Quarter of US Residents "Couldn't Live" Without Super Fast Broadband: [23rd Dec 2010]

The FCC has passed new guidelines for broadband in a move which has been branded as being a two tier system. It is thought that Internet providers will be able to develop fast lines for services like video and slower ones for general services. Mobile phone carriers have been exempted from these rules however, and will be able to charge extra for people to watch video on their mobiles. The regulations will ban providers from blocking content, but they can manage their data traffic. It is thought that lobbying by companies such as Google has influenced the FCC not to enforce net neutrality rules on wireless operators. It is thought that the move could give wireless providers more control over the Internet. It is thought that the new rules are a compromise and has given too much power to big companies. The new rules were put through with just one deciding vote. Julius Genochowski from the FCC has said that for the first time they will have enforceable rules to preserve Internet freedom.


It has emerged that one quarter of people in the US could not live without the Internet. A poll by Zoby International showed that 28% of US adults said that super fast broadband was the most important application they used on their computer, while email came in at just 18%. Just 3% of those who were questioned described social networking sites as their favorite service. High speed Internet access was also named as the most important new technology to emerge over the last ten years, while Facebook came second and Google, third. One quarter of people felt that home entertainment will be the biggest technological advancement in years to come.


The deal between Comcast and NBC has been pushed forward until the New Year due to the fact that the FCC and the Department of Justice do not have enough time to complete the transaction. Comcast believe that it should be complete by the end of January. The deal first came to light one year ago and will create a media giant worth $37 billion. The deal combines Comcast's cable channels with NBC's TV, movie and theme park assets. Regulators still have concerns about how the deal will affect the online video market. Competitors in the industry are pushing for more regulation of the merger, particularly Level 3 who feel that Comcast are imposing high level of fees for the delivery of video traffic on its network.


According to a report from The Technology Policy, the cost of broadband Internet service in the US has remained broadly unchanged since 2007. It was also revealed that the cost is about average compared to the rest of the world. However it was discovered that bundled packages such as television, data and voice packages were some of the most expensive in the world. The price of broadband connections faster than 25Mbps have increased by 25% during the period but just 1% of US subscribers have these types of packages. Business broadband prices have also stayed relatively unchanged.


An FCC statement has suggested that as part of the National Broadband Plan, options such as texting, email, video and photos could be used alongside the 911 service. The FCC points out that there are 270 million people in the US who have access to wireless devices and about 70% of 911 calls are made from mobiles. Currently 911 call handlers cannot accept texts from those in an emergency. These types of limitations on the 911 service could have tragic consequences the FCC claimed.


A poll which came out this week has reported that one in five shoppers has just started their Christmas shopping this week and many of these are doing it online. The IBM Coremetric survey discovered that online sales were up 23% on Tuesday compared to this time last year. Due to the late buying habits of shoppers this year, many online retailers are offering late delivery dates for those who want their items delivered on Christmas Eve. Many are offering special deals on shipping to encourage last minute shoppers.