- Hong Kong Cityscape
The second circuit court of appeals has ruled to strike down the FCC’s policy of fining television stations for transmitting indecent speech. The court found that “the FCC’s policy violates the First Amendment because it is unconstitutionally vague, creating a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here.”
Court Rulings by .
The White House wants to add to the USA’s wireless broadband spectrum by offering up/re-allocating 500MHz of spectrum for new usage. The official press release spells out the President’s 4 point plan. The goals are to:
1. Identify and plan for the release of 500 MHz of spectrum
2. Provide the tools needed to effectively reallocate spectrum
3. Enable spectrum to be put to its highest value uses
4. Use the auction proceeds to promote public safety, job-creating infrastructure investment and deficit reduction.
More wireless broadband spectrum is largely a good thing. Expect some drama though if the feds start talking about using eminent domain as a way to “release” the spectrum in question.
Regulation Uncategorized by .
Google labs added a promising app in March. Google Public Data Explorer lets users view and manipulate public data sets. By easing access to and graphing of data sets, apps like GPD offer the potential to greatly increase data analysis and research output. Hopefully the app will develop quickly and more and more data sets will be integrated. Go and have a play around with the data and you’ll see the potential.
Providing an excellent example of a solution looking for a problem, the Louisiana House of Representatives has quickly approved a senate bill to add more stringent minimum sentencing requirements for crimes that utilize “virtual street level maps.”
From: NOLA.com
Larry Downes posted an interested in piece in defense of a coordinated national broadband plan featuring public-private cooperation. Using examples from prior national infrastructural development, Downes argues that the FCC should focus on network expansion and reduce its regulatory ambitions and net neutrality goals.
Regulation by .