Net neutrality restored as FCC votes to regulate internet providers
The Federal Trade Commission has voted to restore rules to prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&T from favoring some sites and apps over others โ for instance, by slowing or blocking certain content or by offering higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.
Widespread internet outages hit northeast U.S.
Users across the northeast U.S. reported widespread internet outages Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)Internet users across the northeast U.S. experienced widespread outages for several hours Tuesday, interrupting work and school because of an unspecified Verizon network issue. โAn internet issue impacting the quality of our Fios service throughout the Northeast has been resolved," said spokesman Rich Young in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon. People posting on Twitter reported having issues connecting with various online services in the region stretching from Washington, D.C., to Boston. Comcast, another major internet service provider, said it had not observed problems with its network Tuesday.
NBC's video service Peacock stresses 'free,' looks to 2021
So now Peacock, which launches Wednesday, is hoping that blaring free in an ad campaign for the service will entice viewers wary of adding yet another video subscription to their stack, even in todays stay-at-home world. It has a free tier and a $5-a-month paid tier with more video. Disney Plus, Apple TV Plus, HBO Max and short-video service Quibi have all launched over the past year. As a Comcast internet customer, she could get Peacock for free, so she did. HBO Max did not reply to a question about its subscriber count since launch.
Comcast, Byron Allen end racial discrimination dispute
Comcast settled a long-running a long-running racial discrimination dispute with black media mogul Byron Allen, agreeing to add three of Allen's channels to its cable packages. Allen sued Comcast for $20 billion in 2015 for refusing to carry seven of his networks, saying it was because of his race. The case made it to the Supreme Court, which in Marc h reversed a lower court ruling in favor of Allen. The Supreme Court said Allen had to show race was the decisive factor in Comcast's decision not to offer him a contract, not one of several factors. Comcast said it would put the full weight of our companys media resources behind highlighting Black voices and Black stories.
Non-profit streaming service Locast sues broadcast networks
Locast, a non-profit streaming service, has countersued Disney's ABC, CBS, Fox and Comcast's NBCUniversal, alleging the broadcasters engaged in antitrust conduct and colluded to grow their market power. NEW YORK - Locast, a non-profit streaming service, has countersued Disney's ABC, CBS, Fox and Comcast's NBCUniversal, alleging the broadcasters engaged in antitrust conduct and colluded to grow their market power. Their lawsuit named Locast founder David Goodfriend and his non-profit advocacy group, Sports Fans Coalition NY, Inc., which operates the service as the defendants. The case cites an April meeting between executives at YouTube TV, Google's paid streaming service, and Locast. This isn't the first time a streaming service has fought against the networks.