Tuesday, March 28, 2017

📽 IP Address Operations - APRICOT 2017

IP Address Operations: IP Addresses in 2016, Geoff Huston; Lessons from the IPv4 Transfer Market, Mike Burns

Friday, March 24, 2017

🚲 Capricious Links 🐶 FB and Surveillance ~ Senate Broadband Privacy Vote ~ Draft Sec. 230 Bill ~ Internet Filters Dont Work ~

, Facebook and Instagram Publicly Prohibit Surveillance of Users Following Coalition Demands, ACLU ~ Today, Facebook publicly announced updates to Facebook and Instagram platform policies to clearly prohibit the use of company data for surveillance. These updates respond to demands from a coalition that includes the ACLU of California, the Center for Media Justice, and Color of Change.  https://www.aclunc.org/news/facebook-and-instagram-publicly-prohibit-surveillance-users-following-coalition-demands

 

, Facebook U.S. Public Policy, Facebook ~ Today we are adding language to our Facebook and Instagram platform policies to more clearly explain that developers cannot "use data obtained from us to provide tools that are used for surveillance."  https://www.facebook.com/uspublicpolicy/posts/1617594498258356

 

Elizabeth Dwoskin, Facebook says police can't use its data for 'surveillance', WAPO ~ Facebook is cutting police departments off from a vast trove of data that has been increasingly used to monitor protesters and activists. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/03/13/facebook-says-police-cant-use-its-data-for-surveillance/?utm_term=.dd2dad929ae0

 

Brooke Seipel, The draft bill is called the "No Immunity for Sex Traffickers Online Act of 2017." It's authored by Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.). The bill would amend Section 230 in two main ways:, The Hill ~ President Trump on Friday took credit for the creation of 20,000 jobs by telecom company Charter Communications, a deal that was originally made in 2015, during the Obama administration. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/325659-trump-takes-credit-for-companys-jobs-pledge-that-was-made

 

Robert Cannon, Is Call Forwarding an "Information Service" and Why It Matters for FTC Jurisdiction, CircleID ~ Time to brush the dust off your Computer II notebooks. Are voicemail, electronic fax, and call forwarding enhanced services or telecom services? http://www.circleid.com/posts/20170721_call_forwarding_information_service_matters_for_ftc_jurisdiction/

 

Jon Brodkin, How ISPs can sell your Web history—and how to stop them, Ars Technica ~ The Senate vote was 50-48, with every Republican senator voting to kill privacy rules and every Democratic senator voting to preserve them. https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/03/how-isps-can-sell-your-web-history-and-how-to-stop-them/

 

, Senate Acts on Broadband Privacy, NTCA ~ Today the Senate passed the Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the FCC's recently adopted broadband privacy rules for Internet service providers. Throughout the development of the FCC's broadband privacy rules, NTCA has championed consumer-centric principles of notice, choice and security. At the same time, NTCA has cautioned against regulations that would treat ISPs differently than other firms in the broadband market – and frankly, some of them have far more consumer information and metrics and should be of significantly more concern than ISP operations. http://www.ntca.org/ceoblog/senate-acts-on-broadband-privacy/

 

, ACA Applauds Senate Passage Of Flake Resolution Voiding FCC's Broadband Privacy Rules, ACA ~ ACA is very pleased the Senate voted to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify the FCC's broadband privacy regulations. ACA thanks Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and his many Senate co-sponsors of the CRA resolution for their leadership role in eliminating regulations that as applied to smaller broadband providers would impose unwarranted and burdensome regulations, harmful both to small businesses and their customers. http://www.americancable.org/node/6056

 

Shiva Stella, Senate Leaves Consumers Vulnerable in Rush to Destroy Americans' Online Privacy, PK ~ With less than 10 hours of 'consideration,' the Senate took the first step to eliminating a rule that put consumers in control of their data online. This vote is a clear sign that American interests  https://www.publicknowledge.org/press-release/senate-leaves-consumers-vulnerable-in-rush-to-destroy-americans-online-privacy#When:17:09:00Z

 

