasing demands for mobile data. LTE Broadcast allows the same content to be sent to multiple users simultaneously via broadcast, which is more efficient than unicasting content to each user individually. The document estimates LTE Broadcast could offload up to 15% of video traffic and 30% of audio traffic. This would result in up to an 11.5% reduction in total daily traffic per subscriber and 14.7% reduction during peak hours. If deployed, LTE Broadcast could allow mobile operators to reduce network capacity investments in 2016 by an estimated 9.8%, saving billions of dollars.
This document discusses network neutrality and the debate around it in Canada. It argues that net neutrality is important to maintain an open internet where all content is treated equally and not biased towards large corporations. However, internet service providers want to prioritize some traffic over others to gain revenue. This could negatively impact innovation and smaller companies. While the CRTC has not taken a strong stance, advocates want the government to regulate ISPs to require net neutrality.
Hank L. Torbert is the Managing Partner and Founder of Avondale Ventures, LLC, which he established in 2006. He has extensive experience in private equity, investment banking, and developing and operating small and middle market businesses. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Broadcast Capital, where he helped expand their investment focus. Mr. Torbert also held positions at JPMorgan Chase and AIG Capital Partners. He currently serves on multiple boards and speaks regularly on investment topics. He holds masters degrees from Columbia University.
The document discusses various attributes of the <body> and <table> tags that can customize web pages, including setting background images and colors, adjusting table borders, cell padding, and cell spacing. It provides examples of using rowspan and colspan attributes to merge table cells, and demonstrates how to add headers and captions. The document also briefly explains how meta tags can provide search engines with descriptions and keywords for a page.
Hank L. Torbert is the Managing Partner and Founder of Avondale Ventures, LLC. He has extensive experience in private equity, advisory, and investment banking as well as in financing, developing, and operating small and middle market businesses in the media and telecommunications, technology, and transportation sectors.
Hank L. Torbert is the Managing Partner and Founder of Avondale Ventures, LLC, which he established in 2006. He has extensive experience in private equity, investment banking, and developing and operating small and middle market businesses. Previously, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Broadcast Capital, where he helped expand their investment focus. Mr. Torbert also held positions at JPMorgan Chase and AIG Capital Partners. He currently serves on multiple boards and speaks regularly on investment topics. He holds graduate degrees from Columbia University.
Brent Daigle, Ph.D. presented on challenges and considerations for implementing co-teaching arrangements. Some key issues discussed include gaining buy-in from stakeholders, ensuring co-teachers have the necessary instructional skills and receive proper training, determining how students will be scheduled and which classrooms are suitable, and establishing processes for monitoring student progress. The presentation addressed common concerns around co-teaching such as confusion over roles, resistance to change, anxiety, and frustration that can arise if the approach is not properly planned and supported.
The FCC's broadband speed test found improvements in actual speeds compared to advertised speeds across broadband providers. Actual download speeds during peak usage periods were near 100% of what was advertised, up from 87% in the previous year's test. However, a study by the New America Foundation found that US broadband prices are higher than other countries for slower speeds, and US "triple play" bundles are more expensive but slower than bundles in European and Asian cities. While the FCC sees closing gaps and US leadership in mobile broadband, some groups question if US policies adequately address lack of competition in the broadband market.
Pod::Weaver is a tool that uses templates to generate documentation from POD source. It addresses issues like redundant documentation by following rules defined in a weaver.ini template file. This allows it to generate leaner POD that removes unneeded sections like NAME, VERSION, and AUTHORS. It also defines subroutines, methods, and attributes more cleanly. Pod::Weaver supports various output formats through different templates and can be used via Dist::Zilla or directly with the podweaver command.
This document provides an overview of the Perl programming language and includes examples of common Perl scripts and functions. It discusses getting started with Perl, printing, variables, arrays, loops, conditionals, regular expressions, file handling and subroutines. Code snippets are provided to demonstrate concepts like opening and reading files, splitting strings, calculating averages and more. The document serves as a tutorial for beginners to learn the basics of Perl programming.
THIS IS AN ARTICLE PLEASE GIVE ANSWERS FOR THE QUESTIONS (THE PROBLE.pdfinfo824691
THIS IS AN ARTICLE PLEASE GIVE ANSWERS FOR THE QUESTIONS (THE
PROBLEM)
Closing Case Network Neutrality Wars
The explosive growth of streaming video and mobile technologies is creating bandwidth
problems over the Internet. The Internet was designed to transmit content such as e-mails and
Web pages. However, media items being transmitted across the Internet today, such as high-
definition movies, are vastly larger in size. To compound this problem, there are (in early 2015)
over 180 million smartphone users in the United States, many of whom use the Internet to stream
video content to their phones. The Internet bandwidth issue is as much about economics as it is
about technology. Currently, consumers can send 1-kilobyte e-mails or watch the latest 30-
gigabyte movie on their large-screen televisions for the same monthly broadband fee. Unlike the
system used for power and water bills where higher usage results in higher fees, monthly
broadband fees are not tied to consumer usage. A study from Juniper Networks
(www.juniper.net) highlights this “revenue-per-bit” problem. The report predicts that Internet
revenue for carriers such as AT&T (www.att.com) and Comcast (www.comcast.com) will grow
by 5 percent per year through 2020. At the same time, Internet traffic will increase by 27 percent
annually, meaning that carriers will have to increase their bandwidth investment by 20 percent
per year just to keep up with demand. Under this model, the carrier’s business models will face
pressures, because their total necessary investment will exceed revenue growth. Few industry
analysts expect carriers to stop investing in new capacity. Nevertheless, analysts agree that a
financial crunch is coming. As Internet traffic soars, analysts expect revenue per megabit to
decrease. These figures translate into a far lower return on investment (ROI). Although carriers
can find ways to increase their capacity, it will be difficult for them to reap any revenue benefits
from doing so. The heart of the problem is that, even if the technology is equal to the task of
transmitting huge amounts of data, no one is sure how to pay for these technologies. One
proposed solution is to eliminate network neutrality. (A POSSIBLE SOLUTION)Network
neutrality is an operating model under which Internet service providers (ISPs) must allow
customers equal access to content and applications, regardless of the source or nature of the
content. That is, Internet backbone carriers must treat all Web traffic equally, not charging
different rates by user, content, site, platform, or application. Telecommunications and cable
companies want to replace network neutrality with an arrangement in which they can charge
differentiated prices based on the amount of bandwidth consumed by the content that is being
delivered over the Internet. These companies believe that differentiated pricing is the most
equitable method by which they can finance the necessary investments in their network
infrastructures. .
Read the Case Study Below. Answer the questions. Paper must be a pag.docxapatrick3
Read the Case Study Below. Answer the questions. Paper must be a page and a half
Interactive Session: Organizations The Battle Over Net Neutrality What kind of Internet user are you? Do you primarily use the Net to do a little e-mail and online banking? Or are you online all day, watching YouTube videos, downloading music files, or playing online games? Do you use your iPhone to stream TV shows and movies on a regular basis? If you’re a power Internet or smartphone user, you are consuming a great deal of bandwidth. Could hundreds of millions of people like you start to slow the Internet down? Video streaming on Netflix accounts for 32 percent of all bandwidth use in the United States, and Google’s YouTube for 19 percent of Web traffic at peak hours. If user demand overwhelms network capacity, the Internet might not come to a screeching halt, but users could face sluggish download speeds and video transmission. Heavy use of iPhones in urban areas such as New York and San Francisco has already degraded service on the AT&T wireless network. AT&T reported that 3 percent of its subscriber base accounted for 40 percent of its data traffic. Internet service providers (ISPs) assert that network congestion is a serious problem and that expanding their networks would require passing on burdensome costs to consumers. These companies believe differential pricing methods, which include data caps and metered use—charging based on the amount of bandwidth consumed—are the fairest way to finance necessary investments in their network infrastructures. But metering Internet use is not widely accepted, because of an ongoing debate about net neutrality. Net neutrality is the idea that Internet service providers must allow customers equal access to content and applications, regardless of the source or nature of the content. Presently, the Internet is neutral: all Internet traffic is treated equally on a first-come, first-served basis by Internet backbone owners. However, this arrangement prevents telecommunications and cable companies from charging differentiated prices based on the amount of bandwidth consumed by the content being delivered over the Internet. The strange alliance of net neutrality advocates includes MoveOn.org; the Christian Coalition; the American Library Association; data-intensive Web businesses such as Netflix, Amazon, and Google; major consumer groups; and a host of bloggers and small businesses. Net neutrality advocates argue that differentiated pricing would impose heavy costs on heavy bandwidth users such as YouTube, Skype, and other innovative services, preventing high-bandwidth startup companies from gaining traction. Net neutrality supporters also argue that without net neutrality, ISPs that are also cable companies, such as Comcast, might block online streaming video from Netflix or Hulu in order to force customers to use the cable company’s on-demand movie rental services. Network owners believe regulation to enforce net neutralit.
