States Pick Up Dropped Broadband Ball

(NEWSER) - The Trust for America's Health has come out with its fourth annual report on obesity. And the losers are:

1. Mississippi
2. West Virginia
3. Alabama

Payroll tax compromise could lead to faster wireless speeds

(NEWSER) - Congress is expected to approve a bill that would sell off public airwaves currently used for television to wireless Internet companies, speeding up broadband for mobile devices across the country, while at the same time creating a long-sought-after national communications network for emergency services. What is this revolutionary communications bill? The payroll tax holiday extension . Yes, the New York Times points out, the sweeping changes come not as part of a communications policy effort, but as part of an effort to raise revenue. More»

'Fake' neutrality plan doesn't go far enough, critics say

(AP) - New rules aimed at prohibiting broadband providers from becoming gatekeepers of Internet traffic now have just enough votes to pass the Federal Communications Commission today. The new "net neutrality" rules would prohibit phone and cable companies from abusing their control over broadband connections to discriminate against rival content or services, such as Internet phone calls or online video, or play favorites with Web traffic. More»

Proposal might amount to net neutrality order

(NEWSER) - FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is making yet another valiant stab at introducing net neutrality or something like it today. In a speech today, Genachowski will propose a new regulatory framework that would forbid Internet broadband providers from blocking lawful content, the New York Times reports. The rules would also allow providers to charge different rates for different levels of service, and to manage traffic to limit congestion or harmful traffic. More»

Agency had no standing to regulate Comcast, 3-judge panel rules

(NEWSER) - A federal court today said the FCC does not have the power to force Internet service providers to treat all traffic equally. The ruling, in a closely watched case concerning Comcast's ban on BitTorrent, is a blow to the Obama administration’s crusade for net neutrality. But the FCC failed to show that regulating ISPs falls within “its statutorily mandated responsibilities,” a three-judge appeals court panel ruled. More»