The sign that appears in quaint shops and businesses across the country, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” originated from a 1939 British motivational poster. This applies universally and over time; it is particularly relevant in a world that responds instantaneously to social media and “news.” The best example of when this axiom should apply is […]
Bill Addresses International Challenges to Online Privacy
American businesses have taken the lead in cloud computing technologies, enabling citizens around the world to communicate with each other, store photos, videos, and documents with greater security and at lower costs. However, as this technology continues to evolve, challenges in protecting individual privacy become more evident, including data of U.S. citizens that is stored […]
Letter to Federal Communications Commission Regarding TV White Space
September 14, 2017 Chairman Ajit Pai Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Commissioner Michael O’Rielly Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel Commissioner Brendan Carr
Building the Digital Bridge
In 2014, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) President Tom Schatz and I co-authored a book, Telecom Unplugged: Ushering in a New Digital Era. Some of the material in the book became out of date with the advent of the Open Internet Order on February 26, 2015, and passage of the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act on February 24, 2016.
ECPA Modernization Act of 2017 Introduced
The following statement is attributable to Thomas A. Schatz, President, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste on the introduction of the ECPA Modernization Act of 2017 on July 27, 2017: “The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste applauds Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) for introducing the ECPA Modernization Act of 2017, which […]
FCC Chairman Takes Action to Fix Lifeline
It is mind-boggling when the government continues to squander money on a program that has been on the front line of wasteful spending, and program abuse. Yet, that is exactly what the Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to do with through Low-Income Support program, which provides subsidies to low-income households for telephone and broadband service.
A Day of Uniform, Uninformed Activity
The “net neutrality” proponents are at it again, plotting to slog up the internet with a “Day of Action” on July 12, 2017. Similar activity occurred in 2012 in response to legislation regarding online piracy. Since that legislation was abandoned by Congress, these same agitators believe they will have success in shutting down the Restoring Internet Freedom Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (WC Docket No. 17-108) currently in process at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by inundating the agency and Congress with a high volume of comments against the proposed rule.
This is Not What I Meant by Revamp
In April 2017, CAGW published an article I wrote regarding FedRAMP, and efforts to modernize and streamline the process. Part the effort was the proposed implementation of a FedRAMP Tailored process for low-impact systems.
The Jetsons and the Internet of Things
“The Jetsons” was only on television for one season, 55 years ago, but it produced a lasting impression about an interconnected future. The show didn’t use the term “Internet of Things,” but much of what took place fits into today’s technology.
Setting the Internet Free
On May 18, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted by a 2-1 margin to open a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Restoring Internet Freedom (WC Docket 17-108). The NPRM proposes to restore the internet to a Title I information services classification, a status that was stripped away by the February 26, 2015 Open Internet Order (OIO), under which former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, following direct orders from President Obama, reclassified the internet as a Title II rotary dial telephone service.