Roy Mark

The U.S. House of Representatives Friday gave television stations three years to clear out of their analog spectrum and begin broadcasting exclusively in digital. Lawmakers have earmarked the vacated spectrum for first-responder use and wireless broadband providers. The legislation was attached to the contentious Budget Reconciliation Act passed by the House in the early-morning hours. […]

Anti-spyware legislation found new life in the U.S. Senate Thursday when the Commerce Committee approved a bill outlawing a number of activities associated with unauthorized downloads. The Senate’s SPY BLOCK Act criminalizes the unauthorized installation of computer software and requires clear disclosure to computer users of software features that may pose a threat to privacy. […]

WASHINGTON — The Democrats held a press conference the other day that sent the Republicans into paroxysms of smear, half-truths and distortion. The Democrats, it seems, have an opinion on the direction of technology policy in this country. It’s not much of an original opinion, mind you, as it mostly covering old ground: more support […]

Those extra fees on your regular and wireless phone service could be headed for your broadband and VoIP bill too, under a draft bill that’s floating in the U.S. House. Rick Boucher (D.-Va.) and Lee Terry (R.-Neb.) launched the reform trial balloon for Universal Service Fund (USF), which is tacked onto phone and wireless service […]

Republican Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy said she plans to leave the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Dec. 9. Her long anticipated decision to resign may, at least temporarily, leave Chairman Kevin Martin as the only Republican on the five-person panel. When Michael Powell resigned as chairman of the FCC in March, Martin, then an FCC commissioner, […]

WASHINGTON – “Fair use” provisions under copyright law have become fair game in Congress. This time, during a hearing Wednesday, the target was the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which prohibits the circumvention of copyright protection measures even for lawful purposes. “I believe the affects of the DMCA to lock out consumers from the proper […]

WASHINGTON – After a summer of disaffection, House Democrats are renewing their love affair with Silicon Valley, promoting an “innovation” agenda that reads like a Christmas wish list for tech. Anxious to make up with the industry it angered earlier this year over free trade issues, House Democrats are proposing to double federal spending on […]

A federal appeals court today refused to delay the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Nov. 28 deadline for all Internet telephone companies to supply emergency calling with their services. After that date, the FCC will bar all Voice over IP providers from offering Internet-based phone service in areas the providers can not fully provision E911 emergency […]

Two lawmakers want the Universal Service Fund (USF) to help finance broadband deployment in rural and underserved areas. According to a draft bill by Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.), the USF contribution fund, originally created to support the roll out of telephone service in rural America, would be expanded for the use of […]

The United States warned China Monday that the country’s intellectual property (IP) theft issues are not being solved quickly enough. The problem needs to be fixed sooner rather than later, said U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman. Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Portman said China’s lax IP protection is “disproportionately” affecting U.S. knowledge-based exports. “China […]

The Bush administration’s proposal to toughen the nation’s copyright laws is drawing overwhelming support from content owners. But at least one public advocacy group is not clapping loudly. Digital rights advocacy group Public Knowledge, though quick to say it supports the enforcement of copyright law and holders’ rights, said the proposal attempts to enforce copyright […]

WASHINGTON — Imagine this on your plate every morning: terrorist cyber attacks, malicious coders, online sexual predators, phishers, pirates, spammers and scammers. On the other hand, imagine you have this going for you: the best the world’s only super power can give you in personnel, intelligence, hardware and software with cost overruns no problem. Meet […]