, Google and Symantec clash on website security checks, BBC ~ Google alleges that Symantec has not done enough to ensure that these basic and extended certificates are being issued correctly. It claims to have evidence that over the past few years 30,000 certificates are suspect. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39365315

 

, Doubts about whether internet filters protect teenagers online, U Oxford ~ The research paper, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, says the effectiveness of internet filters is 'dubious' and suggests that resources would be better spent trying to develop the resilience of teenagers to such experiences. http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-03-14-doubts-about-whether-internet-filters-protect-teenagers-online

 

, Google Fiber Community Impact Report, Google Fiber ~ From the earliest days of Google Fiber through today, we've seen the transformational power of local partnerships and how access to super fast Internet - and all the tools that come with it - can drive progress in communities.  https://fiber.googleblog.com/2017/03/google-fiber-community-impact-report.html

 

Karl Bode, Our $300 Million Broadband Map Is Stuck in Useless Limbo, DSLReports ~ In February of 2011 the government released our first ever broadband map (available here) after spending roughly $300 million on the project. Our readers by and large were unimpressed at the time, noting the map didn't list prices, and often reported non-existent competitors and unavailable speeds in many markets.  http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-FCCs-300-Million-Broadband-Map-Is-Stuck-in-Useless-Limbo-139208

 

Eric Goldman, WARNING: Draft "No Immunity for Sex Traffickers Online Act" Bill Poses Major Threat to Section 230, Tech & Marketing Law Blog ~ The draft bill is called the "No Immunity for Sex Traffickers Online Act of 2017." It's authored by Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.). The bill would amend Section 230 in two main ways: http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2017/03/warning-draft-no-immunity-for-sex-traffickers-online-act-bill-poses-major-threat-to-section-230.htm

 

Cyrus Farivar, Feds: We're pulling data from 100 phones seized during Trump inauguration, Ars Technica ~ In new filings, prosecutors told a court in Washington, DC that within the coming weeks, they expect to extract all data from the seized cellphones of more than 100 allegedly violent protesters arrested during the inauguration of President Donald Trump.  https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/feds-were-pulling-data-from-100-phones-seized-during-trump-inauguration/

 

, Broadband Overtakes Cable/Satellite as Leading Conduit for Video, USTelecom ~ More than two-thirds (68 percent) of consumers subscribe to a free or paid streaming video service compared to 67 percent for pay-TV service providers, according to a "The Changing Landscape for Video and Content," a new study by the Consumer Technology Association (link is external) (CTA). http://www.ustelecom.org/blog/broadband-overtakes-cablesatellite-leading-conduit-video

 

 

📽 Navigating the IPv4 Transfer Market - APRICOT 2017

Thursday, March 23, 2017

📽 Peering Forum - IX Track - PeeringDB Update - Apricot 2017

Peering Forum - IX Track with PeeringDB 2.0 Update (video below is multiple presentations - link is directly to the PeeringDB presentation in the timeline)

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

📽 Geoff Huston - The Death of Transit and Beyond, APRICOT 2017

The Death of Transit and Beyond
(panel discussion of several presentations - link above is directly to Geoff's presentation in the timeline - video below is all four presentations and Geoff is the fourth)

Monday, March 20, 2017

In Which I Get Another Excuse to Babble About the "Enhanced Service" / "Telecom Service" Dichotomy :: FTC v. American eVoice

Time to brush the dust off your Computer II notebooks.  Are voicemail, electronic fax, and call forwarding enhanced services or telecom services?

Today's case: FTC v. American eVoice, Ltd, et al, CV-13-03-M-DLC (DC Montana Mar. 14, 2017). See also Stipulated Permanent Injunction.

The FTC brought an action against Defendants claiming that they were engaged in cramming, adding unwanted voicemail, electronic fax, and call forwarding services to consumers bills to the tune of $70 million. Slip at 3. The FTC concluded that this was a violation of Sec. 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce." Slip at 3.


