fcc

FCC Dives Deeper Into the Comcast-NBC Universal Deal

The questions center on how Comcast distributes content and makes decisions on which programming to offer. Regulators are also questioning NBC Universal about its contracts with other content distributors like satellite, cable and phone carriers.

FCC to Verizon Wireless: Too Slow to Make Refunds

Despite the carrier's admission of overbilling, the FCC says it plans to investigate why it took Verizon two years to notify customers of the problem, reimburse them and take corrective action. Additional penalties are a possibility.

After GOP Kills Net Neutrality Bill, Focus Shifts Back to FCC

One day after Congressional Republicans killed compromise legislation that would have protected net neutrality -- the principle that broadband providers shouldn't play favorites with Web content -- pressure has returned to the Federal Communications Commission to act on the issue.

FCC's Super WiFi Plan Has Big Potential

The Federal Communications Commission is poised to open up a new chunk of wireless spectrum that could soon be used to blanket small towns with wireless signals. The FCC is expected to vote on Sept. 23 to open up the unlicensed spectrum between TV channels for public use.

Inside the War Over the Internet's Future

Amid a fierce clash over the Net's next era, tech titans Google and Verizon crafted their own broadband policy plan and shined a light on what might be Washington's most ineffectual regulator -- the FCC. Unknown to many, Google and Verizon worked on that plan since fall of 2008.

Legal Briefing: Obama Backs Utilities in Climate Change Case

Eight states, New York City and three groups won the legal right to sue greenhouse-gas emitting utilities. The companies appealed to the Supreme Court, and the Obama administration has filed a brief supporting them. Find out the implications of this move.

Telecom Lobbyists Hold Secret Internet Talks

Lobbyists from some of the largest U.S. technology companies are meeting behind closed doors in Washington with telecom giants to discuss net neutrality, following the failed FCC talks and Google's bilateral deal with Verizon. No surprise, public interest groups weren't invited.

Four Lawmakers Oppose Google-Verizon Net Neutrality Deal

Four Democratic lawmakers have blasted the net neutrality compromise put forward by Google and Verizon. "Americans online experience shouldn't be dictated by corporate CEO's," said Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA). Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) warned against "'cable-izing'" the Internet.'"

How the FCC Bungled Net Neutrality

While often well-intentioned, the agency has watched its own "open Internet policy" slowly, but systematically, crumble over the last five years. Now under Julius Genachowski, the FCC faces an almost no-win situation regarding net neutrality.

The Google-Verizon Deal: Evil or Pragmatic?

The two companies were on opposite sides of the net neutrality debate. So they initiated talks aimed at coming up with a compromise where some progress could be achieved in the face of FCC and congressional inaction. For Google, it's a lesson in growing up.

Protesters Invade Google HQ Over Net Neutrality Proposal

Google's Silicon Valley HQ became a raucous hotspot today as demonstrators armed with protest signs and petitions took to the streets to defend their ideal of an open and egalitarian Internet -- and oppose Verizon's proposal for tiered service.

Protesters to Google: Don't Be Evil on Net Neutrality

Despite the search giant's defense of its joint plan with Verizon on tiered Internet service, the proposal has stirred up a storm of criticism, with protesters swarming the search giant's Silicon Valley campus Friday to voice their displeasure.

New Deal on Net Neutrality from Google and Verizon

Google and Verizon drew lots of criticism last week with a Web-traffic pact rumored to favor higher-paying providers. Now, the companies have unveiled a proposal that pays homage to the concept of net neutrality, at least in the short term.

Net Neutrality: FCC's Done Talking to Google, Verizon

Federal Communications Commission officials reportedly slammed the door Thursday on further private talks with Google and Verizon to develop a loosely regulated level playing field for how Internet content gets delivered by telecom and cable operators.

Google Denies 'Devil's Pact' With Verizon

Google and Verizon denied reports of a proposed tiered-services deal that would allow websites to pay broadband providers for the privilege of getting content in front of users more quickly. The alleged deal had proponents of net neutrality up in arms Thursday.

Legal Briefing: Court Gives the OK for 'Indecency' on TV

When the FCC decided in 2004 to start fining broadcasters over the use of fleeting expletives, the agency became a caricature of a state censor. Now, the Second Circuit has ruled that the 'indecency' policy was unconstitutionally vague. So what's next for dirty words?

Appeals Court Scraps FCC's TV Indecency Rules

In a major victory for TV networks, an appeals court struck down the Federal Communications Commission's indecency policy on Tuesday, calling it "unconstitutionally vague." The court also said the rules posed a risk to freedom of speech.

FCC Blasted Again Over Closed-Door Internet Meetings

Public interest groups kept up their assault on the FCC's closed-door broadband policy meetings after the agency decided to bypass standard disclosure rules, effectively shutting out the public. One group took out a full page ad in The Washington Post blasting the meetings.

'Transparent' FCC Continues Secret Internet Meetings

The FCC's closed-door meetings with industry giants over Internet regulation continued Tuesday as the agency's chief of staff defended a process that has shut out the public. Public interest groups demanded the agency "reverse the secrecy."

Closed-Door 'Open Internet' Talks at the FCC

FCC officials held private meetings Monday with cable and telecom lobbyists who oppose the "open" Internet rules proposed by agency Chairman Julius Genachowski. Critics are now accusing the FCC of trying to broker a backroom deal.

Opponents Line Up Against Proposed Comcast/NBC Merger

Federal authorities must impose conditions on Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, as it seeks to merge with NBC Universal creating a $30 billion media colossus, public interest groups and others said Monday. Several of the groups said they oppose the deal "as its stands today."