News of the movement for January 17, 2013


Mobile and Beyond

AT&T Allows FaceTime for Limited Data Users. What About Unlimited?

AT&T said that it would allow more of its iPhone customers to use Apple’s video-conferencing app, FaceTime, over its cellular network. But customers with unlimited data plans are still left out.

Brian X. Chen, New York Times

AT&T Staves Off Net Neutrality Complaint by Giving Another Inch, but It's Not Fooling Anyone

AT&T announced that it would be gracious enough to let more of its users -- including those without LTE -- enjoy FaceTime over cellular, as the spirit of Net Neutrality rules require. But it's just the latest half-measure the company has taken to rectify a problem that groups like Public Knowledge and Free Press have argued all along: AT&T simply has no right to arbitrarily decide how its customers use the data they pay for from an ISP.

T.C. Sottek, The Verge

AT&T Continues Chipping at FaceTime Over Cellular Policy

AT&T announced that it would again expand access to FaceTime over cellular on its mobile network. Now any compatible iOS device using any tiered data plan can make FaceTime calls over cellular connections, LTE or otherwise. Those with grandfathered unlimited data plans are still left in the lurch, however.

Chris Foresman, Ars Technica

AT&T Stalking Europe for Mergers

AT&T is once again starting up its deal machine. The telecom giant is considering buying a counterpart in Europe, a bet that it can best escape constraints on growth at home by getting into a new wireless market where it can upgrade technology and roll out more lucrative pricing strategies, people familiar with the carrier's thinking said.

Anton Troianovski and Dana Cimilluca, Wall Street Journal


Media Policy at the FCC

Ad Site Snafu Raises Questions About FCC Oversight

For the first time last year, the FCC began requiring certain TV stations to post political ad buy contracts online. Yet an apparent snafu at a Florida station that kept all buys made in the final month of the election offline until earlier this month raises questions about just how well that system is working.

Jacob Fenton, Sunlight Foundation

FCC Adds Spectrum to Wi-Fi -- But You Likely Need a New Router to Use It

The FCC last week said it will add 195MHz of spectrum to Wi-Fi's 5GHz band. This move is designed to relieve congestion in Wi-Fi networks, particularly in areas of widespread simultaneous usage like airports and sports stadiums. It could help your home network too, but not right away -- routers available in stores now may not be able to use the new spectrum at all.

Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica


Future of the Internet

Aaron's Law

It won't bring Aaron Swartz back. But the loss of the Internet activist has prompted a bill in Congress that would protect others from the same kind of prosecutorial abuse.

Lawrence Lessig, The Atlantic

Report Finds Growing Use of U.S. Surveillance Gear by Repressive Nations

Human rights monitors have documented the use of U.S.-manufactured Internet surveillance and censorship gear in 21 countries, some with checkered human rights policies like Syria, China and Saudi Arabia.

Dan Goodin, Ars Technica

How We Use GPS to Track You Is None of Your Business, Says Department of Justice

The Department of Justice is refusing to disclose details on the government's use of GPS tracking, despite vehement protests from the American Civil Liberties Union. This week, the ACLU obtained two internal memos outlining the DoJ's philosophy on tracking suspects with GPS, but with the exception of some brief background information, the documents were entirely redacted.

Amar Toor, The Verge


Journalism and Beyond

Sports Journalism Faces Moment of Truth in Wake of Lance Armstrong, Manti Te’o Hoax

The entire field of sports journalism is facing a moment of self-reflection after learning that several reputable journalists unwittingly helped spread the tragic -- and completely false -- story of Notre Dame football star Manti Te’o’s deceased girlfriend.

David Griner, Poynter

Fox News Signs Dennis Kucinich as Contributor

Fox News Channel has signed former Rep. Dennis Kucinich as a paid contributor to FNC and the Fox Business network. Kucinich, who was for years a liberal stalwart in the House of Representatives, will provide analysis and commentary across all of FNC's and FBN’s programs.

Alex Weprin, TVNewser