The May issue of InfoTech & Telecom News reports on the April 6 federal appeals court decision in Comcast v. the Federal Communications Commission. The court struck a blow against the FCC’s desire to enforce net neutrality rules on the Internet, ruling the agency must first get Congress to
approve such a sweeping expansion of its regulatory authority.
Also in this issue:
* Colorado’s new “Amazon tax” will hurt e-commerce in the state and violate Web-buyers’ privacy.
* Proponents of increasing online education are praising a new national education technology initiative while cautioning against overregulation and calling for some bolder action.
* Following release of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, a member of Congress is pressing for action on his bill to expand the 14-year-old E-Rate program intended to close the “digital divide.”
* The federal government has awarded two Illinois counties $11.9 million for the deployment of a 130-mile fiber network, a move industry insiders suggest could crowd out private broadband investment.
* The executive vice president of Verizon says the FCC does not have the authority to regulate the Internet. A telecom expert warns of the damage the FCC could inflict on the industry if the agency reclassifies broadband in an effort to exert more control.
