• Broadband Bill Meetings In Full Swing; Little Progress Expected Toward Consensus [multichannel.com]
• We're watching more TV online, relying on mobile devices and ditching land lines: CRTC report [vancouversun.com]
• NYC Subway to Get Wi-Fi and Cell Service, We Look In To Buying Bikes [switched.com]
• Roadmap to Broadband Britain released [computerweekly.com]
• U.S. regulators weighing responses to Huawei's entrance [fiercewireless.com]
• MS preps emergency patch for Windows shortcut peril [theregister.co.uk]
• Ballmer: killing the iPad is a "job one urgency" [electronista.com]
• 'Suspicious' Android wallpaper app nabs user data; up to 4 million downloads [theregister.co.uk]
• Kindle Wi-Fi: Has Amazon won the e-reader war? [csmonitor.com]

The weekend has arrived, so talk amongst yourselves in the comment section below.

Despite those ever-present AT&T complaints of wireless network congestion, the company (well, all wireless carriers) are continually looking for new ways to connect people their 3G networks -- be they e-readers or electric cars. AT&T has announced that they've struck a deal with Nissan to bring HSDPA 3G connectivity to the new electric Nissan Leaf. The 3G connectivity not only allows users to access in-car media, but it's closely tied to the car's recharging systems, informing you of the nearest recharging stations and allowing users to monitor their battery levels remotely. Given Nissan plans to sell the LEAF worldwide, they chose AT&T because of their support of the GSM standard.

In its first partnership extending beyond wholesale agreements with major cable companies like Time Warner Cable and Comcast, Clearwire has announced they're now allowing Best Buy to rent space on the Clearwire network so they can also sell their own 4G services. Earlier this month we noted how Best Buy had already struck a deal with Sprint to resell wireless phone and EVDO service under the "Best Buy Connect" brand. According to the Best Buy and Clearwire announcement, the actual 4G service won't be available at Best Buy until 2011. Best Buy pricing is fairly standard -- though Best Buy hopes to make their offers compelling by offering subsidized netbook and other hardware deals to subscribers.

Last January the FCC issued an order (pdf) designed to put an end to cable operators preventing competitors from accessing local sports channels owned by the cable company. Last month those rules went into effect, and Dish, DirecTV, Verizon and AT&T have kicked the complaint process into high gear as they try to get access to Cablevision's MSG HD in New York, and Comcast's SportsNet Philadelphia. Dish today announced they were filing their complaint over Comcast with the FCC, claiming the cable operator refused to negotiate access to the channel in "good faith." Judging from some inside information, negotiations for access don't appear to be moving anywhere very quickly.

Most cable operators are deploying switched digital video (SDV) technology, which frees up bandwidth on cable systems by delivering fewer channels to the cable-box, keeping the rest waiting at the edge router. In current cable systems, all channels are consistently made available to the set-top, using up valuable bandwidth even if your TV is off.

As CNET explores, Netflix has been doing rather well financially -- which resulted in Hollywood very quickly begging them for more money. Hollywood has also gotten Netflix to do things like delaying new releases for thirty days under the misguided impression that this is somehow going to help save physical DVD sales.

Back in January of 2008, the cable industry announced Tru2way, a re-imagining of OCAP technology that was intended to integrate set-top box functionality into TVs and other devices. Users would be able to use these devices with any cable operator, eliminating the need for the set top box.

• An Order of Seven Global Cyber-Guardians Now Hold Keys to the Internet [popsci.com]
• How long will AT&T's competitors resist tiered pricing plans? [fiercebroadbandwireless.com]
• HomePlug Alliance jacks up powerline home networking [businesswire.com]
• Australia to force users to have broadband connection [techeye.net]
• Satellite broadband touted as digital divide clincher (again) [v3.co.uk]
• Talk Talk and Vodafone tie up on mobile broadband [theinquirer.net]
• Cox Business makes Security Suite available to web subscribers [cbronline.com]
• RIM will release a Blackpad [theinquirer.net]

• What is Sprint's trump card? [fiercewireless.com]
• White House Seeks Easier FBI Access To Internet Records, Blocks Oversight Attempt... Just As FBI Caught Cheating On Exam To Stop Abuse techdirt.com[]
• Clearwire adds Best Buy as 4G wholesale partner [fiercewireless.com]
• San Francisco Bay Area Selects Motorola for the Nation's First Public Safety 700 MHz LTE Broadband Network [redorbit.com]
• Ofcom Faces Backlash For Broadband Criticism [eweekeurope.co.uk]
• Sprint set to release 3G-enabling "case" for iPod touch [arstechnica.com]
• Amazon Launches $139 Wi-Fi-Only Kindle [informationweek.com]
• 1 Billion Global Broadband Subs by 2015 Reports Strategy Analytics [tmcnet.com]

Vermont already wasn't exactly a great state for broadband, given the largely rural state is a ROI nightmare for large ISP bean counters. Their broadband fortunes were recently made substantially worse by Fairpoint Communications, who acquired Verizon's unwanted New England DSL network, then subsequently imploded under the not so watchful eye of Vermont regulators.

