Telstra drops $2.20 billing fee Nov 5, 2009
thinking of including optional electronic-only plans. Telstra has dumped its controversial $2. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Meet the evil new copyright treaty Nov 5, 2009
That ISPs have to proactively police copyright on user-contributed material ... That ISPs have to cut off the Internet access of accused copyright infringers or face liability ... That the whole world must adopt US-style "notice-and-takedown" rules that require ISPs to remove any material that is accused -- again, without evidence or trial -- of infringing copyright. (Harper's Magazine)
India to address US woes on spectrum auctions Nov 4, 2009
Incidentally, the India-US ICT Working Group Meeting comes just two days after Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in India had approached the Competition Commission of India against the governments refusal to lift curbs on net telephony. At present, ISPs are only allowed to offer internet telephony for international calls. (India Times)
Global Community Meets in Austin to Exploit Convergence Opportunities at SXSW 2010 Nov 4, 2009
SXSW Music will welcome Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer in The Undertones who, as Chief Executive of UK Music - the umbrella organization that brings together the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry - will argue that tech businesses, ISPs and music companies must urgently establish new partnerships to unlock digital's true potential. Alongside his views on the future of music, Sharkey will also work in tales of his rock 'n roll days with the Undertones. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
HTML 5 progresses despite challenges Nov 4, 2009
Major ISPs and content providers, however, are including IPv6 in current deployments. "It's also becoming clear that wireless broadband is going to be a major component of IPv6 deployment," Daigle said. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Technology)
NCTA, NBCU: FCC BitTorrent Order 'Shackles' ISPs Nov 3, 2009
Intervening in support of Comcast's challenge, NCTA/NBCU reiterated that the order, by creating binding legal norms for network management for all ISPs via an order rather that a rulemaking, violated the Administrative Procedures Act and due process. The FCC had argued that NCTA and NBCU did not have standing in the case, but they countered that they are ISPs that will be regulated by the order going forward (NCTA), and a content provider who will be hurt by the chilling effect the order has on... (Multichannel News)
Raja to meet CEOs of telecom operators today Nov 3, 2009
The meetings spread over three days will have separate discussions with unified licensees, NLD and ILD players, telecom equipment manufacturers and Internet service providers (ISPs). Topics. (India Times, India -- Intl Business)
Web could run out of addresses next year, warn web experts... Nov 3, 2009
"Consumers will eventually also need to replace equipment in the home, although this is likely to be introduced by ISPs in gradual stages," he said ... Axel Pawlik, one of the senior officials who helped to conduct the survey, said the low adoption rates for IPv6 were to be expected: "Obviously, ISPs try to make money, so that means they have to do the most urgent thing first. They don't see that IPv6 is such an urgent thing." ... Almost every single other country, other than the American ISPs,... (The Drudge Report)
Cable modem hacker busted by feds Nov 3, 2009
In 2005, the company developed a modified version of Sigma, called Sigma X, that could "block ISPs from 'probing' a modem to determine whether it was hacked," the indictment states. In March 2007, Harris asked users on the Tcniso. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Technology)
Yahoo to Allow Users to Opt Out of Custom Ads Nov 2, 2009
In the wake of a congressional inquiry into how Internet companies and ISPs track their users' activities, on Friday announced that it would it would allow users to opt out of customized advertising by month's end ... Internet companies and ISPs routinely track users' activity online in order to serve up more targeted advertisements ... ISPs can use it to filter out the illegal transfer of copyrighted material or harmful viruses and spam, but providers like Comcast have come under fire for... (Yahoo News -- Internet and WWW)
Looking for Reason in the Net Neutrality Debate Nov 1, 2009
Feld's concern is that if left unchecked, ISPs will seek to broker side deals with content companies for faster service to the detriment of smaller firms and startups who couldn't afford to pay the freight. Those worries are exacerbated by the steady expansion of the content portfolios of many ISPs, who, advocates argue, have every economic incentive to deliver their own content at the fastest speed possible ... In addition to the non-discrimination rule, the FCC has also proposed to add a... (SmallBusinessComputing)