Defendants filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that they are common carriers and therefore exempt from FTC jurisdiction. This argument had been successful recently. In FTC v. ATT Mobility (9th Cir. Aug. 2016), the FTC had brought an action against ATT Mobility for data throttling (before the FCC's Open Internet order declaring Internet access service a telecommunications service). The 9th Circuit found that ATT Mobility had the status of a common carrier, therefore the FTC lacked jurisdiction over ATT Mobility. Specifically, Sec. 5 states that the FTC lacks jurisdiction over "common carriers subject to the Acts to regulate commerce."  The term "common carrier" is not defined in Sec. 5. The 9th Circuit conducted an extensive review, concluding that the language applied generally to firms that have the status of being a common carrier, and not specifically only to actions that constitute the provision of common carriage.  In other words, according to the holding of the 9th Circuit, the FTC lacks jurisdiction over ATT Mobility even if ATT Mobility is selling hot dogs out of a push cart because ATT Mobility has the status of common carriage for some other part of its business.

So are Defendants in the case at hand "common carriers" or not?

The Court cites to Computer II authority, for which it gets my thumbs up. But of course Computer II has been superseded by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which codified definitions for an "information service" (a.k.a. "enhanced services") and a "telecom service." An "Information Service" is
the offering of a capability for generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, processing, retrieving, utilizing, or making available information via telecommunications, and includes electronic publishing... - 47 U.S.C. § 153(20)
By contrast, a "telecom service"
means the offering of telecommunications for a fee directly to the public 47 U.S.C. § 153(53)
And of course, "telecommunications"
means the transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received. 47 U.S.C. § 153(50)
As the court states, telecom service is essentially a pipeline. It is the transmission layer of the communications service. It pretty much is someone saying "hi grandma" into a telephone network and "hi grandma" comes out the other end.

Anything more than that is an "information service." This is a bright line test. If "hi grandma" is spoken into the network and "Bonjour Grand-mère" comes out the other end of the network, you gots yourself "a change in the form or content of the information" sent.

The FCC and the courts have been deciphering the distinction between "information services" and "telecommunications services" for more than half a century. There is a bit of precedent here. What we know, according to the court, is that defendants offered "voicemail, electronic fax, and call forwarding." Have previous courts and the FCC passed on whether these are "information services"? Yes they have.


Service
Classification
Authority
Voicemail Information Service CPE Order 2001 ¶ 2; FWD MOOStevens Report, ¶ 73; BOC Petition Order 13770-774, App. A; Computer II Final Decision, ¶ 98; In re Southwestern Bell CEI Plan for the Provision of Voice Messaging Services, DA 88-1469, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 3 FCC Rcd. 6912, 65 Rad. Reg. 2d (PF) 527,  1 (September 29, 1988); Petition USTelecom2013 ¶ 20; Computer III Further NPRM 1998 ¶ 1
Electronic Fax Information Service (actually, the court does not describe what 'electronic fax' is so I am not 100% confident but....) :: Computer III Further NPRM 1998 ¶ 1; Review of Customer Premises Equipment and Enhanced Services Unbundling Rules in the Interexchange, Exchange Access and Local Exchange Markets, CC Docket No. 98-183, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, para 1, n. 20 (October 9, 1998); MOO, Bell Operating Companies Joint Petition for Waiver of Computer II Rules, DA 95-36, 10 FCC Rcd 1724 n.3, 1995 FCC LEXIS 217 **2 (Jan 1995)
Call Forwarding Telecom Service Stevens Report, ¶ 73; Computer II Final Decision, ¶ 98

Whoops. That did not go as planned. "Call Forwarding" is a "Telecom Service"?? According to Computer II
We indicated that 'computer processing applications such as call forwarding, speed calling, directory assistance, itemized billing, traffic management studies, voice encryption, etc., may be used in conjunction with 'voice' service.'  The intent was to recognize that while POTS is a basic service, there are ancillary services [a.k.a. adjunct services] directly related to its provision that do not raise questions about the fundamental communications or data processing nature of a given service. Accordingly, we are not here foreclosing telephone companies from providing to consumers optional services to facilitate their use of traditional telephone service. - Computer II Final Decision, ¶ 98. 
Ah! So now we have to introduce one more concept: adjunct services. According to the FCC, adjunct services are services that may involve something that looks like an information service but facilitates the operation of the telecommunications service. Adjunct services take on the regulatory classification of the facilitated telecom service. Here is a simple example. If you call directory assistance to get a telephone number so that you can make a call, that's an adjunct service and therefore a telecom service. If however you call directory assistance with a reverse lookup, querying with a telephone number and asking for the name, that is an information service because that reverse lookup does not facilitate the operation of the telecom service (you already have the telephone number; getting the name doesn't help set up the call).

