Net Neutrality Activists Target Google as Talks Heat Up

Digits - WSJ:

Net neutrality activists and left-leaning interest groups are launching an online advertising campaign targeting Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin for the company’s recently announced agreement about web traffic delivery with Verizon Communications.

Google has long been a supporter of net neutrality – the idea that Internet providers can’t deliberately block or slow data traffic – however the company’s recent legislative proposal with Verizon prompted some activists to suggest the search giant had sold out on the issue.

The Google-Verizon proposal would have given the FCC limited authority to police Internet lines. But it would have allowed Verizon and other Internet providers to create special prioritized lanes of Internet traffic for companies willing to pay extra. It also wouldn’t have imposed net neutrality rules on wireless Internet networks.

“We’re continuing to rally the public, including techies in Silicon Valley, against Google’s decision to be evil and harm the free and open Internet,” said Jason Rosenbaum, senior online campaigns director for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a left-leaning political interest group, in a statement. ...

Huawei’s T62W eBook Reader Hits the FCC

Wireless Goodness: "It looks like there will be another competitor entering the already crowded eBook reader market. Chinese telecom equipment supplier Huawei passed the T62W eBook reader through the FCC today. The eInk-based eBook reader features 3G support on WCDMA networks, 802.11 b/g WiFi and Bluetooth."

Tweaking B&N Nook Hardware

From SlashGear:

Barnes & Noble’s nook looks to be going through a further hardware tweaking, with a new version of the 3G/WiFi ereader showing up in the FCC database. The nook BNRZ100-01 – codenamed “CR Nook/Bravo Delta” – looks to be a minor revision of the original model (the BNRZ100), swapping out the 3G modem used for an updated version.

That updated 3G card is the Sierra Wireless MC8201V (again, locked into data-only mode), supporting the 850 and 1900 bands. That means that the triband UMTS/HSPA (which added in 2100MHz support) capabilities of the original nook have been lost; it’s possible this is a cost saving measure on B&N’s part. Of course there’s also WiFi b/g for local networks.

The confidentiality letter B&N submitted to the FCC requests 180 days secrecy on the external and internal photos, together with the user manual for the new nook model, from the date of approval. That’s the maximum period of confidentiality a company can request, and probably doesn’t give us a hint as to when B&N plan to debut the new model.