Wireless Bypass

Though the topic of net neutrality has been hot in the past few weeks, no one seems to be getting anywhere on the topic. The big question—Who, if anyone, will regulate broadband internet service providers, has yet to be answered.

Most recently, Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski defended his plan to impose regulations on broadband ISPs in front of the financial services subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He backs his plans despite the recent court ruling stating the commission lacked the authority to regulate.

Genachowski is trying to get around this court ruling by classifying broadband internet as a common carrier service (putting it in the same category as phone service, which can be regulated by the FCC). Was Genachowski going too far by trying to outsmart authority? The answer to this is unclear, but we do know that it caused a fair upset among many members of the board.

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The internet market is saturated with social networking sites and it takes something truly unique to stand out.  Foursquare is a relatively new site that brings a whole new aspect to keeping up with your friends.  Unlike many others of its kind, this social network doesn’t focus on what you are doing but where you are and where you’re going.  When you arrive at a building, whether it be a restaurant, movie theatre, or grocery store you check in using your mobile phone.  This site offers applications for many of the popular smartphones such as iPhone, Blackberry and Droid.  Foursquare users without smartphones can still participate through text messages.  (more…)