Root Canal and FCC Open Commission Meeting #
It seems fitting that this author listened to the FCC Open Commission Meeting yesterday, while undergoing an unplanned root canal. The irony is that I couldn’t get the thought out of my head about how much of my monthly wireless data allotment that the FCC’s streaming video feed was consuming; all I really needed was streaming audio, but the FCC didn’t provide that lower bandwidth stream. I also had to wonder, under the Title II rules adopted yesterday, will the carrier I use be able to continue to offer different plans and use pricing as a signal?
As Greg Ip in a Wall Street Journal article points out, paid prioritization is just another term for price discrimination, which is commonplace in other markets. Although in its official release the FCC reinforces the idea (pdf) that they will forbear price regulation, will future regulators have a different interpretation of what Title II means? The only thing that is probably clear from yesterday’s actions is that the story of Title II regulation of broadband and the Internet will continue to unfold.
In the meantime, here are some attention grabbing tweets from the past couple weeks on this topic:
- “We want an Internet where you don’t have to have a password and that you don’t pay a penny to use.” Thanks @BerinSzoka for pointing out what one group ultimately wants to see.
- 56% oppose Internet regs & 79% think
#FCC rules should be public before vote – From the “original idea mill for President Bill Clinton’s New Democrats.” - The Internet Has Always Been Open, It’s The Platforms & Devices That Are Closed – good article by streaming media expert Dan Rayburn (Thanks @SMDANIEL for pointing out this concise and well written article from someone who understands streaming)
Discovering Insights With the Data That’s Already There
Next week will be a fun time catch up with ACA members and others to get their perspectives on what transpired yesterday. It’s not to late to register for the ACA Summit. To get an idea of what the ACA Summit’s exhibit floor is like, check out the following interview with R.J. Juneau where he talks about operational and revenue improvements by data correlation techniques that have led one operator to reduce customer support required truck rolls by 15%.
Click here to view.
Past, Present & the FUTURE of Cars
There once was a conference where experts tried to find a solution to the increasing problem of congestion, pollution and the associated ill-effects of the transportation system. The attendees didn’t find a solution and it looked like modern civilization was headed in the wrong direction. Spoiler alert, this conference certainly wasn’t the one produced by the SV Forum last week, which dealt with topics such as the connected and autonomous automobile and how society is once again set for a major technological disruption.
Click here to read more.
Better Eyesight Than Humans – The Advent of Low-Cost LiDAR
“You have the information you need.” [to control a self-driving vehicle], said Louay Eldada, CEO and Co-Founder of Quanergy. In an interview filmed during International CES 2015, he explained that his company developed a relatively low-cost, LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system that includes lasers and detectors, as well as the associated processing. This allows vehicle manufacturers to easily add 3-dimensional “eyesight” to their existing drive and control systems, without requiring vehicle-to-vehicle communications or integration with external communications’ networks.
Click here to read more and view the video
We Can Figure This Out – Part 1
Dave Fridley of engineering firm FARR Technologies imparts a positive message about how independent operators can turn the disruptions and uncertainties of today’s telecom business to their advantage. He points out that operators have faced and met similar challenges in years past. He uses ITS Fiber as an example of an operator that has found opportunities outside of its traditional service offering, which is helping it become even more independent and sustainable in the long-term. This is the first of three videos from Fridley’s presentation filmed at the Beyond Fiber & Into the Data Center conference hosted by ITS Fiber.
Click here to view.
Some Tweets and Short Thoughts:
- “Visiting Florida and the recent Beyond the Fiber and Into the Data Center workshop” Thanks @Calix for sharing
- @GoogleFiber If broadband is a concern, then why pull GoogleAppsforPartners from small ISPs & their consumers?
- Thanks @TonyVea for posting this graphic, which complements this “evergreen” interview about
#callcompletion issues. - @bprim_esq‘s article is a good primer for those interested in this joint FCC/FDA meeting on wireless test beds and their influence on the development of converged medical devices for clinical and non-clinical (e.g. home) settings.
- Dan Thurmon speaking at
#NTCA’s RTIME – a must see. Here is a preview of what to expect from this dynamic speaker.
The Korner – More than a Flying Selfie #CES2015
An informal, but popular discussion at the Beyond Fiber and Into the Data Center conference was the topic of flying drones. One of the attendees had brought a drone to south Florida and showed some amazing pictures and practical uses for these flying robots. The conversation reminded me what I saw at last month’s International CES 2015.
Imagine the interesting memories that could be recorded if you had someone invisibly filming a family vacation. Now, imagine how great it would be if this person was 50 feet tall and could capture virtually impossible perspectives. Imagine no more, as the ZANO drone from the Torquing Group promises to be a kind of miniature flying selfie stick.
With over 12,000 backers, the Torquing Group easily reached its Kickstarter goals and is well on its way to production, which is slated for June, 2015. Although this is Torguing Group’s first foray away from its defense market roots and into the consumer electronic realm, they are well positioned for market success with this product. With its rich feature set, its simplicity and a relatively inexpensive price of $270, this should not only capture the hearts of many consumers, but also their images.
Click here to read more and to view the video.