During the first week of April, 2018, a number of organizations filed amicus briefs with the Supreme Court with respect to the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., Overstock.com, Inc., and NewEgg, Inc. The petitioner in the case seeks to overturn the physical nexus requirement specified by the Supreme Court in 1992, when it […]
Getting Ready for 5G
There are several technologies being considered for developing the next generation of communications infrastructure. Among those being studied and deployed are the use of TV white spaces for rural broadband connectivity; wireless fixed broadband initiatives; satellite broadband, and the development of fifth generation (5G) technologies for mobile communications. According to a March 12, 2018 study […]
An Open Internet Excludes Net Neutrality
There is a huge misunderstanding regarding net neutrality. Silicon Valley dot-coms and big e-commerce corporations are pushing the idea that the Restoring Internet Freedom Order approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on December 14, 2017 somehow rolled back protections for consumers, and will lead to the end of the internet as we know it. But, it did nothing of the sort. It simply rolled back the heavy hand of government over the internet, and restored consumer protection to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which was stripped out by the 2015 Open Internet Order.
Microsoft/Ireland Case Poses Opportunity for Congress
Republicans and Democrats in Congress have a hard time agreeing on anything. But, they might concur that it is not appropriate for law enforcement officials to order a cloud services provider to turn over customer data stored in another country without that country’s permission. In December 2013, a federal district court judge in New York […]
Reducing Government’s Footprint on the Music Industry
On January 28, 2018, the music industry will gather at the Grammy Awards. Country legends, pop artists, classical musicians, producers, and songwriters will be among those recognized for their innovation in music and sound. While the Grammys celebrate their accomplishments, many of these music creators do not receive just compensation for their hard work and […]
Are You Ready for Some Legalized Sports Betting?
If you were ready for some football, then the National Football League’s 2017 season opener on Thursday, September 7, provided quite a tasty first course: The Kansas City Chiefs upset the favored New England Patriots by a final score of 42-27, well outside the 8-point spread that bookmakers offered on the game. Bettors supporting the […]
ECPA Modernization Act of 2017 Introduced
The following statement is attributable to Thomas A. Schatz, President, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste on the introduction of the ECPA Modernization Act of 2017 on July 27, 2017: “The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste applauds Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) for introducing the ECPA Modernization Act of 2017, which […]
Email Privacy Legislation Reintroduced in the House
Advances in technology over the past 30 years have rendered the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the law that established the standards for government access to private electronic communications, out of date. ECPA was enacted in 1986, long before individuals and companies connected with each other electronically and stored information through email and in the […]
A Penny, a Nickel, and a Dollar Walk Into a Bar…
The dire fiscal circumstances facing the country are enough to drive Americans to drink. But when it comes to the billions of dollars that could be saved for taxpayers, currency modernization represents a much-needed tonic, as well as a partial cure for the spending-like-drunken-sailors hangover that seriously threatens the country’s well-being.
Second Hand Smoke
The California Assembly proposed Senate Bill 1400, introduced by Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), which would have limited the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to specified “tobacco stores,” that prohibit customers under the age of 21 and generate more than 60 percent of their annual revenue from tobacco. Sen. Wieckowski has said that the […]