Net Neutrality Action Draws Mixed Response Nov 1, 2009
As a matter of procedure, the action the FCC took last week was to that would enshrine its 2005 Internet policy statement as formal rules, and add to it stipulations mandating non-discriminatory network management and disclosure of ISPs' traffic-shaping policies. The commission is calling for public comments through March, with the formal rules to be drafted and considered by the commission later next year. (eSecurityPlanet)
ID theft scam hunt goes global Nov 1, 2009
The data contains information including login details for ecommerce sites such as eBay, Amazon, and ISPs including BT and Pipex. It's unclear how much, if indeed any, money has been stolen from online accounts as a result of the scam. (Yahoo News -- Online Privacy)
Net Neutrality Action Draws Mixed Response Nov 1, 2009
As a matter of procedure, the action the FCC took last week was to that would enshrine its 2005 Internet policy statement as formal rules, and add to it stipulations mandating non-discriminatory network management and disclosure of ISPs' traffic-shaping policies. The commission is calling for public comments through March, with the formal rules to be drafted and considered by the commission later next year. (eSecurityPlanet)
Rwanda: Not All is Glossy With the Coming of the Undersea Cables Oct 31, 2009
And what else do the ISPs have to say to us now ... Instead the 'good' ISPs are all talking about doubling their capacity but maintaining the same price ... They (ISPs) argue that they need to recoup their investments and thus cannot offer low prices now. (allAfrica.com)
Scary new tech fears to haunt your Halloween Oct 31, 2009
This in where people are working could make it difficult for ISPs to manage the traffic, causing localized bottlenecks. Although the report sounds alarmist, the effect of H1N1 fears on the Internet may be understated. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Technology)
FCC Economist: Congestion Pricing Could Mean Efficient Network Operation Oct 31, 2009
Number four, he said, was "providing incentives for efficient network operation, perhaps through congestion pricing or network management." The other three were market failures that might be caused by, among other things, the market power of ISPs or applications providers; social welfare effects of price discrimination and the impact of wireless broadband as a potential substitute; adequate incentives for investment [a key issue for incumbent networks as well as those managing pension funds with... (Multichannel News)
Watchdog finds Telkom abused dominance Oct 29, 2009
The excessive prices charged by Telkom affect the prices which ISPs charge their customers. Given the widespread use of the internet and the extensive use made of virtual private networks (VPNs) by medium to large businesses to link various locations of a single enterprise, there is no doubt that these high prices detrimentally affect consumers and hinder economic development in South Africa. (Business Report, South Africa)
Piracy plans Oct 29, 2009
ISPs could soon be asked to monitor the online activities of their users ... Pressure from the rights owners has been met with resistance from the ISPs and there is no sign of reduction in the amount of file-sharing ... ISPs have long said they do not want to become the internet police, and have also pointed out that under the law as it stands they are mere conduits of the traffic on the net. (BBC News -- Technology)
Telkom faces R3bn in penalties if guilty of abuse of dominance Oct 29, 2009
The commission's probe follows five complaints lodged by the Internet Service Providers' Association and other ISPs Verizon South Africa, MultiChoice Subscriber Management Services and Internet Solutions. The complaints were lodged at different times between 2005 and 2007 but the commission combined the complaints as they raised overlapping issues. (Business Report, South Africa)
3G fee to get capital assets status, linked tax incentives Oct 29, 2009
This finmin official quoted above also added that said his ministry has also decided to ask the RBI to allow telcos and internet service providers (ISPs) to raise funds for WiMAX auctions through the external commercial borrowings (ECBs) route. Earlier this year, the RBI had allowed telcos to raise up to $500 million through ECBs for the 3G auctions. (India Times)
Mandelson to set out piracy plans Oct 28, 2009
"The priority is not to grow traffic on the ISPs. The priority is that creators, people who develop content, should find a way [to be rewarded].". David Lammy, the minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, was also at the event. (BBC News -- Technology)