This document discusses network neutrality and quality of experience issues related to increasing internet traffic volumes. It notes that internet traffic has increased dramatically in recent years due to factors like faster access networks and more powerful devices. This increased traffic has led to network congestion issues. The document explores debates around how to ensure neutral treatment of all internet traffic and how costs of network upgrades should be allocated. It also examines the roles of government regulation versus market forces in addressing these challenges.
The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of broadband in the United States compared to other nations. It finds that while the US is not always ranked first internationally based on selective metrics, the US has made rapid progress in broadband deployment, adoption, performance and price. It also notes criticisms of US broadband are often based on outdated, limited or selectively analyzed data. Overall, the report concludes that the state of American broadband is good and improving, though some areas could still benefit from further progress.
By Robert Crandall, William Lehr and Robert Litan
Issues in Economic Policy, The Brookings Institution, Number 6, July 2007.
Key figure:
“For every one percentage point increase in broadband penetration in a state, employment is projected to increase by 0.2 to 0.3 percent per year”
This document discusses issues with assessing broadband market penetration and competition in the United States. It notes that broadband statistics can be interpreted in vastly different ways to draw opposing conclusions about conditions. While some claim the US broadband market is doing quite well, others argue true broadband shows marketplace failure in many areas with only one or two facilities-based carriers. The document also examines international broadband comparisons that show the US lags most developed nations in terms of household penetration and penetration relative to GDP. It questions the credibility of FCC broadband statistics and advocates for more transparency in data collection to develop clearer assessments.
Ravi Gopal is starting an internship analyzing the wireless company Sprint PCS. In late 2001, Sprint PCS was poised to capitalize on growth in wireless data services using its nationwide all-digital CDMA network. However, competitors were gaining advantages and the future of wireless data adoption was uncertain. As Ravi researched the industry, he had many questions about Sprint PCS' strategy and prospects for success against disruptive technologies and changing regulations.
An ad hoc performance comparison of candidate technologies for rural broadban...IRJET Journal
This document summarizes an ad hoc performance comparison of various broadband technologies for rural deployment conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Laboratory and field tests were performed to measure data throughput speeds of technologies including fiber optic, wireless, satellite, and broadband over powerline. In field tests in Lenoir City, Tennessee, a hybrid fixed wireless and satellite network was deployed across varying terrain at an agricultural site and using towers. Representative throughput measurements showed the hybrid network achieved 92% of the source throughput at a distance of 4km. The next steps will involve continued testing of fixed wireless and hybrid systems in the region's topography.
Given the central role of telecommunications in the global economy and in the lives of humans worldwide, an understanding of innovation in telecommunications is critical to understanding the global dynamics of innovation generally. The technical, economic, and political dynamism of the sector means that there could be no better time for this work.
CASE STUDY -1 BA 633 Information Systems Inf.docxhallettfaustina
CASE STUDY -1
BA 633: Information Systems Infrastructure.
Prof: Fred Rose.
NET NEUTRALITY
Anvesh Veldandi
Student no: 558046.
1. This case focuses on the Net Neutrality debate in the United States. Do some Internet research on international
views of Net Neutrality and summarize how views of this issue differ within and across other countries.
Network neutrality has been a contentious issue in the United States for several years, but is increasingly debated
elsewhere, with the EU, several European countries, and the Japanese government all examining the issue.
Net neutrality does not have a single, unanimously accepted definition even within, let alone across, countries.
Nevertheless, proponents of net neutrality generally believe that a structure in which the Internet’s intelligence lies
primarily at the edges of the network, with the edges connected by relatively “dumb pipes” is responsible for the
Internet’s diversity and innovation. They fear that without some regulation broadband providers may discriminate in
favor of their own or sponsored applications, or might degrade traffic to sites that do not pay for better quality of
service tiers.
Net neutrality debates in the U.S. have focused primarily on regulations regarding how broadband providers could
price and manage traffic on their networks. The debate in Europe, has generally focused instead on the role
unbundling mandatory network sharing can play in keeping networks neutral. Unbundling
proponents argue that if the infrastructure provider does not offer retail services or is only one of many retailers
offering service over its infrastructure it will have less incentive to discriminate in favor of or against particular
content. Unbundling opponents typically do not discuss it in the context of net neutrality, but note that it can reduce
incentives to invest in the underlying infrastructure. This paper first examines the net neutrality debate in countries
other than United States. It explores net neutrality in the U.K., France, Denmark, the Netherlands,
Germany, Sweden, South Korea, and Japan. Because net neutrality is another type of mandatory network sharing
and because unbundling is a key component of the EU’s general response to net neutrality, the second part of the
paper uses a new dataset to test empirically the effects of unbundling on investment in fiber-to-the-home.
The net neutrality debate began in other countries much later than it began in the U.S. Most European countries
embrace the general idea of net neutrality. While they address the issue differently, most have so far stated that
unbundling combined with rules governing firms with significant market power, rather than specific n ...
A presentation by David Lassner, former Chair of the Hawaii Broadband Task Force. This presentation was delivered on Oct. 9, 2009 at the monthly meeting of the Hawaii Science and Technology Council.
This document discusses net neutrality and the debate around it. Net neutrality refers to the principle that internet service providers should treat all data equally and not discriminate or charge differently by user, site, or type of content. The document outlines the key issues around net neutrality such as arguments for and against it from different stakeholders like internet service providers and consumers. It also discusses the legal and regulatory history of efforts in the US to establish rules ensuring net neutrality.
1) The document discusses the evolution of broadband from a focus on availability and coverage to a focus on quality as measured by factors like bandwidth, latency, and symmetry.
2) It analyzes current and future broadband quality scores based on download speed, upload speed, and latency requirements for different applications.
3) High quality broadband is associated with higher penetration rates, which can drive socioeconomic benefits like innovation, productivity, and GDP per capita.
The document discusses several possible futures for communications technology and broadband infrastructure. It describes a future with ubiquitous wireless connectivity and high-speed fiber networks. It also discusses the convergence of devices, with single intelligent devices that handle multiple functions. Regulatory approaches and the role of government oversight are debated, as well as different business models like "net neutrality" or prioritized traffic.
Red Hat, Green Energy Corp & Magpie - Open Source Smart Grid Plataform - ...impodgirl
The Pacific Northwest smart grid demonstration project led by Battelle Memorial Institute aims to validate the costs and benefits of smart grid technology. The $88.8 million project involves 12 utilities across 5 northwest states and will test technologies like dynamic pricing signals and demand response. It seeks to better integrate renewable energy and improve system efficiency over its 5-year duration. Red Hat is also entering the smart grid industry through a partnership with Grid Exchange Corporation to develop an open-source smart grid software integration platform applying standards like ICCP.
The document discusses the origins and evolution of the net neutrality debate in the United States. It outlines key events and perspectives from both supporters and opponents of net neutrality. These include the initial coining of the term in 2002, various FCC rulings and policy statements, lobbying efforts, and legal challenges around issues like the Comcast throttling case and FCC regulations. The debate remains ongoing with shifting positions of government agencies and industry groups.
1) Phone and cable companies like Sprint, Bell Atlantic, and AT&T are deploying technologies like DSL to increase broadband access and revenues from internet services.
2) These companies plan to own their own portals to guide customers to broadband content and maximize returns from hosting equipment and infrastructure.
3) Portals owned by internet service providers will focus on commerce like software downloads, online billing, and potential revenue from services like pay-per-view.
The document discusses the history of net neutrality in the United States. It describes how (1) the issue first emerged in 2002; (2) supporters argued the open internet must be preserved while opponents said regulation was unnecessary; and (3) the policy debate continued through the 2000s with various laws and court rulings affecting the FCC's ability to enforce net neutrality principles.
All the q about net neutrality.1. Who is in favor of net neutralit.pdfakashborakhede
All the q about net neutrality.
1. Who is in favor of net neutrality? What reasons do they offer for this position?
2. What legal challenges are critics making against the FCC\'s rules? What three approaches are
they taking? Which is likely to succeed?
3. What affect could the FCC\'s decision have on the government, consumers, and various
internet-related companies? Are conditions expected to change drastically for any of these
groups?
Solution
1. Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all
data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site,
platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication. Nearly anyone
and any business not involved with the cable and phone companies supports keeping the Internet
as the open marketplace that it is today. Consumer groups, small businesses, innovators, family
and religious groups, financial services, retailers as well as major Internet brands such as Google,
Yahoo!, Amazon.com, Earthlink, eBay, Intel, Microsoft, Skype, Vonage are fighting to keep the
Internet open.