The policy behind this exception was that telecom services like ATT and the Baby Bells were prohibited from providing information services pursuant to the 1956 Consent Decree. The FCC wanted ATT to be able to offer services that facilitated operation of the telecommunications service - things like directory assistance, call forwarding, speed dialing, and caller ID. So the FCC classified these very telephone-like things as "adjunct-to-basic" services. The Telecommunications Act codified this as the Telecom Management Exception.

But an adjunct service must be adjunct to something. An adjunct service that is adjunct to nothing - this has no meaning. If ATT offers call forwarding, then this 'enhancement' facilitates the use of ATT's telecom service and therefore takes on the regulatory classification of ATT's telecom service (in other words, the "information service prohibition" would not have blocked ATT Mobility from offering this service). However, a company that just offers call forwarding but does not also offer a telecom service wasn't prohibited from offering information service in the first place and cannot offer an adjunct service to a non-existent telecom service. Thus, a stand-alone enhancement like call forwarding falls within the "information service" bucket and not the "adjunct service therefore telecom service" bucket. 

According to the court, "there is no evidence before the Court that the corporate Defendants operated a transmission pipeline" [a.k.a. telecom service]. Slip at 10. Unlike ATT Mobility which had the status of "common carrier" because some part of that company offers common carrier service (even though other parts of the company do not), no part of Defendants companies were found to offer "telecom service," thus Defendants do not fall within the FTC exception to jurisdiction over common carriers.

Oh, by the way, the Court noted a further problem with Defendants' claim to be "common carriers." According to the Court, they had not registered with the FCC as common carriers; they had not named an agent for service of process as a common carrier; they made no showing that they complied with common carrier obligations like paying into the universal fund. Slip at 11. Adding to the jurisprudence of the Duck Test, the Court concluded that these Defendants don't quack like a duck.

Defendants' Motion to Dismiss on the grounds that Defendants are common carriers outside the jurisdiction of the FTC dismissed.

📽 Peering 101 - Walt Wollny, Hurricane Electric, Apricot 2017

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

🐶 Arbitrary Links 🚴🏿 Privacy Rules :: Ethiopia Free to Spy :: Broadband Hearing Next Week :: No IPv4 for You :: Digital Geneva Convention

, GOP takes aim at internet privacy rules, The Hill 3/15/17 (In recent days, lawmakers in both the House and Senate have offered legislation to roll back the Obama-era measures, with bills from Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), the chairwoman of the House Commerce subpanel on communication and technology.) http://thehill.com/policy/technology/323441-week-ahead-gop-takes-aim-internet-privacy-rules

 

JON BRODKIN , Advertisers look forward to buying your Web browsing history from ISPs, Ars Technica 3/15/17 (Ad groups thank Republican lawmakers for move to kill ISP privacy rules.) https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/ad-industry-lobbyists-celebrate-impending-death-of-online-privacy-rules/

 

, Talking Rural Infrastructure with the White House, NCTA 3/13/17 (Today, Mike Romano and I joined our rural partners from what has become the Rebuild Rural Coalition for a visit to the White House to meet with the special assistant to the president for Infrastructure as well as the special assistant to the president for Agriculture. Leadership from the Farm Credit Council, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Water Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives all sat around the table with us, along with leadership from Capitol Hill and USDA for a small focused meeting on rural infrastracture.) http://www.ntca.org/ceoblog/talking-rural-infrastructure-with-the-white-house/

 

Eric Goldman, Constitution Protects Publication of Politicians' Home Address/Phone Number–Publius v. Boyer-Vine, Tech & Marketing Law Blog 3/14/17 () http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2017/03/constitution-protects-publication-of-politicians-home-addressphone-number-publius-v-boyer-vine.htm

 