ISPs: Broadband a 'Great American Success Story' Oct 24, 2009
ISPs: Broadband a 'Great American Success Story ... He put in a plug for a light-touch regulatory policy to further investment and competition in the telecom sector, echoing an oft-heard refrain from ATother ISPs as the Federal Communications Commission has been moving toward closer scrutiny of the industry. (SmallBusinessComputing)
Broadband users relieved over RM500 tax relief Oct 24, 2009
A media relations executive, who wanted to be known as Belinda, wanted the Government to spend more to get Internet service providers (ISPs) to improve broadband speed ... Actor Fish Fazil hoped that any increase in broadband service subscribers would spur ISPs to improve services and infrastructure. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Verizon CEO: We've Never Provided 'Dumb Pipes' Oct 23, 2009
Verizon and other major ISPs have long mandated the need for them to take an active role in regulating what takes place on their networks -- a claim that Net neutrality advocates say paves the way for anticompetitive abuse and thwarts innovation. But Seidenberg said that from a security perspective alone, Verizon's active role in network management enable it to intercept network breaches before they become a problem. (SmallBusinessComputing)
FCC Proposes Rules of the Road for the Internet Oct 23, 2009
ISPs also are barred from depriving users of competition from other network and service providers. Internet service providers would also have to treat lawful content, applications and services in a nondiscriminatory manner and disclose information about network management as "reasonably required" for users. (Law.com)
The Expanding Net of Online Regulations Oct 22, 2009
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulators meet today to decide whether to restrict the ability of internet service providers (ISPs) to calibrate their fees to correspond with the amount of bandwidth used by a consumer. The FCC would essentially require ISPs to charge consumers the same for internet activity that uses a lot of bandwidth, like downloading music, as they do for activity that uses relatively little bandwidth, like reading text on a web page. (Townhall.com)
Algeria profile Oct 21, 2009
Access is not restricted, but users and ISPs can face prosecution over material deemed to be offensive or harmful to public order. The press. (BBC News -- Africa)
Inside a Scareware Scam Oct 20, 2009
Because they needed an extensive network of ISPs to pull off the scam, Innovative Marketing kept detailed spreadsheets with all the ISPs pertinent data including price, location and, most telling, a column that rate the ISPs "abuseability" essentially an assessment of which ISPs would play ball and not ask questions as they went about their business. The company added a whopping 4. (eSecurityPlanet)
Top tech firms back open Internet Oct 20, 2009
He said the FCC needed to play a role in ensuring "network neutrality" -- the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) provide the same speed and level of service to all Web users, regardless of size. The new rules would prevent ISPs, for example, from 00004000 blocking or slowing bandwidth-hogging Web traffic such as streaming video or other applications that put a strain on their networks or from charging different rates to users. (India Times)
FCC Broadband Study Argues for Open Access Oct 17, 2009
In Japan and South Korea, the two nations described as "half a generation ahead of the next-best performers," policies requiring ISPs to open up both wireline and mobile broadband networks have improved competition and driven down prices, according to the study ... The kernel of the study's open-access argument is that policies requiring large ISPs to allow smaller providers to ride on their networks lowers the barriers to entry and ultimately makes for a more competitive broadband marketplace. (SmallBusinessComputing)
New Estimate: YouTube's Bandwidth Bill Is Zero Oct 17, 2009
But the lack of a monthly bill in the mailbox doesnt mean Googles internet connection is free its just that it has purchased unused fiber optic cable known as dark fiber and uses it to carry its traffic to other networks where it peers or trades traffic with other ISPs. Its costs for bandwidth are then amortized across the life of its fiber and routers. (Multichannel News)
Online libel case stirs up free speech debate Oct 16, 2009
Yohnka warned against a growing tendency by corporations and individuals to use defamation claims as a way to get the courts to force ISPs to unmask anonymous online commentators. "Saying something is defamatory shouldn't be the trigger" for deciding when someone should be unmasked he said. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Technology)
