Open Device

Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation (“PK and NAF”) support both consumer choice and the responsible use of mobile wireless signal boosters. PK and NAF agree with the Commission that if properly designed and certified, mobile signal boosters have the potential to greatly benefit the public while automatically providing sufficient protection against harmful interference. PK and NAF agree with the Commission’s proposal that mobile signal boosters should be classified as Section 307(e) devices and authorized without an individual license for use on any or all networks.

When the Open Technology Initiative presented at the Allied Media Conference in June, many of the participants documented it with posts to Twitter and Flickr. We used Storify, an online tool for compiling social media, to arrange those pics and tweets into a narrative of our workshop and a tour of local wireless networks.

Hub & Spoke Wireless Networks vs. Mesh Wireless Networks

Lately, cell phone companies have been trying hard to convince us that we control the airwaves. T-Mobile recently asked, "What do you want from your wireless company?" Verizon says we can "Rule The Air" with their service. These ads ignore that the airwaves already belong to the public, and that we are losing control, not gaining.

On the eve of the Future of the Internet Town Hall in Albuquerque, NM, the Open Technology Initiative and Media Literacy Project have co-authored an essay reminding wireless carriers who truly rules the air.

For Immediate Release
October 25, 2010

Washington, D.C. -- Today, New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative launched Japanese and Chinese language versions of Measurement Lab (M-Lab) website to encourage Internet users based in both countries to test the speed and other performance measures of their broadband connections.

Chip on Phone Overwrites User-Preferred Software -- Re-installs Original Firmware.

[October 13, 2010 UPDATE: OTI has released this follow-up analysis concerning the policy implications of mobile device lock down.]

Yesterday, some T-Mobile stores began selling its newest mobile device, the G2, an Android-based smart phone originally slated for an October 6 release while AT&T is slated to release it later in the year.

The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Initiative, Ann Arundel County, Maryland, Illinois NATOA, the SouthEast Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the National Capital Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the Washington Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the Minnesota Association for Career and Technical Advisors, and the States of California and Nevada Chapter of NATOA respectfully submit these comments to the Federal Communications Commission in respons

In a few short months, the forward momentum toward promoting video device competition has been considerable. In December of 2009, the Commission issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking initial comments on how to promote video device innovation.

Media Access Project, on behalf of Access Humboldt , et al. (collectively “Public Interest Advocates”), submits these Comments in response to the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking In the Matter of Preserving the Open Internet, Broadband Industry Practices. Public Interest Advocates firmly believe that they should not be constrained with what they are able to do with their Internet service, and instead would benefit from access to a more open and nondiscriminatory Internet.