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Infotech & Telecom News
The Heartland Institute's national monthly outreach publication for advocates of less government interference in, and more market-driven approaches to, information technology and telecom policy.
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Info Tech & Telecom News
April 2009
2009 April IT & Telecom News: Fairness Doctrine Ahead? (PDF)
The April 2009 issue of InfoTech & Telecom News opens with a warning from outgoing FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, who fears the new administration ... (read more)
The April 2009 issue of InfoTech & Telecom News opens with a warning from outgoing FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell, who fears the new administration ... (read more)
Broadband Stimulus Spending ‘Unnecessary and Wasteful’
The stimulus package President Barack Obama signed into law in February includes a $7.2 billion expenditure intended to increase broadband access across ... (read more)
The stimulus package President Barack Obama signed into law in February includes a $7.2 billion expenditure intended to increase broadband access across ... (read more)
Calif. Law Regulating Video Games Struck Down
A 2005 California law aimed at restricting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors and requiring a warning label on certain games violated the ... (read more)
A 2005 California law aimed at restricting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors and requiring a warning label on certain games violated the ... (read more)
Comcast VoIP Actions Draw New FCC Scrutiny
The Federal Communications Commission, which has sanctioned Comcast for impeding peer-to-peer traffic on its servers, has sent a letter to the cable and ... (read more)
The Federal Communications Commission, which has sanctioned Comcast for impeding peer-to-peer traffic on its servers, has sent a letter to the cable and ... (read more)
Congress May Mandate Video Game Warning Labels
A California Democrat and a Virginia Republican are pushing a bill in Congress to mandate warning labels on violent video games. But game industry officials ... (read more)
A California Democrat and a Virginia Republican are pushing a bill in Congress to mandate warning labels on violent video games. But game industry officials ... (read more)
Court Won’t Hear Child Online Protection Act Case
The federal Child Online Protection Act appears to be officially off the books after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn a lower court’s ruling ... (read more)
The federal Child Online Protection Act appears to be officially off the books after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn a lower court’s ruling ... (read more)
Do Not Call List Violators Slapped with Big Fines
The Federal Trade Commission is showing little tolerance for companies that violate the Do Not Call law Congress passed to stop annoying phone solicitations.The ... (read more)
The Federal Trade Commission is showing little tolerance for companies that violate the Do Not Call law Congress passed to stop annoying phone solicitations.The ... (read more)
DTV Switch Delay Causes Confusion
Congress and President Barack Obama have caused confusion by delaying the switch to a universal digital television signal, and the extra $650 million for ... (read more)
Congress and President Barack Obama have caused confusion by delaying the switch to a universal digital television signal, and the extra $650 million for ... (read more)
FCC Commissioner Warns Against ‘Back-Door’ Fairness Doctrine
Robert McDowell, a Republican appointee to the Federal Communications Commission, fears the new administration and a Democratic Congress may try to revive ... (read more)
Robert McDowell, a Republican appointee to the Federal Communications Commission, fears the new administration and a Democratic Congress may try to revive ... (read more)
Free Wi-Fi Fails in Central Park
New Yorkers who since 2004 have accessed the Internet for free in parks across the city can no longer do so in Central Park as Wi-Fi Salon, a private corporation ... (read more)
New Yorkers who since 2004 have accessed the Internet for free in parks across the city can no longer do so in Central Park as Wi-Fi Salon, a private corporation ... (read more)
Health IT Gets Costly U.S. Push
Health information technology is set to receive a $19 billion slice of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act pie—the stimulus bill President ... (read more)
Health information technology is set to receive a $19 billion slice of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act pie—the stimulus bill President ... (read more)
Idaho Towns Set Up Wi-Fi; Experts Skeptical
Municipal wi-fi operations are not just for big cities anymore. Smaller towns are trying their hands at providing “free” high-speed Internet ... (read more)
Municipal wi-fi operations are not just for big cities anymore. Smaller towns are trying their hands at providing “free” high-speed Internet ... (read more)
Illinois Lawmaker Aims to Protect Kids from Violent Video Games
An Illinois state legislator, having withdrawn a controversial bill aimed at curbing minors’ exposure to sexually explicit material in video games, ... (read more)
An Illinois state legislator, having withdrawn a controversial bill aimed at curbing minors’ exposure to sexually explicit material in video games, ... (read more)
IRS Computer Security Procedures Criticized
The Government Accountability Office has issued a scathing report sharply criticizing the computer security systems of the Internal Revenue Service, saying ... (read more)
The Government Accountability Office has issued a scathing report sharply criticizing the computer security systems of the Internal Revenue Service, saying ... (read more)
N.J. Cable Operators Testing ‘Free’ Wi-Fi
Moving into an area where many city governments have failed, Comcast is testing a free wireless Internet service for its subscribers in parts of New Jersey, ... (read more)
Moving into an area where many city governments have failed, Comcast is testing a free wireless Internet service for its subscribers in parts of New Jersey, ... (read more)
N.Y. Congressman’s Phone Camera Bill Draws Fire
The Camera Phone Predator Alert Act, which would force mobile phone manufacturers to make all their phones emit a “beep” noise whenever someone ... (read more)
The Camera Phone Predator Alert Act, which would force mobile phone manufacturers to make all their phones emit a “beep” noise whenever someone ... (read more)
N.Y. Pols Move to Restrict Video Games
New York state lawmakers are weighing several bills aimed at regulating video games, including one to restrict the sale of games containing “various ... (read more)
New York state lawmakers are weighing several bills aimed at regulating video games, including one to restrict the sale of games containing “various ... (read more)
National Safety Council Seeks Ban on Calling While Driving
The National Safety Council is calling for a nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving, claiming 6 percent of all automobile crashes are due to cell ... (read more)
The National Safety Council is calling for a nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving, claiming 6 percent of all automobile crashes are due to cell ... (read more)
Private Firm Solves U.S. DTV Coupon Woes
The transition to digital broadcast television has been delayed until June, causing confusion because some broadcasters already switched as scheduled on ... (read more)
The transition to digital broadcast television has been delayed until June, causing confusion because some broadcasters already switched as scheduled on ... (read more)
Report: FCC Analysis Supports Less Cable Regulation
A recent report by the Progress & Freedom Foundation says the Federal Communications Commission’s own research undercuts the agency’s rationale ... (read more)
A recent report by the Progress & Freedom Foundation says the Federal Communications Commission’s own research undercuts the agency’s rationale ... (read more)
San Francisco-Area Trains Get Fee-Based Wi-Fi
A pilot project testing high-speed Internet access on portions of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system is expanding systemwide, allowing public transit riders ... (read more)
A pilot project testing high-speed Internet access on portions of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system is expanding systemwide, allowing public transit riders ... (read more)
Sexting Could Land Some Teens in Jail
Children have played the game of “show me yours and I’ll show you mine” for ages, but today the game has gone digital, with teens using ... (read more)
Children have played the game of “show me yours and I’ll show you mine” for ages, but today the game has gone digital, with teens using ... (read more)
States Angle for Ways to Tax Internet Sales
The tough economy and corresponding decline in tax revenue have increased pressure on states to collect sales taxes on goods sold over the Internet—a ... (read more)
The tough economy and corresponding decline in tax revenue have increased pressure on states to collect sales taxes on goods sold over the Internet—a ... (read more)