AT&T Dials Up Criticism of Google Voice Oct 16, 2009
Google, of course, is a longstanding and outspoken supporter of Net neutrality for ISPs, a position generally opposed by ATother telecom and cable companies ... Further, AT a slippery slope argument, warning that creating an exemption for Google's Voice application would set a dangerous precedent that could enable it to exercise undue influence on the accessibility of content and services on the Web -- precisely the argument Net neutrality advocates have used against ISPs. (SmallBusinessComputing)
ISP in file-sharing wi-fi hack Oct 16, 2009
But ISPs have argued that it is not their job to police the network. In previous court cases it has been ruled that ISPs are "mere conduits" of content. (BBC News -- Technology)
A hard look at file-sharing evidence Oct 16, 2009
Firms must then apply for a court order requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to reveal the names and addresses associated with that IP address ... The Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) , which represents UK ISPs, has seen a rise in the number of court orders being received by its members. (BBC News -- Technology)
Research and Markets: Global Interactive Program Guides and Content Discovery Oct 13, 2009
Telephone companies, wireless carriers, TV networks, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Subscription-TV (Pay-TV) operators are making major investments to support Personalized Content services that use broadband. What happens on the Internet is shaping TV, and mobility is now a key growth area. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Lawmakers Call for FCC Probe Into Google Voice Oct 12, 2009
He argued that Google is talking out of both sides of its mouth when it supports rules to prevent ISPs from blocking Web traffic while at the same time restricting consumers in certain areas from making calls through its Web-based voice service. Whitt had an answer for that, too. (SmallBusinessComputing)
ZillionTV Cuts Staff Oct 10, 2009
In ZillionTV's original business model, ISPs are to offer a broadband video-on-demand service, with upwards of 15,000 titles, which are either free, ad-supported content or rental and download-to-own options. The hardware will be provided "free" but the service will carry a sub-$100 activation fee. (Multichannel News)
Comcast Unveils Comprehensive "Constant Guard" Internet Security Program Oct 9, 2009
According to Jerry Upton, executive director of MAAWG (Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group), The new Comcast safeguards are in line with industry best practices to help ISPs assist customers whose machines have been infected with malware. By deploying the technology to detect bots on their subscribers computers, Comcast is providing a service to their customers and contributing to safer messaging. (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Comcast Sniffs Out Bots Oct 9, 2009
Operator Claims To Be Among First ISPs To Adopt Security-Alert Measures. Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 10/8/2009 6:03:23 PM. (Multichannel News)
Compuware Buys Gomez for $295 Million Oct 8, 2009
For example, a retail banking transaction may begin with customers using an iPhone to connect with an online banking Web site, and end up spanning multiple third-party services, back-end databases, ISPs and mobile carriers, Paul said. "The complexity is staggering.". (BusinessWeek)
FCC Chair Says Net Neutrality Benefits Musicians Oct 7, 2009
But whereas Franken made it a free speech issue -- at one point even invoking Internet censorship in Iran to explain his fears of leaving U.S. ISPs to their own devices -- Genachowski stressed the opportunity that Net neutrality guidelines would afford to aspiring artists. Borrowing a phrase from Tim Berners-Lee, the Internet luminary widely credited as the father of the Web, Genachowski spoke of the Net as a "blank canvas." The democratizing power of an open, unfettered Web would allow artists... (SmallBusinessComputing)
Kenya: No Hope of Cheap Internet Oct 6, 2009
When we were initially setting up Teams, the issue of recouping investments after it had gone live did not feature," Mr Ndemo said. In Teams, the government has a 20 per cent stake, Safaricom 22.5 per cent and Telkom Kenya Limited 22.5 per cent. Essar Telecom Kenya, Kenya Data Networks, Wananchi Telecoms, Access Kenya and Jamii Telecommunications Ltd own the rest of the shares. Operators have been accused of creating a cartel to fleece consumers but they say they need to recoup their investment... (allAfrica.com)
Can Foxtel win our hearts? Oct 2, 2009
