Morning Media Summary
Tech:
FCC to Vote on Internet Regulation Plan Despite Economic Warnings:
“Lawmakers are on high alert as the Federal Communications Commission prepares to vote on a plan to regulate the Internet despite warnings that it could choke industry investment and hurt the economy as a whole.”
What happens after we have ‘net neutrality?’:
“Here’s what will most likely happen today: In the morning, the five members of the Federal Communications Commission will gather in a big room. The two Republican commissioners will read aloud passionate statements opposing the Democrats’ obsession with fixing a thing that is not broken. The three Democratic commissioners will read aloud passionate statements commending one another for saving the Internet
from a dystopian future conjured out of whole cloth by paranoid public interest groups.”
AT&T agrees to buy wireless spectrum from Qualcomm:
“Wireless carriers are under tremendous pressure to upgrade their networks to handle the traffic generated by a new generation of smartphone applications and the increasing consumer consumption of multimedia files downloaded or streamed to a growing multitude of devices.”
Google, Richard Blumenthal square off:
“More legal wrangling could be in store for Google now that it has refused to turn over to state investigators the e-mails and other data it accidentally collected while mapping neighborhoods.”
Music Web Sites Dispute Legality of Their Closing:
“When federal authorities shut down five Web sites last month on suspicion of copyright infringement, they gave no warning and offered no details of their investigation, and they have not filed any criminal charges since.”
Global Warming / Environment / Energy:
Schwarzenegger says he’d like a job working for Obama:
“Schwarzenegger, who counts legislation combating global warming as one of his signature achievements in office, suggested he might be interested in a post dealing with energy or the environment.”
Napolitano Says DHS to Begin Battling Climate Change as Homeland Security Issue:
“At an all-day White House conference on “environmental justice,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that her department is creating a new task force to battle the effects of climate change on domestic security operations.”
Insurance / Gambling:
Business Rx: Online Gambling Without Money:
“With online poker being so popular, Eric Mintzer saw an opportunity to create a free poker Web site with a twist — instead of gambling money, poker lovers can stake themselves with credits earned by watching advertisements. They can use those credits to play poker with other users and cash in their virtual winnings for other incentives.”
Health / Safety:
Health Care Law:
“For the first time since Democrats in Congress passed the health care bill in March, a majority of U.S. voters believe the measure is likely to be repealed.”
Economics:
$2tn debt crisis threatens to bring down 100 US cities:
“More than 100 American cities could go bust next year as the debt crisis that has taken down banks and countries threatens next to spark a municipal meltdown, a leading analyst has warned.”
Legal:
‘Long-Shot’ Cert Petition Alleges Tobacco Settlement Violated Compact Clause:
“A “long-shot” petition for certiorari references a little-known clause in the Constitution in an attack on the $200 billion multistate tobacco settlement.”
NJ Gov. Chris Christie commutes Aitken’s sentence:
“New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie commuted the sentence of Brian Aitken’s Monday, reducing his sentence from seven years in prison to time already served. According to Christie’s order, he will be released as soon as it’s “administratively possible.””
‘Pigford 101’ With Breitbart on Hugh Hewitt Show:
“Andrew Breitbart appeared on the Hugh Hewitt Show and laid out the latest on the unfolding Pigford scandal broken by BigGovernment.com.”
Labor:
The Buzz: SEIU deal better for workers than old furlough program, LAO says:
“The numbers, albeit late, are in: The deal that SEIU Local 1000 cut with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October is better than three-day-per-month furloughs for the 95,000 state employees the union represents.”
Watch Out: More Obama union pay-offs in the works:
“On Friday, President Obama mollified Big Labor bosses at the White House. Which means you better watch your wallets.”
Transportation/ Land Use:
Rail authority gets $616m more:
“Officials agreed on Monday to nearly double the length of the first segment of California’s planned high-speed rail line to allay concerns that the initial route will not reach major population centers in the Central Valley.”