Geoff Huston, The Internet's Gilded Age, Circle ID 3/14/17 (This is no longer just a conversation about carriage and communications. It is probably not even a conversation about carriage and communications at all. The changing face of the Internet is no longer a matter of public communications, but a matter of public services. And with this observation, we are back to a more basic theme. The essential topic of the conversation is how to strike a sustainable balance between a rapacious private sector that has amassed overarching control of the digital service and content space, and the needs of the larger society in which we all would like some equity of opportunity to thrive and benefit from the outcomes of this new digital age.) http://www.circleid.com/posts/20170311_the_internet_gilded_age/

 

, Ethiopia is Free to Spy on Americans in Their Own Homes, EFF 3/14/17 () https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/dc-circuit-court-issues-dangerous-decision-cybersecurity-ethiopia-free-spy

 

Andrew Blake, Senator Seeks Answers From Toy Maker Following 'CloudPets' Teddy Bear Breach, Senate 3/13/17 (Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Democrat, asked Spiral Toys' top executive on Tuesday to provide specific details about the company's security practices after it was reported that hackers repeatedly gained access to databases containing sensitive customer information including millions of personalized audio recordings meant for children.) https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=11FC8F0A-7493-4F09-8AC7-3A1D92E5B799

 

, IP addresses are getting an upgrade, Verizon 3/14/17 (On June 30, 2017, Verizon will stop issuing new Public Static IPv4 addresses due to a shortage of available addresses.) https://email.vzwshop.com/pub/sf/FormLink?_ri_=X0Gzc2X=YQpglLjHJlTQGrKE40mGHknGjiMzcpzazb6YGYzcBzcqNG9T4za5Yzehza5afUqzbGzcbCnU1KVXMtX=YQpglLjHJlTQGtRr8uTuFp1pXhE2sDNUzbXTqIdCgWBMJSsRRNCzdrFGUumLp9Fzchzc

 

, Measurement Lab Launches New Global Data Visualization Tools, MLABs 3/13/17 () http://www.measurementlab.net/blog/new-dataviz-site/

 

Kieren McCarthy, Oracle gives FCC a great big sloppy kiss: You're doing a great job axing net neutrality, privacy, Register 3/15/17 (The only logical explanation is that the letter is another indicator of the weird new praise-lobbying that is becoming increasingly common in the early days of Trumpism.) https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/03/14/oracle_fcc_net_neutrality/

 

Eric Gardner, NY AG Fights Removal of Lawsuit Alleging ISP Throttled Netflix, Hollywood Report 3/15/17 (Charter Communications contends that federal law including net neutrality regulations preempt state claims made over promised Internet speed and access to content.) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/ny-attorney-general-fights-removal-lawsuit-alleging-isp-throttled-netflix-985982

 

, HEARING: #SubCommTech to Examine Ways to Eliminate Barriers to Broadband Infrastructure NEXT WEEK, House Commerce 3/15/17 (The Communications and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), today announced a hearing for Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, "Broadband: Deploying America's 21st Century Infrastructure.") https://energycommerce.house.gov/news-center/press-releases/hearing-subcommtech-examine-ways-eliminate-barriers-broadband

 

, Our Latest Update on Safety, Twitter 3/13/17 () https://blog.twitter.com/2017/our-latest-update-on-safety

 

, The need for a Digital Geneva Convention, Microsoft 3/13/17 (The past year has witnessed not just the growth of cybercrime, but a proliferation in cyberattacks that is both new and disconcerting.  This has included not only cyber-attacks mounted for financial gain, but new nation-state attacks as well.  As engineers and other employees across the tech sector meet in San Francisco, we need to ask ourselves what our response should be.) https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2017/02/14/need-digital-geneva-convention/#sm.00000d5ador5ejdz8zmdyvszjp8xu

 

, Netflix ISP Speed Index for January 2017, Netflix 3/13/17 (There was no major movement in the US index in January.) https://media.netflix.com/en/company-blog/netflix-isp-speed-index-for-january-2017

 