They're unlikely to want to spend more on their internet bill each month, especially if they're already spending a lot on pay TV. Quoted in The Australian, Williams had the nerve to call on ISPs to up their download limits so people could use Foxtel's download service. If he's looking for an ISP to criticise, he need look no futher than the pathetic plans from Telstra's Bigpond (Telstra owns half of Foxtel, at least for now). (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Net 'Neutrality' is Government Theft Sep 30, 2009
ISPs like Verizon, Comcast, and AT&T have spent many billions of dollars on Internet infrastructure ... If ISPs can t have policies which address the fact that bandwidth is limited and that bandwidth hogs need to be restrained so the rest of their customers can maintain adequate service, that puts them in an extremely difficult situation ... The same choices will apply to ISPs under Net Neutrality. (Human Events Online)
RealNetworks Improves Operators' Control of Mobile Video Delivery With New Helix Media Delivery Platform Sep 30, 2009
"As the leading supplier to ISPs and Mobile Operators, F-Secure's solutions must be of the highest quality and reliability, and RealNetworks' Helix Media Delivery Platform represents the best quality and reliability available today.". Scott MacKenzie, director of product management for Helix, RealNetworks added: "Mobile video is becoming an increasingly important service as operators look to differentiate themselves. As mobile networks improve, streaming is becoming more prevalent due to its... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
Cybercrime threat rising sharply Sep 30, 2009
The country's internet service providers (ISPs) were ordered to stop all YouTube traffic within Pakistan. Do we need a true disaster to bring people together. (BBC News -- Technology)
India finds water on moon Sep 26, 2009
US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chief Julius Genachowski proposes to introduce plans that would prevent Internet service providers (ISPs) interfering with the free flow of information and applications across their networks ... The restrictions on traffic manipulation and publication of management policies by ISPs are considered to be the fifth and sixth principles which would apply to both wired and wireless carriers. (Asia Times Online)
57 college presidents declare support for public access to publicly funded research in the US Sep 24, 2009
and Wikipedia, as well as state and local ISPs); the Rockefeller University Press; OXFAM; and major national and regional research organizations. For details, visit. (EurekAlert!)
FCC Chair Throws Weight Behind Net Neutrality Sep 23, 2009
He plans to add a fifth principle to codify the requirement that ISPs do not slow or degrade transmissions of specific services or applications, and a sixth to stipulate that they disclose to consumers how they are managing their networks. The other two Democrats on the five-person commission, Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn, quickly expressed support of the chairman's Net neutrality proposal. (SmallBusinessComputing)
US regulator proposes 'free and open Internet' Sep 22, 2009
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The head of the US Federal Communications Commission proposed new rules Monday that would require Internet service providers (ISPs) to treat all Web traffic equally ... He said the FCC needed to play a role in ensuring "net neutrality" -- the principle that ISPs provide the same speed of service to all users of the Web, from the smallest website to the largest Internet portal ... The new rules would prevent ISPs, for example, from blocking or slowing bandwidth-hogging Web... (Yahoo! Asia News)
Industry Groups Question Need For FCC To Expand Internet Openness Principles Sep 22, 2009
National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Kyle McSlarrow applauded the chairman's vision of "preserving an open Internet," but said the cable trade group "may have a different view about the state of competition and choices and benefits that flow to consumers from that competition." The FCC chairman had suggested that one of the reasons new regulations were needed was that there was insufficient competition among ISPs. "We will continue to present facts and data to the Commission... (Multichannel News)
Mobile broadband speed 'too slow' Sep 22, 2009
2Mbps," the statement read. Mr Fogg said it was hard to compare different mobile ISPs in a meaningful way. "There is no easy way of marketing the speeds that would fit into a headline," he said. "What networks are saying is that their infrastructure is being upgraded and so are giving the highest peak speed that their network is capable of. " Bookmark with: Print Sponsor SEE ALSO 09 Jul 09 | Technology 29 Jul 09 | Technology 18 Feb 09 | Technology RELATED INTERNET LINKS The BBC is not... (BBC News -- Technology)
Obama Plans Internet Grab: FCC to Embrace 'Net Neutrality' Sep 21, 2009
