Tag Archive: wireless
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Susan Crawford’s flawed argument about broadband competition
John Stephenson | January 14, 2013 | Add a commentSusan Crawford, a professor at Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, argues in her interesting and provocative new book Captive Audience: The Telecom Industry and Monopoly Power in the New Gilded Age that broadband Internet should be treated more like a traditional public utility such as electricity, water, sewer. She writes, … »
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Is Broadband a Monopoly?
Alex Rued | November 1, 2012 | Add a commentBroadband is often described as the “core” of the Internet ecosystem—little more than the basic infrastructure across which users interact, and subject to heavy-handed government regulations that reflect this assumption. However, AEI visiting scholar Jeffrey Eisenach challenges this assumption, arguing instead that broadband is an integral part of the Internet … »
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Mobile Apps Market Making Moves for U.S. Economy
Alex Rued | October 2, 2012 | Add a commentNotwithstanding the rest of the U.S. economy, experts believe the trajectory of growth in the mobile application (“app”) industry will reach new heights over the next five years. A recent Application Developers Alliance study concluded that app-capable devices such as the iPad, iPhone, Android, and Kindle Fire are rapidly gaining popularity: 62% … »
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Cloud Computing Taking High-Tech Economy by Storm
Alex Rued | September 19, 2012 | Add a commentWhat do Netflix, NASA and the Senegal Ministry of Finance have in common? They all operate in the cloud. Cloud computing is increasingly relevant to businesses, consumers, and even government, yet ‘the cloud’ remains a cloudy concept for Americans, including policymakers. According to a recent survey conducted by Wakefield Research, … »
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Uber vs. City Hall
John Stephenson | September 11, 2012 | 1 CommentHailing a taxi is one of the most frustrating experiences in modern city life. Unfortunately, city government seems intent on keeping it that way. Uber, a San Francisco-based company, has developed a smartphone app that allows available limo and taxi drivers to connect with people looking for rides using GPS … »
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Popular Good or Public Good? The Debate to Nationalize Facebook
Alex Rued | September 5, 2012 | Add a commentDespite what history proves about the transient nature of the social media sector—who still uses Friendster or MySpace?—Philip N. Howard’s recent Slate column calls for regulation of the newest social media “monopoly” Facebook. In his article, entitled “Let’s Nationalize Facebook,” Howard proposes that the United States government seize the private … »
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Mobile Apps are Niche Sector of the Telecommunications Industry
Andrew Butler | August 17, 2012 | Add a commentStatistics from a litany of sources demonstrate one clear takeaway: app use is skyrocketing. Facilitated by increasing numbers of smartphone users, apps are downloaded from proprietary online markets and provide dynamic services for consumers. Some 40 billion apps have been downloaded in the Apple and Android ecosystems respectively. According to … »
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Taxed Three Times: How the Digital Goods and Services Fairness Act Protects Consumers from Multiple Taxes
Alex Rued | July 16, 2012 | Add a commentIt is no surprise that a majority of Americans purchase tangible items like clothing, books, and even groceries online. However, a recent finding from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project reveals that Americans are increasingly willing to purchase “intangible” goods and services as well. In fact, over … »
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Searching for a Fairer, Simpler, Clearer Mobile Tax Policy
Andrew Butler | July 6, 2012 | Add a commentA recent Pew Research Center’s report has found that mobile internet usage is increasing across all demographics, most notably among young adult and non-white members of society. Of the overwhelming majority of American adults who own mobile phones, 55% use their phones to access online content. While young adults and … »
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Market Holds Great Promise for Closing Digital Divide
John Stephenson | June 4, 2012 | Add a commentFor the latest issue of Heartland’s InfoTech and Telecom News, I have an op-ed that looks at the “new digital divide” or the gap between those that have broadband internet access and those who do not. While some argue that deregulation has caused the digital divide, the reality is the opposite; … »
