By Sara Jerome, The Hill
Good morning!
Waxman backs FCC reclassification of broadband. In a dramatic move, Rep. Henry Waxman on Wednesday said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should use its power to regulate Internet service providers if Congress can’t reach a bipartisan solution. Waxman’s (D-Calif.) decision, which came after Republicans said they could not support legislation [...]

There is no technological barrier to aggregating a number of popular over-the-air TV channels and delivering their signals to subscribers via the Internet. There is, however, a legal.barrier, at least in the eyes of most people. Copyright laws would seem to require consent of the TV stations, something that is not forthcoming anytime [...]

RoadMAP goes low-tech today.  For those who haven’t read one of RoadMAP’s favorite books, Henry Petroski’s The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance, one can learn a lot about the evolution of digital technology from reading this history.  (Did you know about Henry Thoreau’s background as a major technological innovator [...]

The folks at Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism have produced yet another interesting analysis.  This time, it drills into the oddly dichotomous way in which the media cover technology, combining gee-whiz amazement at new developments with alarmist warnings about how technology is hurting society.  What is noticeably missing, [...]

Last year, over the objection of MAP and other public interest groups, the FCC allowed motion picture companies to employ a technology called “selectable output controls” to restrict redistribution of certain content.  Whether or not this was a necessary step, as the companies claimed, they have now started to talk about [...]

Reviews Will Complete The Call On Final Approvals Of Comcast/NBCU Union
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News

It looks like the departure of NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker –  or at least the timing of it — is now in the hands of the Federal Communications Commission and/or the Justice Department.
Zucker said he will be leaving [...]

Vacant space between channels put to use
By Paul Harris, Variety
The FCC was roundly applauded Thursday for its unanimous vote to free up vacant airwaves between TV channels for a variety of worthy purposes including expanded use of WiFi.
FCC member Robert McDowell even suggested the move might pre-empt two other FCC rulemakings – its open access [...]

A lot people have incorrectly predicted the demise of the cable TV business model, but none of them have been Barry Diller.  Until now.  (Free Registration Required.)
Unappetising Truths About A La Carte Media Grazing
Barry Diller minted a new phrase on Tuesday when he told a Goldman Sachs media conference in New York that [...]

By Gautham Nagesh, The Hill

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve the use of unused television spectrum known as “white spaces.” Lawmakers, industry and advocacy groups hailed the announcement as the start of a new wave of innovation in wireless technologies.
The unused airwaves between television channels are [...]

Kerry, Snowe, others praise move
By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable

Reaction was swift Thursday to the news the FCC had taken a big step toward opening up the TV band to wireless broadband and other advanced services.
The FCC voted 5-0 on rules for that move, and staffers said those guidelines could be [...]