During his campaign, Obama said he would embrace Net Neutrality -- a cause championed by Google and other Silicon Valley companies that don't want large ISPs denying or controlling their access to Internet users. But Republicans have largely opposed Net Neutrality, suggesting self regulation has worked well. (Newsmax)
Yahoo to Allow Users to Opt Out of Custom Ads Sep 20, 2009
In the wake of a congressional inquiry into how Internet companies and ISPs track their users' activities, on Friday announced that it would it would allow users to opt out of customized advertising by month's end ... Internet companies and ISPs routinely track users' activity online in order to serve up more targeted advertisements ... ISPs can use it to filter out the illegal transfer of copyrighted material or harmful viruses and spam, but providers like Comcast have come under fire for... (Yahoo News -- Internet and WWW)
ID theft scam hunt goes global Sep 20, 2009
The data contains information including login details for ecommerce sites such as eBay, Amazon, and ISPs including BT and Pipex. It's unclear how much, if indeed any, money has been stolen from online accounts as a result of the scam. (Yahoo News -- Online Privacy)
Google Flip-Flopping On Net Neutrality? Sep 20, 2009
All of Google's colocation agreements with ISPs - which we've done through projects called OpenEdge and Google Global Cache - are non-exclusive, meaning any other entity could employ similar arrangements. Also, none of them require (or encourage) that Google traffic be treated with higher priority than other traffic. (CBS News -- Sci/Tech)
Click to read:U.S. to Propose 'Net Neutrality' Rules Sep 20, 2009
Without strict rules ensuring Net neutrality, consumer watchdogs fear the communications companies could interfere with the transmission of content, such as TV shows delivered over the Internet, that compete with services the ISPs offer, like cable television ... "Net Neutrality" would indeed prohibit ISPs from blocking or slowing any kind of data, except of course data the government wants blocked ... Large ISPs, like Comcast, ATT, or Cox, have invested huge amounts of money in their networks. (CBS News)
Reports: FCC to propose 'Net neutrality' rules Sep 19, 2009
The rules would apply to all ISPs, including wireless service providers. Without strict rules ensuring Net neutrality, consumer watchdogs fear the communications companies could interfere with the transmission of content, such as TV shows delivered over the Internet, that compete with services the ISPs offer, like cable television. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Net scepticism in East Africa Sep 19, 2009
Broadband may have arrived here and some are using it, but competition between internet service providers (ISPs) has not really got going ... They suspect many ISPs are making a quick buck by not passing on to consumers the full scope of the savings brought about by the new cables. (BBC News -- Technology)
'Bold Move'... Sep 19, 2009
If ISPs and network providers wish to restrict certain content, well that's their business and their clients are free to move to other providers if they don't like the service provided ... Wireless companies and ISPs more often than not enjoy a monopoly in their service ... ISPs merely wanted to skim some of that money in a pay-for-play system. (The Drudge Report)
Report: New net neutrality rule coming next week Sep 19, 2009
Broadly speaking, is the principle that ISPs should not be allowed to block or degrade Internet traffic from their competitors in order to speed up their own. The major telcos have uniformly opposed net neutrality by arguing that such government intervention would take away ISPs' incentives to upgrade their networks, thus stalling the widespread deployment of broadband Internet ... Several consumer rights groups, as well as large Internet companies such as and eBay, have led the charge to get... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Technology)
ZillionTV Delays Launch, Plans To Test Direct-To-Consumer Service Sep 18, 2009
In ZillionTV's original model, ISPs would offer a broadband video-on-demand service -- with a free set-top box and remote control -- as an enticement for subscribers to move to higher-speed tiers. The service is supposed to provide free, ad-supported premium video content, as well as rental and download-to-own options. (Multichannel News)
Fibre Optics: Africa on Information Superhighway Sep 16, 2009
Currently, there are at least 80 drivers, including major telecom operators, internet service providers (ISPs) and corporate investors onboard the fibre optics train and actually driving the development of the technology. That excludes a huge number of smaller telecom operators and their customers from the fibre optics revolution. (Ghana Web, Ghana)
