There’s an important new study out that offers some historical analysis of spectrum auctions and how they can best be fashioned to benefit the economy and consumers . The study, by Georgetown University’s Center for Business and Public Policy visiting senior policy scholar... Read The Story...

On the final full day of last week’s conference of state regulatory commissioner’s (the National Association of Regulatory Commissioner’s Winter Meeting) in Washington, D.C., there was an interesting panel session addressing wireless consumer concerns.

The wireless panel discussion began with the GAO’s December report on wireless consumer issues.  While the GAO report revealed that consumers are somewhat or very satisfied with their wireless services (84%), there are still consumers that have complaints about their service. Some consumers are still experiencing problems related to billing issues, understanding charges, and service quality.  The GAO recommends that the FCC improve its oversight of wireless consumer concerns and complaints.

FCC’s Consumer Affairs Bureau Chief Joel Gurin stated that the FCC is looking at all these issues and working closely with consumer representatives and state regulators to consider how the FCC can help consumers.  Panelist Nebraska State Commissioner Anne Boyle spoke about the role state regulators can have in resolving consumer disputes regarding wireless service.  Wireless industry association representative (Dane Snowden, CTIA) stated that the industry is listening to consumers and the concerns and issues they have, and the wireless market has responded.

These wireless consumer issues will continue to be addressed over the coming months. The FCC has a Notice of Inquiry directed at the information and disclosures consumers need when purchasing wireless phones and service. We expect that regulators and the industry will be working on resolving these issues, to help minimize customer dissatisfaction issues that continue to be raised by consumers aints and dissatisfactions that the regulator’s and industry aim to resolve.

Today I attended the first day of the Winter Conference of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, in Washington, D.C.

NTIA’s Assistant Secretary Larry Strickling kicked-off the day and provided an update on the BTOP grants program – first and second rounds.  With less than 10% of the first round grants awarded, there are still many more projects to be awarded.  Assistant Secretary Strickling knows that the clock is running and they are trying to move quickly to get the funds out the door.  However, he said the most important thing is that five years from now these projects (that are funded) are still going.  They don’t want to fund any failures.

The highlight of the program today was a panel on net neutrality, with representatives from Comcast, AT&T, Google, Free Press, ITTA (association representing mid-size telephone companies) speaking for and against the need for FCC net neutrality rules.  A representative from the FCC’s Wireline Bureau also spoke and defined the FCC’s interest in an Open Internet and the current proceeding.

Speakers for Comcast, AT&T and ITTA all stated support the FCC’s current four open Internet principles and do not believe the six proposed open Internet rules are needed.  Google and Free Press disagreed, endorsing the proposed rules.  There was a brief discussion about reasonable network management, but the most interesting topic was regarding the question of the risks of openness anywhere in the ecosystem, not just at the point of the Internet Service Provider.  There was a particularly pointed exchange between a state commissioner and Google regarding its own blocking behavior.  Isn’t that an issue as well?

Very interesting panel!

At the Future of Privacy Forum’s special program  for Data Privacy Day, the issue was online privacy and your online reputation.  Addressing the key issues of concern were Nat Wood (FTC’s Consumer and Business Education Bureau), Marsali Hancock (iKeepSafe) and Jim Harper (CATO Institute).

It was interesting to hear about the challenges everyone confronts in trying to manage their online reputation.  Marsali Hancock stressed the importance of teaching kids to create a positive online reputation.  Nat Wood discussed the tools that could serve to assist kids and parents.   Industry privacy tools and practices are also good solutions and it’s important to provide an environment for industry to work together to develop best practices and effective tools for consumers to use to protect their privacy and reputation online.

While we focus on educating our youth about privacy and how to protect their online reputation, this is not just a kids problem.   Increasingly, adults and older adults are participating on social networks, posting photos, sharing information and communicating online.  There is a need for all generations to manage their online reputations.  It’s important that consumers be aware of what they can do to create a positive reputation online and to know about the privacy tools that can help protect their personal information – and to know how to use them.  As consumers take steps to protect themselves online, we also need to make sure that network providers are responsible and can react to consumer’s needs on the Internet.

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Consumer Resources

Below are additional resources to more information about online privacy.

Consumer Guide to Online Privacy (PDF)
What is 4G Wireless Service? (PDF)
Consumer Online Privacy Survey
2008 Online Safety Survey
bNetS@vvy
www.onguardonline.gov
www.ikeepsafe.org/
www.getnetwise.org
www.fosi.org
www.enough.org

Other Organizations

National Caucus and Center on Black Aged:
http://www.ncba-aged.org/

National Consumers League:
http://www.nclnet.org/