, Perspective on the Electric Lightwave Acquisition, Zayo 3/13/17 (This week, Zayo closed the previously announced acquisition of Electric Lightwave, a Vancouver, Washington-based business with unique and complementary fiber assets. The transaction solidifies Zayo's position as the leading independent communications infrastructure provider with broad geographic reach throughout North America and Western Europe.) http://www.zayo.com/perspective-electric-lightwave-acquisition/

 

 

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

🐶 Arbitrary Links :: Bakers Dozen :: New Age of Politics and Media :: Trump Meets Pai :: Eds on Net Neutrality :: Really? AOL? ::

FCC RELEASES FORM 477 DATA ON FIXED BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT AS OF JUNE 30, 2016, FCC 3/3/17 (WCB released data on fixed broadband deployment as of June 30, 2016.  These data were collected through FCC Form 477 and are available on the Commission's Broadband Deployment Data ? FCC Form 477 webpage.) https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-219A1.pdf

 

Bakers Dozen , Dyn 2/15/17 (this blog provides a year-end review of how the Internet providers at the top of our Internet Intelligence – Transit global rankings fared over the previous year.) http://dyn.com/blog/a-bakers-dozen-2016-edition/

 

Jamie Williams, EFF to Court: Forcing Someone to Unlock and Decrypt Their Phone Violates the Constitution, EFF 3/6/17 () https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/eff-court-forcing-someone-unlock-and-decrypt-their-phone-violates-constitution

 

HARPER NEIDIG, New fight erupts over internet privacy, The Hill 3/6/17 (The FCC under new Republican Chairman Ajit Pai on Wednesday moved to block a rule requiring internet service providers to take stronger steps to protect customers' data) http://thehill.com/policy/technology/322324-new-fight-erupts-over-internet-privacy

 

Lee Raine, The New Age of Politics and Media, Pew 2/27/17 () http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/02/27/the-new-age-of-politics-and-media/

 

Richard Salgado, Resounding support for updating electronic privacy laws, CISCO 3/6/17 (The Email Privacy Act updates the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) to require the government to obtain a warrant before it can compel companies like Google to disclose the content of users' communications. ) https://blog.google/topics/public-policy/resounding-support-updating-electronic-privacy-laws/

 

HARPER NEIDIG AND ALI BRELAND, Trump meets FCC chief, The Hill 3/6/17 () http://thehill.com/policy/technology/322454-trump-to-meet-with-fcc-chairman

 

, SMALL BUSINESS EXEMPTION FROM OPEN INTERNET ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS.   The Commission adopts an Order granting a five-year waiver to broadband Internet access service providers with 250,000 or fewer broadband connections from the enhanced reporting requirements adopted in the 2015 Title II Order. (Dkt No.  14-28 ). Action by:  the Commission. Adopted:  02/23/2017 by ORDER. (FCC No. 17-17).  CGB, FCC 3/3/17 () https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-17A1.pdf

 

ALI BRELAND AND HARPER NEIDIG, Week ahead: New FCC chair heads before Congress, The Hill 3/6/17 () http://thehill.com/policy/technology/322299-technology-issuewatch-newsletter

 

, Letter to the FCC supporting network neutrality, Battle for the Net 3/6/17 (We, the undersigned organizations, representing a diverse group of consumer, media, technology, library, arts, civil liberties, and civil rights advocates and content creators, urge you and your colleagues to oppose legislation and regulatory actions that would threaten net neutrality and roll back the important protections put in place by the FCC in 2015, and to continue to enforce the Open Internet Order as it stands.) https://www.battleforthenet.com/letter2017/

 

US SENATOR JOHN THUNE, Op-ed: Protect the Open Internet with a bipartisan law, Ars Technica 3/6/17 () https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/op-ed-protect-the-open-internet-with-a-bipartisan-law/

 

US SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER , Op-ed: The Internet belongs to the people, not powerful corporate interests, Ars Technica 3/6/17 () https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/op-ed-the-internet-belongs-to-the-people-not-powerful-corporate-interests/

 

Goldman, Eric, Understanding the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016, SSRN Feb-17 () https://ssrn.com/abstract=2922242

 

JON BRODKIN , Report: Sprint "betting big on Trump," could merge with T-Mobile or Comcast, Ars Technica 3/6/17 () https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/report-sprint-betting-big-on-trump-could-merge-with-t-mobile-or-comcast/

