Departing FTC Commissioner Pans Digital Ad Industry’s Privacy Program (Ad Age)
Julie Brill thinks the ad tech industry could do better. A strong voice for consumer privacy during her six-year tenure leading the FTC, the commissioner has stepped down to join law firm Hogan Lovells as a partner and co-director of its Privacy and Cybersecurity practice on April 1.
Divided FCC Votes for Lifeline Reform (Broadcasting & Cable)
A bitterly divided FCC has voted 3-2 along party lines to reform the Lifeline subsidy by applying it to stand-alone broadband and other changes. In the process, a compromise with Republicans brokered by a Democrat at the last minute fell apart—more like blew up—at the last second, and the perceived comity turned into divisive language.
California Assemblyman Pushes One-Click Cancellation of Pay TV Services (Broadcasting & Cable)
California Assemblyman Mike Gatto has introduced a bill that would allow pay TV and Internet customers to cancel their services online, instead of having to call their service provider. The bill would update the state’s civil code to require pay TV and ISPs that offer sign-up for services online to make it just as easy to cancel.
How AI Is Feeding China’s Internet Dragon (Technology Review)
Baidu is using AI to move quickly in a dynamic and competitive tech landscape, says Andrew Ng, the company’s chief scientist and a prominent machine-learning expert. Two years ago the company created an internal group called the Institute of Deep Learning to explore ways to apply the technology across the company.
FCC advances privacy proposal (The Hill)
The FCC voted along party lines to formally consider rules governing how customers can control the way their ISPs uses their personal data. If approved, the rules would require consumers to explicitly permit the companies to use or share much of their information. There are exceptions.
FCC in agreement: Agency can’t regulate Netflix (The Hill)
The chair of the FCC said Netflix throttling its own video over mobile networks does not violate net neutrality. “It is outside of open Internet. We do not regulate edge providers,” FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told reporters. Last week, it was revealed that Netflix slows the download speed of its streaming video over mobile networks.
Music Industry A-Listers Call on Congress to Reform Copyright Act (Hollywood Reporter)
Katy Perry, Steven Tyler and Lionel Richie are just a few of hundreds of artists, songwriters and others in the music industry who are calling on Washington to reform the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Inside Story of How Oculus Cracked the Impossible Design of VR (Wired)
When you set out to create a virtual reality headset, you soon realize that the idea of form following function is bullshit. It’s a reductive canard. Yes, both of those things matter, and the Oculus Rift does need to be both beautiful and powerful, but it’s not something you hold in your hand—it’s something you put on your face.
Year later, Amazon goes bigger on Dash order buttons (USA Today)
It’s been a year since Amazon unleashed its first batch of Amazon Dash Buttons, the hockey rink-shaped instant order buttons tied to popular brands for baby formula, coffee, detergent, paper towels, and other products. And now, on this first anniversary, Amazon is tripling the number of available Dash Buttons to more than 100.
Dish, Cox Do Deal; Media Gen Talks Continue (TV Predictions)
Cox Media announced that it has reached a new carriage agreement with Dish Network, avoiding a blackout of Cox’s 14 stations in the satcaster’s lineup. Meanwhile, Media General said last night that it has granted a “short-term extension” in its carriage talks with Dish. The broadcaster did not reveal the length of the extension.
How 4 news organizations are using Facebook Live to reach broader audiences (Ponyter)
Since Facebook Live became widely available earlier this year, news organizations have been experimenting with the social network’s livestreaming tool to draw audiences into impromptu broadcasts tied to their Facebook pages.
Can Netflix and Cable Actually Work Together? (My San AntonioCommentary)
We shouldn’t necessarily believe all of the talk about Netflix and other streaming services mean the ultimate end of cable as we know it. It’s possible consumers will want as much quality programming as they can get. In that world, Netflix simply becomes another successful premium channel — a variation on HBO or Showtime.
54% Would Share Smart Home Habits For Money, 47% For Coupons, Discounts (Media Post)
Information from smart devices in the home could be valuable and it looks like many consumers would be willing to trade some of that information for a fee. And it’s not just money that marketers may need to fork over for valuable consumer insights, since coupons and discounts could do the trick as well.