Marvin Ammori

On the agenda for next month’s FCC meeting is a NPRM regarding modernization of the universal service fund for broadband purposes.

Professor Susan Crawford discusses the significance of the DOJ’s role in the Comcast-NBC deal, and the conditions imposed by the agency on Comcast.

Roku is expected to announce Tuesday an unlikely addition to its programming lineup: WealthTV. This will mark the first time a cable channel has joined the streaming device

Joelle Tessler at Huffington Post reports that the FCC in a four-to-one vote has approved the Comcast-NBC merger.

J. Angelo Racoma at CMS Newswire reports that by the end of 2011 the number of mobile broadband users will reach 1 billion – but notes that developing countries in the Asian-Pacific region will face obstacles given the slow issuance of mobile broadband licenses.

Stewart Baker has a new post at his blog Skating on Stilts critiquing the OECD report on cyberwar that’s been grabbing headlines.

This Christmas, as a gift to myself, I opened a small and unassuming box with a clever card to welcome me: “Hi!”

This was the start of a beautiful relationship, between me and my Roku, a relationship that will save me thousands a year.

I have been meaning to simplify my life for some time now by “cutting the cord” to cable television and the Roku has finally given me an important means to do it. Roku is a digital media player (internet TV) which streams content in high definition to your television.  The version I bought, the Roku XD, retails at $79.99. The current premium channel lineup consists of Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Hulu plus and others. For music lovers Pandora Radio is also available.

Time and money are at a premium these days and ridding myself of the superfluous has turned into a daily practice. Inspired by the guys over at “the minimalists”  I decided to abandon all 270+ channels of mind numbing cable content laden with commercials.  Saving over $90.00 a month without cable, and $1080.00 a year it was a simple decision…that is with my Roku XD up and running.

What surprised me the most about this capable little box is the sheer volume of outstanding (and free) content.  Content that I choose to install…or not. Need the local weather? Download the weather underground channel. Want to watch the news? Download the Roku newscaster.  Enjoy listening to audio books, perhaps watch a lecture given at Yale?  Download the CDN2 Channel. The list goes on.

I love technology that does what you want it to do (and more) and sets up in a matter of minutes.

Especially for less than $100.00!

Roku installs in three easy steps: 1. Plug it in.  2. Connect Roku to your wireless internet  3. Watch/Listen/Enjoy

Today, as I was walking out the front door of my house to return my cable box, DVR and remote, I was welcomed by another Hi! It was the UPS man, delivering my second Roku XD.

The app store model is a more immediate threat to internet freedom than breaches of net neutrality. That’s the opinion of Wikipedia chief Jimmy Wales.

A German hacker says he cracked the wireless LAN password of his neighbor in 20 minutes – using the cloud computing power available on Amazon in a demonstration which he says should sensitize people and businesses to security issues.

I recommend this article, for anyone who wants better to understand some basics of Internet transmission technology. Have you wondered the difference between DSL, cable modem service, fiber, and wireless? Dale Hatfield explains it all.

Based on these technological realities, he also makes an interesting policy argument in the last paragraph: while government policy is targeting the clearing of spectrum, it should also encourage increased build-out of fiber lines closer and closer to residential homes. This build-out is important for increasing capacity for wireline networks, but also for  wireless networks, complimenting our spectrum policies.