 

JEREMY GILLULA AND KERRY SHEEHAN, NY State AG's Lawsuit Against ISP Shows Why We Need Net Neutrality Protections, EFF 3/6/17 () https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/ny-state-ags-lawsuit-against-isp-shows-why-we-need-strong-net-neutrality

 

, Letter Petitioning reconsideration of Lifeline Broadand Provider decision, Coalition 2/23/17 (we call on you to reverse the Wireline Competition Bureau's Order on Reconsideration1 that has undermined Lifeline's important goal of bringing affordable communications services to poor people, and to set aside any further efforts to erode Lifeline's promise) https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/10223875430616/L-LLCoalition-FCC-FINAL%20(5).pdf

 

, FCC RFC Concerning Lifeline Broadband Providers, FCC 3/2/17 (Comments Due March 16) http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0302/DA-17-213A1.pdf

 

 HARPER NEIDIG, FCC solicits comments on broadband subsidy program, The Hill 3/3/17 (A coalition of advocacy groups — including the NAACP, Free Press and the American Library Association — filed a petition last month asking the agency to reconsider the move, and on Thursday the FCC began soliciting comments from the public) http://thehill.com/policy/technology/322230-fcc-solicits-comments-on-broadband-subsidy-program

 

JOE MULLIN , US will suspend fast processing for H-1B visas, Ars Technica 3/6/17 () https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/us-will-suspend-fast-processing-for-h-1b-visas/

 

DAN GOODIN, Mike Pence used an AOL e-mail account for state business and it got hacked, Ars Technica 3/6/17 () https://arstechnica.com/security/2017/03/mike-pence-used-an-aol-e-mail-account-for-state-business-and-it-got-hacked/

 

Bruce Schneier, Uber Uses Ubiquitous Surveillance to Identify and Block Regulators, Schneier 3/6/17 () https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2017/03/uber_uses_ubiqu.html

 

 

Thursday, March 02, 2017

🚲 Arbitrary and Capricious Links 🐶

FCC TAKES STEP TOWARDS ENSURING CONSUMERS HAVE UNIFORM ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.  News Release. News Media Contact: Will Wiquist at (202) 418-0509, email: Will.Wiquist@fcc.gov  WCB  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343703A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343703A1.pdf


JOINT STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI AND ACTING FTC CHAIRMAN MAUREEN K. OHLHAUSEN ON PROTECTING AMERICANS' ONLINE PRIVACY by Statement.  OCHAP  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343702A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343702A1.pdf


PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OF CUSTOMERS OF BROADBAND AND OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES/FCC GRANTS TEMPORARY STAY OF DATA SECURITY REGULATION FROM BROADBAND PRIVACY ORDER.   Grants the Stay Petition in part, and stays on an interim basis one aspect of the requirements adopted in the 2016 Privacy Order related to data security. (Dkt No.  16-106 ). Action by:  the Commission. Adopted:  03/01/2017 by ORDER. (FCC No. 17-19).  WCB  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-19A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-19A2.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-19A3.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-19A1.pdf

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-19A2.pdf

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-17-19A3.pdf


REMARKS OF FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI AT THE MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, BARCELONA, SPAIN.  OCHAP  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343646A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343646A1.pdf


REMARKS OF FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN, "NET NEUTRALITY AND THE FIGHT FOR OUR DIGITAL RIGHTS", THE VOICES FOR INTERNET FREEDOM COALITION, WASHINGTON D.C.  OCMC  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343643A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343643A1.pdf


JOINT STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON CLYBURN AND FTC COMMISSIONER TERRELL MCSWEENY ON INDEFINITE SUSPENSION OF DATA SECURITY RULES by Statement.  OCMC  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343629A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343629A1.pdf


FCC VOTES TO PROTECT SMALL BUSINESSES FROM NEEDLESS REGULATION.   Service Providers with 250,000 Broadband Connections Are Relieved from Excessive Reporting Obligations.  News Release. (Dkt No 14-28 ). Adopted:  02/23/2017. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov  CGB  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A2.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A3.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A4.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A1.pdf