2.The FCC just voted in favor of a strong net neutrality rule to keep the Internet open and free.A
legal fight against the Federal Communications Commission\'s new Internet traffic rules has
begun with a suit by the United States Telecom Association, an industry group that represents
companies including AT&T and Verizon. The FCC is honing in on three areas of oversight: the
blocking of access to any content, the \'throttling\' of Internet traffic (slowing it down for reasons
other than what may be technically necessary to maintain a network\'s operations), and paid
prioritization (in which providers may favor some Internet traffic over others by creating \'fast
lanes\' for websites and services that can pay for them). One of the key legal arguments to expect
in the months to come, according to Werbach, is that the FCC previously said a company can
either be a telecommunications service or an information service, but not both. ISPs may argue
that they are elements of both and that the FCC must prove that they are not information
companies before it can reclassify them, says Werbach.
3.It will be a long time before anything materialises. Netflix won\'t stream any faster for you and
ISPs won\'t stop investing in their networks or high speed fiber cables as a result. Internet service
providers say they back the concept. But they don\'t want to face more, costly regulation and
claim it would hurt the economy.
Their argument is the internet has been progressing just fine the way it is currently set up, thanks
in parts to their expensive investments in network upgrades that have improved the quality of
high-speed service and expanded its availability.
More regulation will cost them more money - money they would otherwise spend on expanding
and improving their networks, they say. That would have the trickle-down effect of hurting
b.
Community Based Broadband Report by Executive Office of the PresidentDaniel X. O'Neil
Affordable, reliable access to high speed broadband is critical to U.S. economic growth and competitiveness. Upgrading to higher-speed broadband lets consumers use the Internet in new ways, increases the productivity of American individuals and businesses, and drives innovation throughout the digital ecosystem. As this report describes, while the private sector has made investments to dramatically expand broadband access in the U.S., challenges still remain. Many markets remain unserved or underserved. Others do not benefit from the kind of competition that drives down costs and improves quality. To help fill the void, hundreds of towns and cities around the country have developed their own locally-owned networks. This report describes the benefits of higher-speed broadband access, the current challenges facing the market, and the benefits of competition – including competition from community broadband networks.
\
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Removing Uninteresting Bytes in Software FuzzingAftab Hussain
Imagine a world where software fuzzing, the process of mutating bytes in test seeds to uncover hidden and erroneous program behaviors, becomes faster and more effective. A lot depends on the initial seeds, which can significantly dictate the trajectory of a fuzzing campaign, particularly in terms of how long it takes to uncover interesting behaviour in your code. We introduce DIAR, a technique designed to speedup fuzzing campaigns by pinpointing and eliminating those uninteresting bytes in the seeds. Picture this: instead of wasting valuable resources on meaningless mutations in large, bloated seeds, DIAR removes the unnecessary bytes, streamlining the entire process.
In this work, we equipped AFL, a popular fuzzer, with DIAR and examined two critical Linux libraries -- Libxml's xmllint, a tool for parsing xml documents, and Binutil's readelf, an essential debugging and security analysis command-line tool used to display detailed information about ELF (Executable and Linkable Format). Our preliminary results show that AFL+DIAR does not only discover new paths more quickly but also achieves higher coverage overall. This work thus showcases how starting with lean and optimized seeds can lead to faster, more comprehensive fuzzing campaigns -- and DIAR helps you find such seeds.
- These are slides of the talk given at IEEE International Conference on Software Testing Verification and Validation Workshop, ICSTW 2022.
Essentials of Automations: The Art of Triggers and Actions in FMESafe Software
In this second installment of our Essentials of Automations webinar series, we’ll explore the landscape of triggers and actions, guiding you through the nuances of authoring and adapting workspaces for seamless automations. Gain an understanding of the full spectrum of triggers and actions available in FME, empowering you to enhance your workspaces for efficient automation.
We’ll kick things off by showcasing the most commonly used event-based triggers, introducing you to various automation workflows like manual triggers, schedules, directory watchers, and more. Plus, see how these elements play out in real scenarios.
Whether you’re tweaking your current setup or building from the ground up, this session will arm you with the tools and insights needed to transform your FME usage into a powerhouse of productivity. Join us to discover effective strategies that simplify complex processes, enhancing your productivity and transforming your data management practices with FME. Let’s turn complexity into clarity and make your workspaces work wonders!
How to Get CNIC Information System with Paksim Ga.pptxdanishmna97
Pakdata Cf is a groundbreaking system designed to streamline and facilitate access to CNIC information. This innovative platform leverages advanced technology to provide users with efficient and secure access to their CNIC details.
Goodbye Windows 11: Make Way for Nitrux Linux 3.5.0!SOFTTECHHUB
As the digital landscape continually evolves, operating systems play a critical role in shaping user experiences and productivity. The launch of Nitrux Linux 3.5.0 marks a significant milestone, offering a robust alternative to traditional systems such as Windows 11. This article delves into the essence of Nitrux Linux 3.5.0, exploring its unique features, advantages, and how it stands as a compelling choice for both casual users and tech enthusiasts.
Climate Impact of Software Testing at Nordic Testing DaysKari Kakkonen
My slides at Nordic Testing Days 6.6.2024
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Communications Mining Series - Zero to Hero - Session 1DianaGray10
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At WSTS 2024, Alon Stern explored the topic of parametric holdover and explained how recent research findings can be implemented in real-world PNT networks to achieve 100 nanoseconds of accuracy for up to 100 days.
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The choice of an operating system plays a pivotal role in shaping our computing experience. For decades, Microsoft's Windows has dominated the market, offering a familiar and widely adopted platform for personal and professional use. However, as technological advancements continue to push the boundaries of innovation, alternative operating systems have emerged, challenging the status quo and offering users a fresh perspective on computing.
One such alternative that has garnered significant attention and acclaim is Nitrux Linux 3.5.0, a sleek, powerful, and user-friendly Linux distribution that promises to redefine the way we interact with our devices. With its focus on performance, security, and customization, Nitrux Linux presents a compelling case for those seeking to break free from the constraints of proprietary software and embrace the freedom and flexibility of open-source computing.
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ABSTRACT: A prima vista, un mattoncino Lego e la backdoor XZ potrebbero avere in comune il fatto di essere entrambi blocchi di costruzione, o dipendenze di progetti creativi e software. La realtà è che un mattoncino Lego e il caso della backdoor XZ hanno molto di più di tutto ciò in comune.
Partecipate alla presentazione per immergervi in una storia di interoperabilità, standard e formati aperti, per poi discutere del ruolo importante che i contributori hanno in una comunità open source sostenibile.
BIO: Sostenitrice del software libero e dei formati standard e aperti. È stata un membro attivo dei progetti Fedora e openSUSE e ha co-fondato l'Associazione LibreItalia dove è stata coinvolta in diversi eventi, migrazioni e formazione relativi a LibreOffice. In precedenza ha lavorato a migrazioni e corsi di formazione su LibreOffice per diverse amministrazioni pubbliche e privati. Da gennaio 2020 lavora in SUSE come Software Release Engineer per Uyuni e SUSE Manager e quando non segue la sua passione per i computer e per Geeko coltiva la sua curiosità per l'astronomia (da cui deriva il suo nickname deneb_alpha).
2. COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—2 FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
“Five ISPs now routinely deliver nearly one hundred percent or greater of the speed advertised to
the consumer even during time periods when bandwidth demand is at its peak,” the report said. That aver-
age download speed during peak usage periods are near 100 percent means consumers today “are experi-
encing performance more closely aligned with what is advertised than they experienced one year ago,” it
said. These improvements were driven by improvements in network performance, not by downward ad-
justments to the speed tiers offered, the report said.
ISPs more consistently deliver advertised speeds. In 2011, wide variances existed between top and
bottom performers in terms of meeting advertised speeds. This year saw a 15 percent reduction in the
standard deviation for download speed across DSL, cable and fiber — meaning ISPs are “doing a better
job of delivering what they promise their customers today than they did a year ago,” the report said. The
FCC took some credit, saying “there is evidence that our August 2011 Report helped prompt these
changes, and had a substantial impact on both the industry and consumer broadband experience.”
There is still a fairly large difference in delivered speeds over different technologies. During
“peak consumer usage hours” — defined as weekdays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. — DSL-based services
delivered download speeds at 84 percent of advertised speeds, cable-based services delivered 99 percent
and fiber-to-the-home services delivered 117 percent. Fiber to the home networks "are out-performing
other access technologies, giving consumers consistently higher speed broadband service with lower la-
tency,” the Fiber-to-the-Home Council said. “So much for the ‘conventional wisdom’ that cable broad-
band performance suffers during peak periods because the network is shared among many customers,”
NCTA said (http://xrl.us/bnhgt3).
By ISP, average peak download speeds varied from a high of 120 percent of that advertised to a
low of 77 percent. This is a “dramatic” improvement from last year, when Cablevision delivered 54 per-
cent of advertised speed, the report said. The report “demonstrates our commitment to delivering more
than 100 percent of the speeds we advertise to our broadband customers,” the company said. The com-
pany said it spent $140 million on recent upgrades to its broadband network. Genachowski commended
Cablevision at the FCC meeting as “one of this year’s best performers.”
