TechBytes

One year after the FCC’s reversal of the Obama administration’s heavy-handed internet regulations, not only did the sky not fall but investment is up, fiber and wireless are accelerating, and the broadband economy is back on the right track.

The race is on. The option for the U.S. is to either win or fall behind, ceding the future to our global competitors.

Proposed legislation in Georgia would expand broadband access by allowing electric co-ops to enter the broadband market. It also properly includes the necessary protections to ensure competition, such as barring the new co-op broadband entrants from charging exorbitant fees to their competitors for utility pole attachment.

The FCC is proposing to reaffirm its cable franchising rules, which are needed to limit local governments' efforts to increase their reach, regulations and fees (i.e., taxes).

Innovation continues to outpace government, especially the capacity of legislatures to design sound policy frameworks. The danger is that poor policy will hamper the rollout of smart technology.

A successful consumer data privacy law would be a federal law that addresses interstate issues.

When government imposes costs on companies, they end up being passed along in the form of higher prices.

The internet got dramatically better in the year since internet regulations were reversed.

California's effort to regulate the internet ignores the Constitution's Commerce Clause, even though the internet is the very definition of interstate commerce.

Surveys show that much of the public is concerned about driverless cars; but pilot programs in Texas will hopefully dispel those fears.