Free speech issues weren’t enough to knock down FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s push-through of a free national wireless Internet initiative, but few were talking about those free speech issues anyway. T-Mobile’s and Deutsche Telekom AG’s arguments about signal interference—which is the cry-wolf line of the wireless industry these days–weren’t either; after successful testing in Seattle, free wireless Internet is on the way.
Companies Come Together To Promote Mobile Broadband
A group of 16 major IT and mobile companies have united behind a GSMA-led initiative to promote mobile broadband.The companies include Dell, Ericsson, Lenovo, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Toshiba and Vodafone. The group’s goal is to help people easily identify laptops that have built in access to the Internet via high-speed networks. The marketing initiative is worth more than $1 billion over the next year.The group will label laptop computers that meet their standards for mobile broadband access with a badge that identifies the laptops as ready for mobile broadband connections.
Aussie ISPs Deliver Baloney To Broadband Buffet
The executive heads of three Australian internet service providers have categorized Net Neutrality as a distinctly American problem. At the core of it, they say, is years of unlimited access. If that sounds vastly oversimplified, you’re absolutely right.
EU Aims For Broadband Access For All Europeans
The European Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said today that all people in the European Union should have broadband access."High-speed Internet is the passport to the Information Society and an essential condition for economic growth. This is why it is this Commission’s policy to make broadband Internet for all Europeans happen by 2010", said EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding.
Google Getting Behind Satellite Broadband
The "other three billion" look set to receive a helping hand from Google. The search giant, along with Liberty Global and HSBC Principal Investments, is supporting O3b Networks in its quest to provide emerging markets with Internet connections.
Comcast Puts Cap On Monthly Broadband Use
Comcast has announced it will restrict customer’s Internet usage starting October 1, in order to provide what it calls the best service to its subscribers.
U.S. Broadband Speeds Remain Sluggish
Internet connection speeds in the U.S. have only become slightly faster in the past year gaining just four-tenths of one megabit per second according to a new report from the Communication Workers of America (CWA).
FCC’s Free Broadband Pushes Constitutionality
The FCC’s (read Chairman Kevin Martin’s) plan to set aside spectrum for a free, nationwide broadband network is also on yet another path for failure when eventually it is scrutinized by the courts.
More Than Half Of Americans Have Broadband Connections
Over half (55%) of all adult Americans now have a high-speed Internet connection at home, according to a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.The percentage of Americans with broadband has increased from 47 percent in early 2007 and 42 percent in early 2005. Of those who access the Internet at home, 79 percent have a high-speed connection and 15 percent use dialup.Adults who live in households whose annual incomes are less than $20,000 a year, home broadband adoption was at 25% in early 2008, compared to 28 percent in 2007.
US Slips To 15th In Broadband Access
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) didn’t exactly point fingers and do any name calling, but the results of its broadband penetration study shined like red badge on the US’s broadband shortcomings. When compared to the rest of the world, Uncle Sam comes up short.