Verizon said the findings “reaffirm the results from the 2011 report, which found that FiOS pro-
vides blazing-fast and sustained upstream and downstream speeds even during peak usage periods.”
AT&T said the report “demonstrates that consumers continue to get the broadband Internet access speeds
they are paying for, that the speeds offered to consumers are increasing and that consumers are moving to
these faster broadband speed tiers. Overall, it is abundantly clear that American consumers are getting
high-quality broadband services from their Internet Service Providers.”
Questions Remain
The New America Foundation isn’t so optimistic on U.S. broadband services compared to the rest
of the world. Its Open Technology Institute released a study Thursday comparing high-speed Internet of-
ferings in 22 cities around the world by price, download and upload speed, bundled services, and other
metrics, and found that American consumers lag (http://xrl.us/bnhgng). “The Internet download speed
Washington DC residents can get for roughly $35 would be over 20 times faster in Hong Kong for around
the same price,” NAF said. “And when ranked for their ‘Triple Play’ packages — Internet, phone, and
TV bundles — Washington, DC comes out way behind other European and Asian cities. For example,
residents of Paris pay the equivalent of $35 a month for basic cable TV, phone service, and Internet with
3. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—3
download speeds up to 100 mbps.” The U.S. needs to re-examine its current policies, and rather than fo-
cus on spectrum auctions and the promise of wireless broadband, “policymakers need to address the lack
of competition in most of the U.S. and how policies can enable new competitors to enter the marketplace,”
the report said.
Genachowski said the higher price point for lower broadband speeds compared to densely popu-
lated countries around the world is “an issue that we need to continue to make progress on in the US.”
But “the gap is closing,” and the FCC is continuing to promote competition “using all the different tools
we have,” Genachowski said in response to our question at a news conference. He pointed out areas
where the U.S. leads, such as the widescale deployment of 4G LTE services, and mobile innovation, lead-
ing the world in the apps economy, he said.
As the commission continues monitoring Internet speeds and other metrics, commissioners and of-
ficials from the Office of Engineering and Technology repeatedly promise a commitment to openness and
transparency. But dozens of prominent engineers and academics wrote to Genachowski Wednesday to
express concern over a proposal they said would “replace the Measurement Lab server infrastructure with
closed infrastructure,” run by the participating ISPs whose own speeds are being measured in the commis-
sion's broadband transmission tests (http://bit.ly/Q8cn9J). "We strongly oppose any decision by the FCC
to run a closed measurement program," said the letter whose signers included Internet pioneer Vint Cerf of
Google and NAF Vice President Sascha Meinrath. "For the scientific process to work, measurement data
must be openly available as well as access to methodologies, and explicit cataloging of assumptions is es-
sential if results are to be confirmed and replicated. A switch from an open to a closed infrastructure
makes this process impossible or, at best, questionable."
FCC officials rejected the assertion they want to “replace” M-Lab’s servers. “That statement is
false,” said Chief Technology Officer Henning Schulzrinne. “We’re not considering replacement of the
M-Lab infrastructure. We have enjoyed working with them.” The proposal would add redundancy by in-
stalling more servers so it becomes easier to detect anomalies, Schulzrinne said: There have been
“discussions to enhance — but not replace.”
The proposal would change the way “whiteboxes” test collected data, said a copy of the plan we
obtained that's from participants in the FCC's test. Whiteboxes now test their data against an “off-net”
pool of servers — servers that measure packets traveling across the public Internet, that are provided
solely by M-Lab — and an “on-net” pool, provided solely by the ISP, which measures data that has not
yet left the network and gone onto the public Internet. The proposal would allow the off-net pool of serv-
ers be either the “best research platform server,” run by M-Lab or some other entity, or “best ‘public’ ISP-
provided server.”
This would shift the measurement away from M-Lab’s open platform to measurement servers con-
trolled by the ISPs themselves, said NAF's Ben Lennett, a representative of the lab. Redundancy and the
collection of more data “makes sense at a high level, but we have offered to integrate the ISPs’ donated
servers” into the M-Lab infrastructure, and ISPs haven't taken the offer, he said. “The question is really
about the credibility of the measurement.” M-Lab is completely open with how it runs its servers, but
“there’s no indication that that is going to be the case with ISP-controlled servers,” Lennett said. Walter
Johnston, chief of the FCC Electromagnetic Compatibility Division, told us any data collected by ISPs as
part of the official commission broadband speed test would be made public, and it would be clear who
gathered the data. — Matthew S. Schwartz
5. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—5
pleting the final step." Trials and demonstrations have taken place of white spaces technology across the
world, he said: Many of the companies active in the white spaces so far say "they certainly are interested
in the white spaces model for the TV bands, but they see a great deal of promise in expanding this model,
whether it be licensed or unlicensed, to other spectrum."
McDowell said he's pushed for the use of the TV white spaces since he became a commissioner six
years ago, and FCC work had gotten underway four years before that. Rollout of mobile devices in the white
spaces is "at least" several years away given the reshuffling of the TV band tied to the upcoming incentive auc-
tion of broadcast spectrum, he said. "It’s hard for chip designers to design those chips right now."
"It looks like we’re at a point where we have little or no federal spectrum going to auction in the
near term," McDowell said. "The incentive auctions, as we implement that law, that’ll take some time. In
the meantime it’s very appropriate for us to talk about imaginative ways to squeeze more efficient out of
the airwaves." McDowell said the U.S. had hit a cul-de-sac rather than a dead end in getting more spec-
trum online for broadband since "we’ll be able to find our way out at some point."
"All of this is great news for those Americans who live in sparsely populated rural communities
and low-income urban areas," Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said of the report. "To date, licensed com-
munications companies, have not developed profitable business plans to serve these areas, so the success-
ful development of TV white space databases and devices, gives us hope that these underserved communi-
ties, will be moving closer to enjoying the affordable advanced communications services, that the vast ma-
jority of Americans, already enjoy." — Howard Buskirk
'Unacceptable'
911 Problems Extended Beyond Virginia Following June 'Derecho'
911 calling problems were widespread in the wake of the derecho that hit the Midwest and East
Coast June 29, Public Safety Bureau Chief David Turetsky said in a report Thursday at the FCC meeting.
The agency sought comment on communications breakdowns Wednesday (CD July 19 p15). Turetsky
said 911 problems hit parts of country beyond the already well-publicized incidents in northern Virginia.
Chairman Julius Genachowski said the FCC will revisit the issue of backup power for telecom facilities.
"For communications networks there was good news and bad news," Turetsky said. "The good news
is that in many areas communications services held up very well and in most areas where they did not, resto-
ration of service proceeded at pace. But that was not nearly the case everywhere. ... Some isolated 911 fa-
cilities were hit especially hard." The FCC has found there were "isolated breakdowns" in Ohio, Kentucky,
Indiana and Pennsylvania as well as "systemic failures" in northern Virginia and West Virginia.
"A significant number of public safety answering points, or PSAPs, couldn't receive and properly
dispatch E911 calls at all," Turetsky said. "Once some connectivity was restored, many PSAPs were par-
tially down for several days. The seriousness and impact of these PSAP outages and impairments is illus-
trated clearly by what happened throughout much of northern Virginia." In Fairfax County, outages af-
fected both primary and backup facilities, he said. "The result was that the PSAP serving most of the 1.1
million people of Fairfax County couldn't receive any 911 calls for several hours. Even after arrange-
6. COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—6 FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
ments for rerouting 911 calls finally were made, 911 service was significantly degraded for days." West
Virginia experienced "serious problems with even more PSAPs knocked out of service completely than in
northern Virginia," he said.
The FCC got involved as soon as the storm was over, monitoring problems closely, Turetsky said.
It granted an emergency special temporary authority so a utility could use certain frequencies to assist in
power restoration in Ohio on Saturday, he said. The FCC also issued a set of consumer tips for communi-
cating during an emergency. The Public Safety Bureau also launched an inquiry. "Our focus is to learn
all the facts and circumstances of the outages and disruptions in service, including the causes," Turetsky
said. "Those not only include the PSAPs, but also cell sites, interconnection switches and other facilities
that prevented consumers from using wireless and wired and broadband communications to reach emer-
gency providers at a time when consumers were more likely than ever to need to do so. Our goal is simple
— to use this information to make people safer." The bureau is also examining its own processes and how
it collects information, he said.
"There’s no question that things went wrong, during and after the derecho," Genachowski said.