Google recently found themselves under fire from privacy regulators in multiple countries for the company's admission that they had been collecting Wi-Fi user data from unsecured hotspots using Street View vehicles. Google initially stated they only collected publicly available SSID and MAC Address data -- then later acknowledged that they were collecting snippets of actual transmitted data -- though Google insisted they did so accidentally. However, a UK review has found no real privacy harm was done:The UK's findings are in line with Google's admission that the equipment used changed channels roughly five times a second while the vehicle was moving.

In other words, while Google did intend to collect publicly available SSID and MAC information, most of the live Wi-Fi user data collected (from unsecured hotspots only) was largely useless. Google has admitted error and apologized for their screw up, though the company still faces inquiries in multiple countries and in the United States.

Gizmodo notes that several Comcast customers are apparently being told that they need to pay their outstanding balances of $0.00, or they face having their broadband connection disconnected. The website also posts the complaint of a Charter Communications customer who actually did have their broadband service terminated for failing to pay their $0.00 bill.

JD Power and Associates has released their 2010 Wireless Customer Care Performance Study, which tracks how well wireless carriers manage customer complaints using the Internet, phone support, in-store retail assistance, and via automated support systems. According to the standings, T-Mobile came in first place with a consumer care rating of 777 followed by AT&T (757), Verizon (749) and Sprint (734).

While the two administrations certainly have their differences, the Obama administration is following the Bush administration's lead on a number of fronts -- specifically in terms of surveillance and privacy in the digital age. According to the Washington Post, the Obama camp is working to make it easier for the FBI to compel your ISP to turn over your online activity records without a court order "if agents deem the information relevant to a terrorism or intelligence investigation:" story continues..

Phone Scoop noticed a few documents in the ever-compelling FCC document pile that reference a new and somewhat different product from ZTE that's set to launch via Sprint. From the documents, it appears to be some kind of sleeve that can be wrapped around the iPod Touch but has no physical connection to the device. Instead, it appears that the device is essentially a tiny 3G hotspot integrated into a case, allowing users to easily connect their iPod Touch to the Sprint 3G network. Like many of these mobile hotspots, this one comes with integrated GPS and supports up to five additional devices via Wi-Fi. Full documents and photos for the device are available here at the FCC website.

Turner Broadcasting and Verizon have announced that the two companies have expanded Verizon's "TV Anywhere" Internet video ambitions by providing FiOS TV customers with access to TBS and TNT content. According to the companies, users will now have access to show from these channels 24 hours after they air on regular TV. Users can access the content either through the TV Everywhere website for TBS, The TV Everywhere website for TNT, or the Verizon FiOS TV Online website. The walled garden video technology being used is provided by both Adobe Systems Incorporated and FreeWheel.

According to Reuters, Research In Motion is expected to hold a joint announcement next Tuesday to unveil the new BlackBerry 9800, which will feature a new operating system, a revamped web browser and full slide-out keyboard. While the new 9800 will be unveiled next week, it won't officially hit store shelves until mid-August. Early leaks also seem to hint at a looming Storm 3 phone that should launch late this year on Verizon. The phone (like the 9800) is RIM's attempt to play catch up with Android by incorporating features like a portable 3G hotspot, 802.11N Wi-Fi, more RAM, and a 5 megapixel camera.

• The 10 U.S. Cities With The Fastest Broadband [sfgate.com]
• Turner's TV Everywhere Goes Live With Verizon FiOS TV [multichannel.com]
• Former House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair To Genachowski: Abandon Title II Plan [multichannel.com]
• UK population to be guaranteed mobile 768Kb/sec service [theregister.co.uk]
• Broadband and Live Video, A Lifestyle Need [isedb.com]
• Pacnet, Pacific Fiber to build Australia-US cable [reuters.com]
• AT&T claims it will be 'the premier carrier' for Windows Phone 7 [engadget.com]
• Researcher 'leaks' 100 million Facebook IDs [tgdaily.com]

• Just two Chinese ISPs serve 20% of world broadband users [arstechnica.com]
• What does it take to migrate from WiMAX to LTE? [fiercebroadbandwireless.com]
• British Watchdog: Google Wi-Fi Data Contains Nothing Significant [maximumpc.com]
• Will LightSquared succeed with its LTE ambitions? [fiercewireless.com]
• What your phone app doesn't say: It's watching [msnbc.com]
• Google's licensing changes could put a lid on Android app piracy [cnet.com]
• UK Government Confirms Long-Awaited Spectrum Auction [eweekeurope.co.uk]
• Apple to investigate iOS 4 problems on iPhone 3G [cnet.com]