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A2.pdf

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A3.pdf

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343609A4.pdf


STATEMENT ON NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE AND UNIFORM FRAMEWORK TO PROTECT AMERICANS' ONLINE PRIVACY.  STMT. News Media Contact: Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email: Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov  OMR  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343623A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-343623A1.pdf


Released:  02/22/2017.  INTERCONNECTED VOIP NUMBERING AUTHORIZATION APPLICATION FILED BY VOIPSTREET, INC. DBA VOIP INNOVATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 52.15(G)(3). (DA No.  17-189). (Dkt No 16-365 )  STREAMLINED PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED. Comments Due:  03/09/2017.  WCB . Contact:  Margoux Brown at (202) 418-1584 or Jean Ann Collins at (202) 418-2792 https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-189A1.docx

https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-189A1.pdf


Committee Approves H.R. 1224, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Assessment, and Auditing Act of 2017 https://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/committee-approves-hr-1224-nist-cybersecurity-framework-assessment-and-auditing


New FCC Chairman Begins Attacks on Internet Privacy

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/02/new-fcc-chairman-begins-attacks-internet-privacy


Section 230 Protects Grindr From Harrassed User's Claims–Herrick v. Grindr

http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2017/03/section-230-protects-grindr-from-harrassed-users-claims-herrick-v-grindr.htm


ICANN Drifting Toward Online Content Regulation, Says Law Professor

http://www.circleid.com/posts/20170228_icann_drifting_toward_online_content_regulation_says_law_professor/


Overnight Tech: FCC chief rails against net neutrality | Websites go down after Amazon cloud trouble | Uber CEO caught arguing with driver | Xbox launches subscription service

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/overnights/321658-overnight-tech


Dem FCC commish vows to fight for net neutrality at rally

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/321414-fcc-commissioner-vows-to-fight-for-net-neutrality


FCC chair doesn't expect to review AT&T-Time Warner merger

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/321351-fcc-chair-doesnt-expect-to-review-att-time-warner-merger


The Open Internet marks a turning point, Cable Tech Talk

https://cabletechtalk.com/public-policy/whats-at-stake-when-the-open-internet-goes-on-trial/


Cisco Applauds Unanimous House Vote Passing Email Privacy Act

http://blogs.cisco.com/gov/cisco-applauds-unanimous-house-vote-passing-email-privacy-act


The IoT Is the Next Massive, Disruptive Wave

https://blog.equinix.com/blog/2017/02/27/the-iot-is-the-next-massive-disruptive-wave/


We're Serious About Rural Broadband Infrastructure, NCTA

http://www.ntca.org/ceoblog/were-serious-about-rural-broadband-infrastructure/


Broadband is the infrastructure challenge of the 21st Century

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/321421-broadband-is-the-infrastructure-challenge-of-the-21st-century


Wednesday, March 01, 2017

🐶 Arbitrary and Capricious Links 🚴🏿

FCC head Ajit Pai: You can thank me for carriers' new unlimited data plans Ars Technica 2/28/17 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/02/fcc-head-ajit-pai-you-can-thank-me-for-carriers-new-unlimited-data-plans/


FCC Chair Claims Broadband Investment At Historic Low Level Because Of Net Neutrality; That's Not What Numbers Say , Consumerists 2/28/17 https://consumerist.com/2017/02/28/fcc-chair-claims-broadband-investment-at-historic-low-level-because-of-net-neutrality-thats-not-what-the-numbers-say/


The New FCC Chairman's Plan to Undermine Net Neutrality, Wired 3/1/17 https://www.wired.com/2017/03/new-fcc-chairmans-plan-undermining-net-neutrality/


March 1, 2017

 - Order

FCC Stays Data Security Regulation from Broadband Privacy Order

Related Materials >

March 1, 2017

 - Statement

FCC Chairman & FTC Chairman on Protecting Americans' Online Privacy

March 1, 2017

 - News Release

FCC Moves To Ensure Consumers Have Uniform Online Privacy Protection


Dissenting Opinion of C. Mignon Clyburn

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0301/FCC-17-19A2.pdf


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