Problems "were significant," he said. "They resulted in 911 going dark in a number of different places,
much longer than it should." Wednesday’s public notice mentioned the possibility of the FCC again im-
posing backup power rules (http://xrl.us/bnhcmq). "Backup power is one the things that we’ll look up in
the course of this investigation and the inquiry," Genachowski said. The FCC embraced a backup power
requirement for wireless facilities following Hurricane Katrina, and then retrenched, withdrawing the rules
in the face of disapproval by the Office of Management and Budget (CD Dec 2/08 p1) and a challenge by
carriers in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
"The public probably doesn't know, but we do have 24/7 operation," said Commissioner Robert
McDowell. "The scope and the damage caused by the derecho was simply overwhelming." While up-
wards of 2.5 million in the greater Washington, D.C., area lost access to 911 service "the exact cause or
causes" remain unknown, he said. "That is unacceptable, but you're on it," McDowell said. "We must do
all that we can to ensure that such a widespread outage never happens again. Not only must be prepared
for unforeseen natural phenomena, but being the capital of the United States we must be prepared for po-
tential terrorist attacks as well and having a hardened and reliable 911 system is absolutely critical to the
public interest."
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said she visited the Fairfax County PSAP this week. "The
head of Fairfax County's Department of Public Safety Communications described an eerie quiet in the af-
termath of the storm, as the calls into 911 quickly and implausibly ceased," she said. "This put lives at
danger. It put our safety at risk and it deserves our attention." Commissioner Ajit Pai said the storm
"exposed a very serious set of issues that deserves the commission's attention." He asked that the report
be concluded quickly.
"While the FCC already receives information about service outages through our mandatory Net-
work Outage Reporting System (NORS) and voluntary Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS),
given the extent of the outages last month, it is appropriate to learn more about the impact of the storm on
emergency and 911 communications networks," said Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. "I also appreciate
that the public notice asks questions related to whether Next Generation 911 tools and technologies, could
have improved the reliability of communications networks."
7. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—7
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials commended the FCC for quickly
seeking public comment on the recent local 911 changes caused by the derecho. "APCO is pleased to see
the Commission seek public comment on the recent local 9-1-1 outages, and looks forward to partnering
with the FCC and other stakeholders to address the critical questions raised, which will ultimately help
prevent future outages from occurring," First Vice President Terry Hall said in a statement. Hall and the
incoming APCO president met with Genachowski, Clyburn, staff of the other commissioners, and Turet-
sky Wednesday to discuss the outages. — Howard Buskirk
DHS Should Lead
Lawmakers Working on Cybersecurity Contingency Plan
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is working with lawmakers on a contingency plan in case the Sen-
ate fails to produce a cybersecurity bill this month, the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus co-chairman
said during an event hosted by the American Foreign Policy Council. It's "highly likely" that Senate Ma-
jority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to bring cybersecurity legislation to the floor for debate between
now and the August recess, his spokesman told us separately, "but we still have to get through the out-
sourcing and Bush tax cut bills first."
If the Senate fails to agree upon a comprehensive cybersecurity bill next week, McCaul said he has
a meeting scheduled with several House and Senate lawmakers to discuss a way forward. McCaul plans
to recommend to Senate lawmakers that they consider the four House cybersecurity bills as standalone
bills, he said without specifying when the meeting will be or who will attend. In April, House lawmakers
passed four cybersecurity bills during its so-called cyberweek: the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protec-
tion Act (HR-3523), the Federal Information Security Amendments Act (HR-4257), the Cybersecurity En-
hancement Act (HR-2096), and the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Re-
search and Development Act (HR-3834).
McCaul expressed his concern that the Senate Cybersecurity Act (S-2105) places undue mandates
and regulations on the private sector. "The one thing I learned from the [Stop Online Piracy Act] debate is
don't tread on the Internet," he said. Instead cybersecurity legislation should harden federal networks, in-
crease educational awareness of cybersecurity, secure the U.S. IT supply chain and increase information
sharing between the public and private sector, McCaul said.
Cybersecurity legislation should authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take on
the lead role if domestic networks came under a cyberattack, McCaul said. "With the NSA, you don't
want to militarize [the Web], that's why DHS as a civilian agency is more appropriate as the lead role do-
mestically," he said. "I think it's better to do what we are doing in terms of sharing that cyberthreat infor-
mation with the private sector through NSA and having DHS working with the NSA and DOD together."
McCaul said he was "very disappointed" that House leaders shelved the House Homeland Security
Committee's cybersecurity bill, the Promoting and Enhancing Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Ef-
fectiveness Act (HR-3624). The bill, which was authored by Committee Chairman Dan Lungren, R-
Calif., was dropped from consideration despite undergoing major revisions intended to make the bill more
palatable to critics in industry (CD April 19 p8). The bill "should have gotten more buy-in from stake-
holders" because it would have codified into law the existing authorities granted by the executive branch,
McCaul said. — Bryce Baschuk
8. COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—8 FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
8.6 Times Cash Flow
Recent Media M&A Shows Debt Markets Strong, Business Good, Executives Say
A series of larger-than-normal transactions involving broadcast and cable assets reveal a healthy
market for raising debt and some faith that the media sector is healthy and profitable, said executives we
spoke to Thursday. The last few days have seen deals disclosed involving media assets valued at more
than $8 billion. They included several transactions that involved the former Clear Channel TV station
group, Atlantic Broadband’s acquisition by a Canadian cable operator and Suddenlink’s $6.6 billion ac-
quisition by BC Partners and CCP Investment Board.
“It’s definitely the strength of the debt markets that’s driving this activity,” said Gillis Cashman,
managing partner at venture capital firm M/C Partners and chairman of cable operator Baja Broadband.
“Cable is a very consolidated industry, so it’s unique to see deals of this size, especially on the same
day. But there are still a number of smaller regional guys out there, and this will probably spur some
activity as well."
Multiples are high — the $6.6 billion price for Suddenlink represents a valuation of 8.6 times its
estimated 2012 cash flow, the company said. Not all smaller operators are interested in selling out. “It’s
always interesting, as an independent operator, to go back to my income statement and say ‘What’s my
cash flow times eight?’” said Bob Gessner, president of Massillon Cable, and vice chairman of the Ameri-
can Cable Association. “But we’re having a good time, we’re profitable, we provide great jobs for our
employees and our community appreciates that. I’m not going to get that by swapping stock with Time
Warner or Comcast,” he said. “I hope, and I think, that there are other people who feel that way.”
Valuations may vary from company to company, said Levi Maaia, vice present of Full Channel
TV, a cable operator in Rhode Island with several thousand subscribers. “The days of running a for-
mula are sort of over,” he said. “Each cable company looks different than its cousin." Each of those
"systems look very different, their expenses are different, their technology offerings are different,"
Maaia said. "Trying to lump them all in and say ‘well they’re all cable operators,’ probably isn’t the
wisest move financially.”
The deals also show the value of cable systems, particularly in regions where there's less competi-
tion, Cashman said. “The video product has been under a lot of pressure, and content costs continue to go
up,” he said. “But going forward if you do have that unique broadband pipe into the home, I see that op-
portunity on the high speed data side ... far outweighing the risks on the video side,” when combined with
the opportunity to sell more products to small and medium-sized businesses, he said.
Beyond the cable transactions, a series of TV station deals were announced Thursday, primarily
involving the former Clear Channel TV group now operated by Newport TV. Sinclair agreed to buy six of
Newport’s stations for about $412.5 million, the buyer said. It expects to finance the deal with cash on
hand and through a bank loan, or issuing bonds, it said. “The Newport Acquisition is consistent with our
focus on adding ‘big four’ affiliates in mid-sized markets and strengthening our in-market position,” said
Sinclair CEO David Smith. Sinclair agreed to buy Bay TV, the owner of WTTA-TV Tampa Bay, Fla., for
$40 million. It agreed to sell KMYS-TV San Antonio and WSTR-TV Cincinnati to Deerfield Media, sub-
ject to Fox TV Stations’ purchase option on WSTR-TV, Sinclair said.
9. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—9
Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting said separately they raised $645 million to fund their purchase
of 12 Newport stations and refinance some debt. About $285.5 million of the financing will pay for the
stations and Newport’s Inergize Digital business. “The Newport transaction is a transformational event
for Nexstar,” its CEO Perry Sook said. “The acquisition significantly expands our revenue and operating
base with stations where we can quickly apply our operating and management disciplines to meaningfully
improve their performance.” — Josh Wein
Size Matters
Telecom Playing Field Tilts Against Small Business, MMTC Panelists Say
Challenges remain for women- and minority-owned businesses that seek to compete in telecom,
but the larger carriers have expressed a desire for partnership and inclusion as supplier and procurement
diversity have become stated goals for many executives, industry executives and lawyers said late
Wednesday. Several speakers at the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council conference de-
bated the best ways to create a competitive telecom market.
