I've just read through the “Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act” (72-page pdf available here) introduced by Senator Ensign (R-NV) (and co-sponsored by Senator McCain, to my intense disappointment). In the name of deployment of broadband, consumer choice, free markets, yaddah yaddah yaddah, the bill strips the states and local governments of any consumer protection function and frees your local monopoly providers to serve you! Oh, and without the danger that your local government might decide to supply a pesky competitor. After all, we wouldn't want you, the local citizen, to decide to foolishly waste your own tax dollars! We, the federal government, know best! Ain't federalism grand? Except, of course, when it isn't . . . [Read More!]

I have no news. Or too much.

I thought summer was supposed to be “off season” in academia, but things have been incredibly busy. Some of the stuff we've been doing:
[Read More!]

The city of Lafayette, LA approved a $125 million municipal bond referendum to build out a municipal network by a hefty 62% to 38% margin. Contrast this with the ease with which state franchising is moving through the TX legislature now that SBC has dropped the anti-muni provision. There's a lesson here, folks . . . [Read More!]

Given my current insane workload, I can only rejoice at the last minute decision by the FCC to pull from this morning's meeting agenda a new rulemaking that would start the broadcast media ownerhsip fight all over again. Contrary to what I'm sure will be the popular wisdom, I think this demonstrates a healthy, functional agency rather than the usual partisan sniping. My analysis below. [Read More!]

Unnoticed by most folks, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau issued a public notice on the legality of cell phone jammers. (They aren't.) Oddly, this may have very significant impacts for users of unlicensed spectrum. [Read More!]

A bit of time lends perspective. There is already a ton of stuff out there on this, but I'll add a few perspectives that I hope are fresh. . . . [Read More!]

RIGHT NOW on KFJC, the best radio station in the universe, they're playing the original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio show.

Later on in the show Ann Arbor will be reading from my Acts of the Apostles (look left for free download), and will continue to do so in weekly installments through August.

In case you're not reading this entry RIGHT NOW, I think you'll be able to download archived shows. Look for Ann Arbor's UnBedtime Stories.

(Also, mind you, it's also OK to buy printed copies for dollars money.)

My friends at Consumers Union have set up a page on community internet on their HearUsNow.org.
They also have a take action page. I urge folks to check 'em out.

I really will get some more stuff posted soon. Just been real busy.

Stay tuned . . .

This month's Tech Review has an editorial that begins “Inventing the future…” and end with these two paragraphs:

“Traditionally, Technology Review hasn't written that much about society. Our subject matter is emerging technologies, and they have historically been purchased by corporations, universities, and governments. That's because emerging technologies used to require an extraordinary capital investment, one well beyond the means of most people in their private capacities. Nor did most people see the need to experiment with really novel technologies. Thus the personal computer, the local-area network, the Internet itself were all first used in commercial, government, or academic settings.

”But this is changing. The spread of cheap laptops, handheld devices, affordable Internet access, Wi-Fi, and a dozen other consumer technologies has led to a wonderful explosion of new social applications for them. But here's the really interesting thing: most of these social technologies have simple editing and programming tools that let ordinary folks do innovative things that risk-averse corporations and government agencies would be hesitant to try. We suspect that Technology Review will be writing about the impact of new technologies on society much more frequently. Besides, social technologies are more fun."

Here's the letter to the editors that I just sent:
[Read More!]

The note just below this one, under the heading “The Ironies” juxtaposes mention of my travails due to a broken computer and the horrible tragedy, the horrendous crime, in London today. I did not mean to imply any equivalence between my troubles and those in London, and I meant no insult to the dead, wounded, or to those who love them, or to anyone affected.

Trusting that people of good will will understand that, I'm going to let stand the entry.

And as for you, dear reader, I hope you'll stay safe today.