Today’s increasingly digital age has surrounded everyone’s lives with constantly connected laptops, tablets, and Smartphones, with quick, easy access to the Internet. These modern technological achievements are largely due to the fact that since 1992, when the general public first gained access to the World Wide Web, the Internet has been mostly free from government regulation and taxation.
Fight for Internet Freedom Continues
Innovation and development of the Internet has been allowed to grow and flourish around the globe for years. However, efforts are being made to change the flow of information and Internet governance through a new U.N. regulatory treaty that would give the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) authority over the Internet. From December 3-14, 2012, the […]
Police Chiefs Issue Guidance for Cloud Computing
On February 21, 2012, a Swineline blog post proposed that cloud computing is a viable option for law enforcement.
Time to Reduce Wasteful Government IT Spending
On January 22, 2013, the House Committee on Government Oversight held a hearing on reducing wasteful information technology (IT) spending by the federal government. According to a video released prior to the hearing by the Committee, the federal government wastes nearly $20 billion in IT spending each year, the equivalent of the amount of taxes paid by the state of Kansas annually.
An Increasingly Connected Society Needs Spectrum
According to a January 7, 2013 article in Wireless Week, on December 25, 2012, nearly 17.4 million mobile devices, including tablets, Smartphones, and cell phones were activated.
CAGW’s Top Technology and Telecommunications Issues for 2013
The technology and telecommunications industries are vital and innovative sectors of the U.S. economy. Advances in these fields have a positive impact on other industries such as health care, education, transportation, and services.
GSA bats .333 on cloud security authorizations
In June 2012, Government Computer News reported that GSA hoped to have three cloud service providers approved for provisional authorizations to operate by the end of 2012. Batting .333 towards achievement of this goal, the General Services Administration announced on December 27, 2012 the first Joint Authorization Board (JAB) approval of a provisional cloud security authorization under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).
Wireless Taxes Continue Upward Trend
Wireless communications adoption has grown from 48.7 million subscribers in 1997 to 321.7 million subscribers in 2012. While the number of wireless consumers is on the rises, and a greater number are choosing to “cut the cord” on their landline connections, the state and local tax burden has also skyrocketed. Frequently seen as a quick way to increase revenues into state coffers, an October 29, 2012 report by Scott Mackey of KSE Partners shows that taxes on wireless consumers continue to rise at a steady pace.
Abolishing a Free and Open Internet: The fight is just beginning
From December 3 through December 14, the U.N. International Telecommunications Union will be convening the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) to review proposals to the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITR). The last update to this treaty occurred in 1988; meanwhile the Internet has continued to grow and thrive under the current multi-stakeholder regime, with nearly 2.3 billion users worldwide at the end of 2011. Yet, even with the growth in use and access, some countries would like the U.N. to “take over” the Internet, rather than allowing the continued multi-stakeholder approach.
Special Access is all About the Data
The special access marketplace provides dedicated high-capacity connections that serve voice and data needs for smaller carriers, large businesses and government through lease agreements with larger telecommunications providers. In 1999, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to deregulate the special access marketplace, which has helped to spur growth and innovation in all areas of telecommunications. […]