"In the news..."
- Microsoft
hacked. Do we care? Why, or why not? What is different about
a (presumably) targeted attack against a particular organization,
versus a random target?
- Would you rather know about breakins, or not, if they're to
large organizations you need to trust (e.g., banks, the government)?
What would you do if YOU were the organization?
Notes on LPFM
- The National Association of
Broadcasters (NAB) has fought LPFM strenuously. Their testimony
to the FCC was questioned,
and they remain commited to fighting FM airwave access to any new
broadcasters that are not part of the NAB.
- FreeRadio Berkeley demonstrated
the futility of fighting the FCC in the long run, but hope to engage
the FCC in a game of "whack the mole" by faciliting the micro broadcasts
of other stations.
Who Owns the Airwaves?
- Refresher: October 25's notes
- The impact of the Telecommunications Act of 1986:
- Fewer constriants on concentration of ownership
- Little regulation for data communication
- More opportunities for competition, but the competition
seems to favor the largest companies
- Most new product development is driven by corporations,
not universities or government (but see NSF's
ITR for a counterpoint).
- Requirement for public service or public good is essentially
removed (cable, telephone, broadcast)
The Debate:
- What requirements, if any, should be in place in order for an
organization to get a license for the broadcast spectrum? For
a local monopoly (for telephone or cable service)?
- Should there be restrictions on the degree of market share
by telecommunications companies? What about market share across
segments (e.g., cable + Internet)?
- What regulations, if any, should be in place for providers
of data communication services, including dial-in Internet and
dedicated broadband data services?
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