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COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY - page 7

As February Vote Looms, FCC Looks Beyond Net Neutrality

The Federal Communications Commission is set to consider new Net Neutrality rules at the end of the month, but there’s talk that it may be setting sights even higher than stopping “throttling” and “fast lanes.” The FCC may take on corporate sabotage of publicly-provided internet, too. Citing a senior FCC official, the Washington Post reported on Sunday that, in addition to voting on a Net Neutrality proposal on February 26th, commissioners will also look at a measure drafted by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to prevent… Keep Reading

Obama Admin Uses Consumer Laws to Destroy Revenge Porn Collected by Notorious Website Operator

The Obama administration has used consumer protection laws to force a notorious revenge porn website operator to destroy videos and photographs of people he surreptitiously obtained and shared for profit. The Federal Trade Commission also forced Craig Brittain to agree to refrain from publicly sharing nude photographs and videos without the subjects’ “affirmative express consent” as part of the settlement announced Thursday. Additionally, it compelled him to agree to be forthright about how he plans on using personal information he collects online. The deal came… Keep Reading

Republicans’ Own Witnesses Attack GOP Net Neutrality Proposal At Hearing

With a little over a month to go until the Federal Communications Commission votes on new Net Neutrality rules, congressional Republicans are trying to preempt the commission’s actions with legislation that they claim will keep the internet open. But in a subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, a host of witnesses representing businesses and interest groups warned the lawmakers who invited them that their actions are misguided. “We are concerned that the proposal does not ban all types of discrimination online, leaving loopholes that could easily be… Keep Reading

White House Won’t Dismiss Cameron’s Anti-Encryption Crusade

The White House refused to rule out the possibility that the federal government will move to drill backdoors in new, encrypted communications technology, ahead of a meeting with a key foreign ally who’s vowing to do just that. At Thursday’s White House press briefing, spokesman Josh Earnest took an aggressive posture toward tech companies like Apple and Facebook that offer encrypted communications services. “None of these technology companies want to be in a position where they are aiding and abetting people who wants to use… Keep Reading

Municipal Broadband Initiative Sets Up Obama Clash With Koch Brothers, Telecoms

President Obama on Wednesday afternoon will be making his case to the American people that locally-owned broadband networks should be allowed throughout the United States–an initiative that has put him on a collision course with the telecoms industry players, major right-wing think tanks, and at least one Republican Senator. He will outline his plan at a speech in Cedar Falls, Iowa, a town of roughly 40,000 people with its own municipally-owned broadband system. The network, the White House says, provides connectivity to Iowans as quickly… Keep Reading

Historic Net Neutrality Vote Scheduled For February, Public Interest Group Urges Caution

Speaking at the Consumer Electronic Show, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler said a final vote on new Net Neutrality rules will happen next month, and suggested it could include a major reclassification of internet service. But some skeptics are withholding their elation. “We’re going to propose rules that say that no blocking, no throttling, [no] paid prioritization, all that list of issues, and that there is a yardstick against which behavior should be measured. And that yardstick is ‘just and reasonable,’” Wheeler told convention-goers… Keep Reading

FDA Sets Up Clash With Congressional Dems Over New Gay Blood Donor Policy

At first glance, it appeared on Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration scrapped  a discriminatory policy that prohibited gay men from donating blood. But Democratic lawmakers had previously argued that the proposal is still based on “outdated stereotypes.” “The recommendation to move to a one-year deferral policy is a step forward relative to current policies, however, such a policy still prevents many low-risk individuals from donating blood,” scores of legislators said in a letter sent on Dec. 15 to Health and Human Services Secretary… Keep Reading

FTC Sues Data Merchant Accused of Facilitating Theft from Millions

The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on a data broker who allegedly played a central part in the scamming of payday loan applicants. The Arizona-based company LeapLab, bought the short-term high-interest loan applications and knowingly sold them to marketers without a “legitimate need” for them, according to the FTC lawsuit. One of those companies–the target of other FTC litigation–stands accused by the federal agency of using the information to plunder millions of dollars from payday loan applicants. The lawsuit was filed Monday at a… Keep Reading

Following Sony Hack, U.S. Officials Re-engage on CISPA

It died in the 113th Congress, but supporters of controversial cyber-security legislation are hoping to revive it next year, now that a high profile hack has the nation’s media transfixed. “A lot more needs to be done,” said President Obama speaking to reporters on Friday about the matter. “We’re not even close to where we need to be.” He then made a pitch for the government to have capabilities laid out in the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). That bill passed the House… Keep Reading

Feds Get Critic of “Arrogant Industry” T-Mobile to Pay $90 Million for Billing Scam

The hiding of illicit charges in byzantine billing documents has forced T-Mobile to enter into a $90 million settlement with the US government. The Federal Trade Commission announced Friday that the mobile phone service provider, which has labored to stake out a consumer-friendly iconoclast image, agreed to pay the fine–the majority of which is slated to finance customer refunds. T-Mobile’s illegal practice, which is known as “cramming,” led to customers paying millions of dollars in fees for ringtones, wallpaper, horoscope texts, flirting tips and celebrity gossip that they… Keep Reading

Hanford Nuclear Cleanup is Critically Flawed, GAO Warns

A government watchdog threw shade at the Department of Energy over its plans to clean up the Hanford nuclear site – home to one of the biggest radioactive messes in the world. The Government Accountability Office said on Tuesday that the DOE’s proposal to clean up the 500 billion gallons of waste produced by the Washington-based facility is riddled with flaws. That refuse is stored at the Manhattan Project-built center in 177 underground tanks – many of which are now leaking. The Department’s plan is… Keep Reading

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