White House

White House: We 'Win the Future' by Making ISPs into Copyright Cops

Stevie Converse — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:20:23 -0400

Full article: Ars Technica
Nate Anderson
While ISPs were for years seen more like the "common carriers" of yore, who ran a network and were generally not responsible for policing the uses of that network, government sentiment in key quarters is changing. And not just in the United States -- at the recent high level OECD Internet conference in Paris, the concluding document stressed ISPs' duty to halt bad behavior. But there's a huge, obvious risk to piling up the obligations on intermediaries, who begin taking action against people without court orders and in areas in which they may have no technical expertise.

NTIA Would Allot $7 Billion for Public Safety Network

Stevie Converse — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:38:46 -0500

Full article: The Hill
Sara Jerome
The telecom arm of the Commerce Department, NTIA, will administer funding for a national mobile broadband network for first responders under the White House budget proposal. The White House estimates the cost of the network at over $10 billion, but that includes as a cost the $3 billion the government would cede by choosing not to auction off the D Block of spectrum to commercial providers.

FCC Approved Net Neutrality Rules

Stevie Converse — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:26:07 -0500

Full article: Politico
Kim Hart and Tony Romm
The FCC adopted new rules that will govern how Internet providers treat Web traffic and services, a move that sets the stage for a heated political battle on Capitol Hill come January. Republicans at both the FCC and in Congress strongly oppose any rules to govern Web traffic. The FCC meeting sent political shock waves that divided members on Capitol Hill.

White House Swamped with Authors Looking for the Inside Story

Lindsy Embree — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:12:19 -0400

Full article: Washington Post
Howard Kurtz
The White House has practically been overrun by journalists pumping top officials for behind-the-scenes details for a growing roster of behind-the-scenes books. The blitz has created complications for presidential aides, who have a country to run, and frustrations for the authors, who are clamoring for face time with their sources.

Obama's Tech Chief Reaffirms Net Neutrality Support

Stevie Converse — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:02:52 -0400

Full article: Washington Post
Cecilia Kang
The nation's chief technology officer, Aneesh Chopra, reaffirmed the White House's support for rules that would prevent Internet providers from acting as gatekeepers over Web content.

Obama Set to Create a Cybersecurity Czar with Broad Mandate

Stevie Converse — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:46:25 -0400

Full article: Washington Post
Ellen Nakashima
President Obama is expected to announce late this week that he will create a "cyber czar," a senior White House official who will have broad authority to develop strategy to protect the nation's government-run and private computer networks.

Documents About Lost E-Mail Can Stay Secret

Stevie Converse — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:38:08 -0400

Full article: Washington Post
Del Quentin Wilber
A federal appeals court ruled that the White House does not have to make public internal documents examining the potential disappearance of e-mails during the administration of President George W. Bush. The appeals court found that the White House's Office of Administration is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Robert Gibbs: No Bailout for Newspapers

Stevie Converse — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:00:58 -0400

Full article: Politico
Carol E. Lee
Asked in a briefing if the White House would consider bailing out the newspaper business, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the government may not have the power to reverse the industry’s decline.

White House Now on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter

Stevie Converse — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:56:57 -0400

Full article: PC World
Brennon Slattery
The White House this weekend opened a variety of social networking sites, including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts. These new social networking memberships join the growing list of Web 2.0 initiatives that President Barack Obama's White House has adopted since taking oath.

White House Officials Play Key Role in Shaping Broadband Stimulus Program

Lindsy Embree — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:01:33 -0400

Full article: Congress Daily
David Hatch
The White House is playing a critical behind-the-scenes role in shaping a $7.2 billion loan-and-grant program aimed at spurring wider broadband Internet access, despite a congressional mandate that put the Agriculture and Commerce departments in charge of the economic stimulus effort.