“I don’t agree you should let the players play,” said lawyer Jenell Trigg of Lerman Senter. The
situation allows minorities and women to be “pushed to the sidelines," she said. Trigg broke down the
2008 $19-billion spectrum Auction 73, in which 84 percent of licenses went to AT&T and Verizon Wire-
less and 2.6 percent went to minority- and women-owned businesses. Those results lack the "robust op-
portunity" such auctions need, she said. The implications give a new meaning to “white spaces in the
spectrum,” Trigg said. New market entrants need better incentives and the FCC, which has “not recog-
nized the need or importance” of women- and minority-owned businesses, has not done enough, Trigg
said. “We are not owners in this space.” The agency has adjusted auction rules on too short a notice in
the past and “the reality is we need time,” she said.
Scale and scope matter, replied Verizon’s Jesse Crawford, a manager of supplier diversity. “We
have to have players who can compete,” he said, despite saying he agreed “wholeheartedly” with Trigg’s
message. Smaller businesses can’t compete “longevity-wise,” he said. Crawford offered an extended
comparison about baseball and the inability of a Little League youth to ascend to Major League Baseball
where “unbridled enthusiasm” doesn’t guarantee salvation. “I would submit that baseball is not spec-
trum,” Trigg replied. The nature and influence of size — and what it can do, for better and for worse —
became a touchstone of the MMTC discussion. “The reality is these industries are so consolidated,” said
Trigg, “that women- and minority-owned businesses are far and few between.” Ronald Johnson, MMTC
treasurer, said the council has “historically addressed precisely these issues” and earlier that afternoon had
defended the FCC’s commitment to diversity (CD July 19 p9). The commission held a workshop on sup-
plier diversity for small businesses owned by minorities and women last week (CD June 14 p9).
The underlying concern turned to partnerships and the nature of them between telcos like Verizon,
AT&T and Sprint Nextel and smaller suppliers and contractors. Verizon wants a “collaborative effort,”
Crawford said. “We don’t write a check and step away.” Verizon features a Premier Supplier Academy,
started in 2011, that offers these mentorship and education components, Crawford explained. “The key term
for most suppliers to keep in mind is mutually beneficial relationships." Verizon first established a supplier
diversity program in 1984 and said it bought $4 billion from diverse suppliers in 2011 (http://xrl.us/bnhgap).
10. COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—10 FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
Verizon’s top Washington executive noted in an earlier MMTC panel that the company’s commitment to
diversity makes financial sense (CD July 19 p9). Partnerships have to develop where “small business can be
owners in spectrum division,” Trigg said.
Certification is often helpful to forming these partnerships, panelists said. They mentioned the
U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) certification (http://xrl.us/bnhgff) for small businesses owned
and controlled at least 51 percent by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. “Certification
is something that gets you in the door,” said Joset Wright, president of the National Minority Supplier De-
velopment Council. Wright praised telcos as potential partners: “They all put their money where mouth
is and walk the walk.” Suppliers who want to work with Sprint need patience, said Strategic Sourcing Di-
rector Marvin Motley. “Narrow your focus,” he advised those who want to work with the carrier. Certifi-
cation provides “definitely an advantage” in working with Sprint and means it doesn’t need to “worry
about financial solvency” as much, Motley said, who added his company likes suppliers who are “ready to
move with us.” Verizon sees certification as “definitely an advantage” and a force that adds “validity”
and eases the telco's reporting and tracking requirements, said Crawford.
Measurement is also key to including minorities and women in the supply chain, some panelists
said. “That which gets measured gets done,” said Wright, who encouraged goals, plans and processes as
part of a broader mission of “intentional inclusion” that reflects the demographics of a given community.
One concern is not enforcing rules, said Wright, who said there’s “more enforcement on the private side
than the public sector side” and suggested “punishment for those that do not comply” with regulations.
Trigg countered that she prefers incentives and the carrot over the stick, partly because there are fewer
constitutional issues potentially at play. The FCC "needs to step up,” Trigg said. She spoke of the FCC's
required submission of triennial reports, outlined in Section 257 of the Communications Act (http://xrl.us/
bnhf5w). These reports have been “woefully late and woefully inadequate in some ways,” Trigg said.
“There should be more vigorous reports.” — John Hendel
Internet, Business Models
Management Teams and Lenders Important for New and Legacy Media Businesses
Management teams and lenders are important components of new and legacy media businesses as
they seek to create business models, said panelists at a Minority Media and Telecommunications Council
conference. The Internet’s business opportunities have raised the question of “how to create a new busi-
ness plan in a world in which [traditional media’s] function can now be bypassed,” said Anna-Maria
Kovacs, a senior policy scholar at Georgetown University. The online world’s disintermediation and abil-
ity to bypass traditional media has “substantially changed the business plans and the risk profiles of the
legacy world,” she said.
“The most important thing is team,” said Hank Torbert, managing partner at investment firm
Avondale Ventures. “Everyone has to uniquely understand how to add value to the opportunity.” Manag-
ing Director David Meier of Gladstone Cos. said businesses “need to have a diverse management team
that has functional expertise across different categories.” Torbert said the team should include a finan-
cially focused CEO.
Meier and Torbert recommended financial advisers. “Sometimes you need help, you need exper-
tise,” Meier said. Businesses, whether legacy or new media, should consider the perspective of their
11. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—11
audience when seeking funding: A senior lender examines the stability and history of a business while a
mezzanine lender looks for growth, Meier said. Businesses should consider financing from local banks,
he said.
“The key issue for anyone who is looking for funding is to figure out which of these routes [legacy
or new media] do you want to take, and figure out what your business model is,” Kovacs said. Meier said
disintermediation resulting from the Internet has created a “challenge for lenders like myself because we
focus on revenue and looking to established businesses.” He said the history of a business — its demon-
strated ability to generate revenue and stable cash flow — is more important than whether it uses new or
traditional media.
Business plans should also consider a variety of media options, Torbert said. “Don’t fall in love
with projects that are ‘me too.’” Businesses shouldn’t pursue social media, digital layout, and mobile app
aggregation simply because everyone else is doing it, he said. “There are many different types of opportu-
nities in media now and telecom, and I don’t want people to ... get caught in the sexy part of it." “There
are other businesses that are out there that make a lot of sense,” he said, mentioning telecom services com-
panies. — Courtney Crandell
Comm Daily® Notebook
FCC commissioners heard a presentation Thursday on the FCC’s use of next-generation mapping.
"The breakthrough with maps is that it allows users to visualize data — making complex mountains of
data accessible, understandable, and actionable," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. He mentioned
in particular the National Broadband Map, which the commission developed in coordination with the
NTIA. "The map identifies what services and what speeds are available in each community — informa-
tion that is useful to consumers, policy makers, as well as businesses and entrepreneurs," he said. "It’s the
first of its kind, just the beginning, and holds tremendous promise."
——
Bandwidth in rural areas is "important," said Jonathan Adelstein, RUS administrator. Businesses
are using the Internet in new and innovative ways to expand and grow, he said Thursday at a Minority
Media and Telecom Council event in Washington. The private sector plays an important role in helping
RUS and the FCC to meet the demand for bandwidth, he added. In terms of broadband, RUS has made a
“major outreach push for diversity in both businesses that we fund as well as in the areas that are served
by our awards,” he said. The agency awards about $8 billion a year in loans and grants, he said. “We pro-
vide affordable financing for capital-intensive projects ... and engineering standards, careful scrutiny and
oversight to make sure those funds go where they belong.” About 25 of the awards granted through the
Recovery Act went to minority and tribal organizations, he said. NTIA is preparing to roll out the First
Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet, said Anna Gomez, NTIA deputy administrator. She said she
expects opportunities to arrive for network security and maintenance professionals, software developers
and other professionals when the system is fully operational, she said. Applications development is going
to be very exciting in the public safety field, she said. For FirstNet, NTIA will establish a 15-member
board that consists of the Department of Homeland Security secretary, the director of the Office of Man-
agement and Budget and 12 members appointed by the Commerce Department secretary, and it will en-
sure geographical, regional, rural and urban representation on the board, she said: A public safety advi-
sory committee will meet with tribal, regional, state and local jurisdictions to discuss provisions like the
placement of towers and the assignment of priority to local users, she added. — KL
12. COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—12 FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
Correction: A comment made by Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator Jonathan Adelstein
about needing "visibility" for projects funded by RUS loans was incorrectly attributed to FCC Chairman
Julius Genachowski (CD July 19 p2).
——
The first meeting of the Advisory Committee for the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference
will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 9 at FCC headquarters. “The WRC-15 Advisory Committee’s objective is to pro-
vide the FCC with advice, technical support and recommended proposals for the WRC-15,” the FCC said
in a notice (http://xrl.us/bnhfqk). “At its initial meeting, the WRC-15 Advisory Committee will consider
formation of its Informal Working Groups (IWGs), assignment of WRC-15 agenda items to the IWGs,
scheduling and other organizational matters.” The FCC has also established a WRC-15 website at
www.fcc.gov/wrc-15.
