Google’s decision to scale back its fiber push shows why municipal broadband remains critical to spreading high-speed broadband, community broadband advocates told us Wednesday. Google Access CEO Craig Barratt said that Google Fiber will pause operations in exploratory cities where it hasn’t begun construction, cutting jobs as the company refines its strategy. Barratt will depart as CEO but will stay at Google parent Alphabet as an adviser. The moves follow fiber build delays in California and speculation that Google Fiber was reconsidering its technology strategy (see 1609070026).
Google’s decision to scale back its fiber push shows why municipal broadband remains critical to spreading high-speed broadband, community broadband advocates told us Wednesday. Google Access CEO Craig Barratt said that Google Fiber will pause operations in exploratory cities where it hasn’t begun construction, cutting jobs as the company refines its strategy. Barratt will depart as CEO but will stay at Google parent Alphabet as an adviser. The moves follow fiber build delays in California and speculation that Google Fiber was reconsidering its technology strategy (see 1609070026).
AT&T buying Time Warner likely would face regulatory concerns about programming and also could be a springboard for regulators to dive into other issues, like zero rating, industry lawyers and experts told us Friday. Given the increased regulatory attention paid to competitiveness and transaction issues in recent years, "I don't think they are necessarily going to have smooth sailing," said Public Knowledge attorney John Bergmayer. Some question whether the FCC would even have a role in overseeing the possible deal, but AT&T's last major acquisition was national satellite multichannel TV provider DirecTV. AT&T and TW didn't comment Friday. Several news reports Friday suggested a deal could be announced as early as the weekend.
AT&T buying Time Warner likely would face regulatory concerns about programming and also could be a springboard for regulators to dive into other issues, like zero rating, industry lawyers and experts told us Friday. Given the increased regulatory attention paid to competitiveness and transaction issues in recent years, "I don't think they are necessarily going to have smooth sailing," said Public Knowledge attorney John Bergmayer. Some question whether the FCC would even have a role in overseeing the possible deal, but AT&T's last major acquisition was national satellite multichannel TV provider DirecTV. AT&T and TW didn't comment Friday. Several news reports Friday suggested a deal could be announced as early as the weekend.
The New York Court of Appeals split between voicing support and expressing skepticism Tuesday for Flo & Eddie’s claim that New York common law allows a performance royalty right for sound recordings made before 1972. Flo & Eddie, owners of The Turtles' “Happy Together” and the rest of the band's music, were arguing in favor of a pre-1972 performance right as part of their lawsuit against SiriusXM seeking compensation for performances of the Turtles' pre-1972 recordings. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals paused its review in April of SiriusXM's appeal of a 2015 U.S. District Court ruling in New York in the Flo & Eddie suit there that found state common law allowed for a pre-1972 performance right. The New York Court of Appeals agreed in May to hear the case (see 1604130063 and 1605030055). Only six members of the state court heard oral argument in the Flo & Eddie case. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore recused herself.
The New York Court of Appeals split between voicing support and expressing skepticism Tuesday for Flo & Eddie’s claim that New York common law allows a performance royalty right for sound recordings made before 1972. Flo & Eddie, owners of The Turtles' “Happy Together” and the rest of the band's music, were arguing in favor of a pre-1972 performance right as part of their lawsuit against SiriusXM seeking compensation for performances of the Turtles' pre-1972 recordings. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals paused its review in April of SiriusXM's appeal of a 2015 U.S. District Court ruling in New York in the Flo & Eddie suit there that found state common law allowed for a pre-1972 performance right. The New York Court of Appeals agreed in May to hear the case (see 1604130063 and 1605030055). Only six members of the state court heard oral argument in the Flo & Eddie case. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore recused herself.
The New York Court of Appeals split between voicing support and expressing skepticism Tuesday for Flo & Eddie’s claim that New York common law allows a performance royalty right for sound recordings made before 1972. Flo & Eddie, owners of The Turtles' “Happy Together” and the rest of the band's music, were arguing in favor of a pre-1972 performance right as part of their lawsuit against SiriusXM seeking compensation for performances of the Turtles' pre-1972 recordings. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals paused its review in April of SiriusXM's appeal of a 2015 U.S. District Court ruling in New York in the Flo & Eddie suit there that found state common law allowed for a pre-1972 performance right. The New York Court of Appeals agreed in May to hear the case (see 1604130063 and 1605030055). Only six members of the state court heard oral argument in the Flo & Eddie case. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore recused herself.
Comcast and Liberman Broadcasting agreed to not argue in their carriage fight that any complaints should be dismissed due to the expiration of a statute of limitations. In a tolling agreement effective Sept. 21 and posted Monday in FCC docket 16-121, the two agree the statute of limitations is on pause from that date to 30 days after the Media Bureau rules on Liberman's petition for reconsideration of the bureau's Aug. 26 dismissal of the broadcaster's carriage complaint (see 1609260049). The tolling agreement also says Liberman or its affiliates may file additional, related complaints against the cable company, but it won't do so during the tolling period.
Several Supreme Court justices appeared Tuesday to be leaning toward either vacating or modifying the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's May ruling in Samsung v. Apple, lawyers told us. It's unclear whether justices coalesced around a set of instructions to inform how jurors in U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, should determine damages in the long-running patent infringement battle, lawyers said in interviews.
Several Supreme Court justices appeared Tuesday to be leaning toward either vacating or modifying the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's May ruling in Samsung v. Apple, lawyers told us. It's unclear whether justices coalesced around a set of instructions to inform how jurors in U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, should determine damages in the long-running patent infringement battle, lawyers said in interviews.