Net Neutrality: The Next Round

On Monday, September 9th, long-time litigants Verizon (among others) and the Federal Communications Commission met for another round in the dispute over the long running battle known as “Net Neutrality.” The two key questions at the root of the ongoing saga are whether providers of internet services can discriminate between those customers that they serve, and whether the FCC—or any entity for that matter--has the legal authority to regulate the internet.

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Paying Attention to Third Party Telemarketers

I hate to beat a dead horse, but despite all sorts of newly enforceable regulatory hurdles, those obnoxious telemarketing calls keep coming.  The good news is that the FCC, as the lead agency enforcing the newly tightened telemarketing rules, is taking action, but the bad news is that the calls keep coming because they are effective. Not at my house, and not likely at yours, but someone’s buying what telemarketers are selling. Just like any hungry sales person knows when obstacles are placed in the path, you work around them.  Telemarketers and those who rely on their services are no different than any other industry that is quasi-regulated.  As new legal and regulatory hurdles are placed in front of them, telemarketers devise creative ways to re-interpret or completely ignore them altogether.

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A Novel Approach to Internet Regulation

When the subject of “network neutrality” or “open internet” come up, most people glaze over (or run quickly in the other direction). However, there is a case currently before the D.C. Circuit, brought by Verizon against the FCC, whose outcome could affect many beyond the original parties.

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The Mobile Wallet

Although they’re not here quite yet, the day of the mobile wallet is quickly approaching.  However, before most of us feel comfortable keeping more information than we already do on our smart phones, there are a number of hurdles—both actual and perceived—that need to be overcome.

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Telephone Metadata – Hardly the Last Word

When Edward Snowden became sufficiently disillusioned with the activities of the National Security Agency to take the dramatic step of disclosing classified information about the collection of information on citizens and non-citizens alike, he opened one of the largest cans of worms ever.  The fallout from his actions will be felt for years to come as individuals, organizations and courts tackle the thorny questions that his disclosures raised.

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