Capitol Hill
Nearly a dozen telecommunications and technology groups urged lawmakers Thursday to require
the Department of Justice and FCC to increase transparency in their consideration of the proposed Veri-
zon/SpectrumCo transaction. The groups told lawmakers in a letter that they should be "very concerned"
about the competitive impact of the proposed deal and particularly alarmed that there's no transparency in
the dealings for the FCC and interested parties to properly review these "unprecedented agreements." The
letter was sent to House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., Ranking Mem-
ber Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., House Competition Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., Ranking
Member Mel Watt, D-N.C., and members of the House Commerce and Judiciary committees. The letter
was signed by Access Humboldt, the Center for Rural Strategies, the Computer & Communications Indus-
try Association, the Eastern Rural Telecom Association, the Independent Telephone and Telecommunica-
tions Alliance, the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, Public Knowledge, the Rural
Broadband Alliance, the Rural Independent Competitive Alliance, the Rural Telecommunications Group,
and the Western Telecommunications Alliance.
——
House lawmakers slammed the Chinese government for facilitating infringement and theft of U.S.
intellectual property online, during a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing Thursday. The Chinese govern-
ment has "approved and coordinated" theft of U.S. IP and the American government has been "cowardly"
in confronting the threat, said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif. "We've been played for suckers over the
years, we've been played as fools" as the Chinese government has only become more "brazen in their theft
of wealth that should be going to our people." Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., urged
the executive branch to negotiate enforceable agreements with foreign governments that will curb IP theft
such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). The trade agreement would require parties — which include
the U.S., Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Peru, Malaysia and Vietnam — to ensure they
have effective enforcement procedures against online trademark, copyright and other rights infringements.
Ranking Member Howard Berman, D-Calif., said the U.S. has an opportunity to successfully negotiate the
TPP, which he called an "ambitious agreement" with Asian countries to protect U.S. IP. "It is critical that
this agreement reflect and prioritize the contribution of the U.S. IP industries to the U.S. economy by in-
cluding strong protections for IP and robust enforcement provisions," he said. Heritage Foundation Senior
Research Fellow Derek Scissors agreed that the TPP offers a "great possibility" for curbing Chinese IP
theft and urged lawmakers to pursue other lines of attack as well. "There are ways for the U.S. to change
its laws to make it more difficult and uncomfortable" for Chinese infringers, he said. David Hirschmann,
president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Intellectual Property Center, said it's crucial to focus
13. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—13
on the Web where stolen U.S. IP is primarily being distributed. "One thing we can do is to begin to work
with the world to find pro-Internet freedom rule of law approaches to address distribution on the Internet,"
he said. House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have
previously denounced the TPP as a threat to Internet freedom, and Wyden introduced a bill in May to clar-
ify the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's duty to share trade agreement information with all mem-
bers of Congress (CD June 12 p6).
Wireline
With less than a week before price-cap carriers must indicate whether they will accept millions of
dollars in subsidies for broadband buildout, the FCC clarified rules on how to calculate the amount of sup-
port a carrier must return for failing to meet deployment obligations (http://xrl.us/bnhfsr). Carriers that
can't meet their obligation must return "$775 multiplied by the number of locations to which the carrier
was required to deploy to but did not," a Wireline Bureau order said Thursday. It said accepting funding
doesn't mean a carrier is "binding itself to deploy only in those areas, nor is it committing to deploy to
every unserved location in those areas." Carriers must accept the funding by July 24.
Wireless
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said Thursday the FCC must establish a "clear timeline"
for pending spectrum auctions. Rosenworcel also said more must be done to provide incentives for fed-
eral agencies to embrace giving up spectrum for commercial use. "While past efforts to reclaim spectrum
from federal users have involved the stick, I think going forward we should explore the carrot," she said.
"Today, the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act provides funding to federal users for relocation
when their airwaves are reallocated for commercial use. It also now provides upfront funding for plan-
ning. What is missing is a series of incentives. What if we were to financially reward federal authorities
for efficient use of their spectrum resource? What if they were able to reclaim a portion of the revenue
from the subsequent re-auction of their airwaves? Would they make smarter choices about their missions
and the resources they need to accomplish them? It’s an idea worth exploring."
——
The FCC approved a fourth order on reconsideration on rules for the USF Mobility Fund, which
said “if a petition for reconsideration simply repeats arguments that were previously considered and re-
jected in the proceeding, it will not likely warrant reconsideration.” The order (http://xrl.us/bnhfr8) af-
firmed the FCC’s earlier adoption of a reverse auction mechanism. But the commission turned down sev-
eral requests for changes, including requests that the FCC: restrict or prohibit Tier I carriers from receiv-
ing Mobility Fund Phase I support; hold applications for eligible telecom carrier status in abeyance pend-
ing completion of the auction and then automatically qualify any winning bidder as an ETC; and deem a
carrier to be a Lifeline-only ETC to be eligible to participate in the Mobility Fund without first obtaining
general ETC status. The FCC also rejected “for purposes of the auction of Mobility Fund Phase I support,
arguments that the Commission provide for bidding preferences to small or rural entities and extend eligi-
bility for the Tribal lands bidding credit to entities that are not Tribally-owned or controlled.”
——
Early reviews for the Verizon Wireless shared data plan have been “great,” said Verizon Commu-
nications Chief Financial Officer Fran Shammo, during the company's quarterly financial call with ana-
14. COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—14 FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
lysts. He noted that customer adoption of the new “Share Everything” plans, available since June 28, has
met expectations. “We are seeing a wide variety of customers and family share accounts opting into Share
Everything, including existing smartphone customers with unlimited data plans,” Shammo said during an
investor call Thursday. Subscribers get unlimited voice minutes and text under the new plans, but pay for
a shared pool of data for up to 10 mobile devices. Public interest groups have criticized Verizon’s plans,
as well as the similar “Mobile Share” plans AT&T announced Wednesday. The company had record
wireless profits in the quarter, but saw weak results from its wireline products. Shammo also said Verizon
is confident its AWS spectrum license purchase will clear FCC and Justice Department approval — and
that the deal will be completed this summer. The company is “ready to go” with the "auction" of its 700
MHz A and B spectrum licenses on the secondary market once the AWS purchase is completed, Shammo
said. — JP
——
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials released Recommended Best Practices
for PSAPs When Processing Vehicle Telematics Calls from Telematics Service Providers (TSPs). The
public safety answering point document revises best practices released by the APCO Telematics Taskforce
in 2009. “It offers clear guidelines for PSAP personnel in the handling of vehicle telematics and Ad-
vanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) calls from TSPs and updates the information the telematics
operator is expected to provide,” APCO said. “It also contains updated TSP contact information, escala-
tion procedures and a glossary of terms that clarifies new in-vehicle technologies. It does not define local
response procedures or protocols, allowing each agency to establish appropriate call handling and dispatch
policies.” APCO also announced approval of the Vehicular Emergency Data Set (VEDS) for transmission
of critical vehicle crash data to PSAPs. APCO developed VEDS in combination with the National Emer-
gency Number Association.
State Telecom Activities
Ohio will be revisiting the details of its Lifeline service thanks to two recent applications, the Ohio
Public Utilities Commission unanimously confirmed in its meeting Wednesday. TracFone Wireless and
Virgin Mobile USA had both applied on June 22 for a rehearing of the commission’s May 23 finding and
order, which “established certain requirements for the provision of Lifeline service, including those neces-
sitated by the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Report and Order in In the Matter of Life-
line and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Lifeline and Link Up, Federal-State Joint Board on Univer-
sal Service, Advancing Broadband Availability Through Digital Literacy Training,” the commission said
(http://xrl.us/bnhfj9). It judges that TracFone and Virgin Mobile have “sufficient reason” to question its
ruling and now promises “further consideration,” the commission said. In its June 22 objection, Virgin
Mobile called the Ohio commission’s Lifeline order “unreasonable and unlawful,” “contrary to the public
interest in that it is discriminatory and anti-competitive with respect to prepaid Lifeline service providers,”
and in requesting a rehearing, added it hopes the commission “reverse its finding that reimbursement from
USAC to prepaid wireless Lifeline providers is includable for purposes of calculating the 9-1-1 assess-
ment” and “reverse its order directing the remittance of 9-1-1 fees that would have been collected retroac-
tively to the date of ETC designation” (http://xrl.us/bnhfma). In its application for a rehearing, TracFone
asserts “non-billed, free Lifeline services are not prepaid services and Ohio law imposes no such 911 fee
remittance obligations on non-billed free Lifeline services where there is no available mechanism for col-
lecting such fees from qualified low-income consumers of such non-billed free services,” and said one
subset of ETCs, wireless resellers, shouldn’t be singled out for a retroactive obligation for fees that could-
n’t have been collected.
15. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—15
Several carriers received approval for interconnection agreement amendments in Idaho Thursday.
A total of seven applications were approved, and the companies included CenturyLink QC, Metropolitan
Telecommunications of Idaho, Frontier Communications Northwest, Entelegent Solutions, Bullseye Tele-
com, Ernest Communications, Trans National Communications International, OneEighty Networks and
Clarks Electronics. “The amendments to the Interconnection Agreement are consistent with the public
interest, convenience and necessity and do not discriminate” and are “consistent with the pro-competitive
policies of this Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the federal Telecommunications Act,” the com-
mission said in its final order approving the interconnection agreement amendments (http://xrl.us/bnhfqe).
International Telecom
There has been a big push for a compromise draft proposal on exceptions and limitations for visu-
ally impaired and blind people at the World Intellectual Property Organization meeting in Geneva. India,
China, Switzerland, the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Group and, for the first time, Australia
clearly supported a full-fledged treaty and asked for conclusion of the preparatory work during the 24th
Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) that runs through Wednesday. "Further
convergence in delegations' discussions were possible and a balanced and flexible text was within reach,"
the European Union said. The U.S. delegation rejected allusions that a linkage could be made between the
visually impaired media treaty and the broadcasting treaty. The Brazilian delegate had warned against ef-
forts to link the WIPO efforts on the human rights-oriented print disabilities and the broadcasting treaty.
A linkage had led to the failure of earlier SCCR work. "A linkage between the print disabilities effort and
an effort for business affairs would be unprincipled, it would be unethical, and the United States will not
have any part of it," the U.S. delegate said.
Telecom Notes
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service should step in to help in Verizon’s ongoing con-
tract negotiations with its employees, said the Communications Workers of America and International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, in a statement Thursday. The parties have struggled to establish a
contract for more than a year as “Verizon management continues to insist on drastic cuts in benefits and
employment security” and demonstrates "greed" and creates delays "not only bad for workers, it’s bad for
consumers and bad for our communities," the unions said. CWA held protests in several cities earlier this
summer to underscore the problem (CD June 25 p13). Verizon declined to comment on the unions’ re-
quest to the service, a federal government agency.
Broadcast
Arbitron said the Media Rating Council (MRC) accredited the ratings from its Portable People Me-
ter device in five markets: Los Angeles, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Baltimore, Riverside-San Ber-
nardino, Calif., and San Antonio. Riverside-San Bernardino and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater are
seeing their accreditation restored, after it had been withdrawn by MRC in January, Arbitron said. Sepa-
rately, the company said Q2 revenue increased 9.1 percent from a year earlier to $104.4 million and profit
increased 31 percent to $10 million.
16. COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—16 FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012
Cable
Cable operators shouldn’t be allowed to encrypt their basic service tier without offering “a compa-
rable successor to ClearQAM,” attorneys for Boxee told FCC Media Bureau officials during a recent tele-
conference, an ex parte notice shows (http://xrl.us/bnhgkr). Beyond the proposal Boxee and Comcast pre-
sented to the agency last month (CD June 29 p8), they discussed “’cloud based’ methods for delivery of
content by cable operators,” the notice said. On its own, a hardware solution “would not be a sufficient
long-term replacement” for ClearQAM, “although one could form an interim solution, as suggested in the
Boxee and Comcast proposal,” the notice said.
——
Time Warner Cable petitioned the FCC to be let out of local rate regulation in 18 Wisconsin com-
munities (http://xrl.us/bnhgmh). The cable operator said it’s subject to competition from AT&T’s U-verse
service in those areas and therefore meets the local exchange carrier test for determining that it is subject
to effective competition.
Mass Media Notes
A group of pay-TV providers pointed the finger at broadcasters for retransmission consent
blackouts, hours after NAB criticized three of the coalition's members for being involved in most
retrans disputes this year (CD July 19 p21). "NAB’s offering 'sympathy' for viewers currently sub-
ject to blacked-out programming on Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and Dish is dishonest at best," the
American Television Alliance said in a news release late Wednesday (http://xrl.us/bnhfqc). "It is
the broadcasters, the so-called 'stewards of the public airwaves,' that use outdated government rules
to yank their signals from consumers." The coalition didn't dispute that the three multichannel
video programming distributors were involved in three-quarters of TV service disruptions in 2012,
an NAB spokesman said. "Only 0.3 percent of America’s 5,851 pay TV companies have ever been
involved in a loss of broadcast TV service," he said. "This suggests a concerted effort by three of
the largest pay TV companies to manufacture a crisis that does not really exist, rather than compete
in the marketplace."
——
Dish Network and West Virginia Media reached a deal that returned four TV stations to the Dish
programming lineup. WBOY (NBC, ABC) Clarksburg, WVNS (Fox, CBS) Bluefield, WTRF (CBS, Fox,
ABC) Wheeling and CBS affiliate WOWK Charleston confirmed the deal on their websites. The stations
went dark for Dish customers July 1 (CD July 3 p14).
——
A carriage agreement is expected to be reached between Viacom and DirecTV given the profit the
programmer would lose without carriage on that DBS provider, Evercore Partners wrote investors Thurs-
day. DirecTV wants to offer the programming “as long as DTV can procure it at a fair price,” they said.
The analysts estimate the subscriber loss breakeven point at 1.15 million subscribers. The potential dam-
age to DirecTV’s premium position in the market from not carrying the programming is more difficult to
quantify, they said. In the highly unlikely event that Viacom were to lose DirecTV permanently, “both
sides would have less leverage in future negotiations,” they added. This Friday marks day 10 of the
stalled carriage agreement, which left DirecTV customers without Comedy Central, TVLand, MTV and
other Viacom channels (CD July 12 p10).
17. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 COMMUNICATIONS DAILY—17
Satellite
The FCC International Bureau adopted changes Thursday to the earth stations on board vessels
(ESV) rules, in a second order on reconsideration (http://xrl.us/bnhf8k). The bureau’s actions
stemmed from Boeing and ViaSat petitions, the bureau said. Its revisions will provide greater opera-
tional flexibility for ESVs “while continuing to ensure that the FSS operators are protected from
harmful interference in the C- and Ku-bands,” the order said. It said the aggregate power-density rule
will allow ESVs with variable power, co-frequency systems “to operate their individual transmitters
simultaneously while using varying off-axis equivalent isotropically radiated power-density levels in-
stead of requiring each transmitter within the system to use the same EIRP-density." The order re-
quires variable power ESV systems to operate 1 decibel below the off-axis EIRP-density limits “to
protect fixed satellite services from harmful interference.” Other rule changes involve renumbering
the rules “to incorporate the variable power ESV provisions ... and incorporating the new requirement
to file coordination notifications electronically” on the bureau filing and reporting system, the order
said. It said the agency doesn’t expect a substantial number of small entities to be directly impacted
by the rule changes.
——
Dish Network lost 10,000 net subscribers in Q2, besting some analysts’ projections of a loss of
119,000, Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker said in a research note. Dish added 665,000 gross subscrib-
ers, bettering analyst estimates of 577,000, she said. Monthly churn was 1.6 percent, against forecasts of
1.65 percent, Ryvicker said. Wells Fargo is projecting a 1 percent increase in average revenue per user,
she said. Dish made the disclosures in SEC filing for a senior note debt offering, the size and pricing of
which wasn’t disclosed. The money raised will be used for "corporate purposes," Dish said.
——
A decision on the proposal that would allow Dish Network to deploy a terrestrial service could
come sooner than some telecom industry professionals expected. A notice of proposed rulemaking on al-
lowing terrestrial use of 2 GHz wireless spectrum was introduced this year (CD March 22 p4). It sounds
like the FCC’s final draft of the NPRM may be ready to go, Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker said in a
research note recounting a Wells Fargo wireless symposium. “We believe that the September timeframe
as suggested in several trade reports may actually be correct.” Many speakers at the symposium suggested
that the higher band spectrum has significant value, she said. This spectrum “provides capacity to com-
plement the coverage that many of the wireless carriers currently have through their lower band spectrum,
such as the 700 MHz.” Symposium speakers also suggested that a potential purchase of Dish by AT&T is
unlikely to occur in the near term “although this could be the ultimate scenario down the line,” she said.
In terms of Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen's strategy, it’s likely that Dish partners with various parties in-
side and outside the wireless ecosystem “to ensure a better place in both the pay-TV and wireless indus-
tries,” she added. — KL
Communications Personals
Paul Sands retires at year's end as president and general manager of Hearst Television's WPTZ
Plattsburgh, N.Y., and WNNE Hartford, Vt., being replaced by Kyle Grimes ... Lobbyist registrations:
Motorola Solutions, Barbour Griffith and Rogers, effective June 10 ... Virginia state government's Center
for Innovative Technology, Franklin Partnership, effective July 1 ... Spectrum Solutions Co., US Strate-
gies, effective July 2.