Voices

FCC Proposes $25,000 Fine on Google

The Federal Communications Commission proposed a $25,000 fine on Google Inc., accusing the search giant of deliberately obstructing an investigation into whether the company violated federal rules when its street-mapping service collected and stored data from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks in 2010.

How Media Companies Play With Steve Jobs’s New Rules: Give In, Go Around or Compromise

How Apple’s subscriptions terms are forcing everyone from Amazon to The Wall Street Journal to make touch choices.
steve_jobs_d8_380x285

Voices

Sarkozy Pushes for Global Web Rules

French President Nicolas Sarkozy Tuesday called on the world’s governments and the Web’s major participants to work together to establish a minimum set of global rules governing the Internet.

Godspeed on That Investing Thing, Yertle–But I Still Have Some Questions for Your Boss, Arianna

Would it surprise you to know that BoomTown doesn’t really care anymore if TechCrunch editor Michael Arrington sidelines as a blogger while he makes investments in tech companies his tech news site covers? Especially after reading his post yesterday that made a good argument about who he is and, frankly, who he has always been. But that does not mean his boss, AOL content head Arianna Huffington, doesn’t have some ‘splainin’ to do.

Voices

Court Tosses Out "Net Neutrality" Lawsuits

A federal appeals court tossed out lawsuits filed by two phone companies challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s new “net neutrality” rules, saying that the suits were premature.

Spotify Signs On EMI for U.S. Launch. At Least One More to Go…

It’s getting closer: Spotify has finalized a U.S. distribution deal with EMI Music. That won’t get Spotify to America–at a minimum, it’ll need Universal Music Group on board as well–but it’s a step in the right direction. Now, about those Apple subscription fees…

News Byte

Verizon Makes Its Net Neutrality Objections Formal

Verizon, one of the myriad and diverse parties unhappy with the FCC’s latest net neutrality rules, took its beef to court today, filing a challenge to the agency’s authority in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. “We are deeply concerned by the FCC’s assertion of broad authority for sweeping new regulation of broadband networks and the Internet itself. We believe this assertion of authority goes well beyond any authority provided by Congress, and creates uncertainty for the communications industry, innovators, investors and consumers,” said Michael E. Glover, senior VP and deputy general counsel, in a statement.

Want to Cut Your Cord? The NBC U-Comcast Deal Won't Make It Easier

If you were hoping that the government restrictions on the NBC U-Comcast deal would make it easier for you to stop paying for cable, you’re out of luck. The government is forcing the new company to offer its stuff to online outlets like Netflix and iTunes. But it won’t happen in the way that cord cutters would like. If it happens at all.

Goldman-Facebook Investment Vehicle Already Full; SEC Eyes Disclosure Rules

Goldman Sachs has already received “several billion dollars” worth of commitments to its “special-purpose vehicle” for investing in $1.5 billion worth of Facebook stock, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Night-Table Reading: The FCC's Net Neutrality Rules In Full

It’s now been two days since the Federal Communications Commission voted to pass its controversial network neutrality rules, and the consensus is clear–no one is terribly happy. Now we have a full text of the actual rules–the 194-page document that lawyers, lawmakers and lobbyists will be combing through in the coming weeks and months.

Dell Buys Perot

Sirius Slapped With Minimum Bid Notice