Back in the 1980s, First Lady Nancy Reagan had a slogan to go with her anti-drug campaign, “Just Say No.” Perhaps this same slogan should be used in the ongoing debate over the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) efforts on net neutrality and Title II reclassification of the Internet. On November 10, 2014, the White House […]
Marketplace Fairness Is Not A Fair Option
On July 15, 2014, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. This legislation would make the current moratorium on Internet access taxes, which was first enacted by Congress in 1998. However, Democratic leaders in the Senate allowed the bill to languish in an effort to appease a few […]
The Cloud: Two-Year Review
The federal government spends more than $80 billion each year on information technology. In 2010, the federal chief information officer issued guidance to government agencies requiring them to adopt cloud computing tools when replacing systems, and to move at least three existing services to the cloud. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued the 25 Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management (25-Point Plan), also in 2010, which required agencies to consider cloud computing options for all new IT acquisitions.
Satellite TV Bill Moves Forward in the Senate
On September 17, 2014, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved S. 2799, the Satellite Television and View Rights Act (STAVRA), which would extend for five years the Satellite Television Access Reauthorization Act. The current authorization expires on December 31, 2014. While one would think this would only be of interest to users […]
ISPs Are Not Common Carriers
Since the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued its decision in Verizon v. Federal Communications Commission on January 14, 2014, there has been a big push to reclassify the Internet as a Title II telecommunications service. Unfortunately, many who have been raising this call don’t understand what that would mean.
CAGW Files Comments on Net Neutrality Order
On July 7, 2014, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) President Tom Schatz filed public comments on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) May 15, 2014 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding net neutrality.
Senate Plans Short-term Fix to Taxes on Internet Access
If Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) gets his way, taxes on Internet access and other discriminatory or duplicate taxes will only be staved off until 2015, rolling the final decision on whether to make it permanent or to attach other more controversial measures onto the bill either for consideration during a lame duck session or until […]
House Passes Permanent Ban On Internet Taxes
Consumers across America are increasingly using the Internet to shop, apply for jobs, perform schoolwork, and email one another. In 2012, the Federal Communications Commission found in its annual report on advanced communications capabilities that 95 percent of Americans have access to broadband Internet services. According to the International Telecommunications Union, 84.2 percent of individuals […]
Telecom Heats Up the Summer Months
In March 2014, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released “Telecom Unplugged: Unleashing a New Digital Era,” which highlighted topical telecommunications issues. Now that summer is in full swing, politicians and bureaucrats are feverously pitching to finish their work on telecommunications legislation and regulations before the glorious August recess, when only the tourists trudge their way down the scorching hot Mall.
Tick Tock Goes The Clock – But H.R. 3086 Passes First Hurdle
On June 18, 2014, the House Judiciary Committee ordered reported to the House of Representatives by a vote of 30 to 4, H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) sent a letter to committee on June 17, 2014 supporting this legislation and urging final passage before […]