Though most users are easily able to bypass the filters in place, the entertainment industry is asking the UK government to expand the list of websites filtered by the country's ISPs. According to CNET, the UK equivalent of the RIAA, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), is now requesting that UK ISPs filter user access to Fenopy, H33t, and Kickass Torrents. Most ISPs are saying they'll only filter the websites if ordered to do so by the UK government, which was the case for The Pirate Bay. Meanwhile, given these filters are usually DNS-based, they're fairly easy for anyone to bypass by using third-party DNS services. The focus on the new websites will likely act to draw more users to those websites, in turn increasing their popularity. A game of Whac-a-Mole, anyone?

• Subscriber data from Internet service providers [MSNBC.com]
• Six Dead – Or Dying –'Cable Killers' [lightreading.com]
• Former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin lobbies for LightSquared [pcadvisor.co.uk]
• EU Commissioner Warns Member States to Back Broadband in New Budget [cio.com]
• LTE-enabled iPhone 5 may prompt AT&T customers to jump ship to Verizon [cnet.com]
• Windows Phone 8-based Lumia 920, 820 leak onto the Web [cnet.com]
• HP launches first version of Open WebOS in beta [cnet.com]
• EFF Sues to Get Secret Court Rulings Showing Feds Violated Spy Law [wired.com]
• Amazon Is Developing Ad-Supported Tablet [wsj.com]
• Congressional Reps Question Feds Over Botched Domain Seizures [techdirt.com]
• Poor Areas Of K.C. May Miss Google Fiber's First Wave [multichannel.com]
• Wireless Internet successes due to entrepreneurs, not government [fiercewireless.com]
• UK poll: 40% would drop fixed-line broadband for 4G when it becomes available [heraldonline.com]

Two months ago law enforcement in Estonia shut down a massive Internet traffic hijacking scheme that used the latest versions of DNSChanger Trojans to hijack search results while blocking victims from visiting security sites. According to security researcher Brian Krebs, DNS Changer remains on computers at 50% of Fortune 500 companies, and on PCs at nearly 50% of all federal government agencies.

• Slovenian ambassador apologizes to public for signing ACTA; says her government made her do it [techdirt.com]
• Public broadband once again on the way to being smacked down in the name of fair competition in Georgia [washingtonexaminer.com]
• Congress Trying To Regulate Certain Wireless Spectrum Issues... In A Payroll Tax Bill? [techdirt.com]
• Netflix under the Microscope [broadbandandtvnews.com]
• UK to get 300Mbps courtesy of BT [geek.com]
• Verizon to be first ever to stream Super Bowl live to mobiles [multichannel.com]
• Feds Arrest Streaming Site Operator for Copyright Infringement [torrentfreak.com]
• Will Verizon ever get a 4G Windows Phone? [cnet.com]
• 100 million domains now registered [theregister.co.uk]
• RIM offering coders free Playbook if they make their Android apps available through its app store [reghardware.com]

• iPhone Data Debunks Recording Industry's Report On How French Three Strikes Law Increased Sales [techdirt.com]
• Lightsquared rejects bribery claim [politico.com]
• Netflix partners with company that promises to reduce bandwidth by 20% - 50% without sacrificing video quality [lightreading.com]
• The Pirate Bay Moves to .SE Domain To Prevent Domain Seizure [torrentfreak.com]
• Beyond ACTA: next secret copyright agreement negotiated this week—in Hollywood [arstechnica.com]
• Asian economic powerhouses are also broadband slowpokes [arstechnica.com]
• Louisiana municipal fiber broadband battle highlights telco's & cableco's determination to kill similar projects [usatoday.com]
• UK's average broadband speed is 7.6Mbps [pcadvisor.co.uk]
• Pacific Gas & Electric can charge customers $10 to nix smartmeters [desertnews.com]
• HTC admits some of its Android phones leak WiFi passwords [thenextweb.com]
• World's first bamboo smartphone to enter production [reghardware.com]
• Cable customer service is more important than a new brand [fiercecable.com]
• Wireless displaces PC as top semiconductor spending area for OEMs in 2011 [digitimes.com]

• MPAA threat sparks White House petition for bribery probe [theregister.co.uk]
• Bill in Senate will limit public broadband [ajc.com]
• Megaupload Shutdown Means Other Companies Turning Off Useful Services [techdirt.com]
• Why cable needs EPON over coax [lightreading.com]
• The Behind-the-Scenes Campaign To Bring SOPA To Canada [michaelgeist.ca]
• LTE spectrum: How much do the big carriers have? [networkworld.com]
• Verizon Wireless Could Raise Government Eyebrows Over Bandwidth Deal with SpectrumCo [ibtimes.co.uk]
• AT&T, T-Mobile file request for spectrum transfer [fiercewireless.com]
• UK regulator Ofcom to borrow spectrum for London Olympics [tmcnet.com]
• MegaUpload shutdown actually made global Internet traffic drop [ispreview.co.uk]
• Microsoft gives details on mobile broadband improvements in Windows 8 [itbusiness.ca]
• AT&T adjusts Playastation Vita data pricing [slashgear.com]
• Anonymous dupes users into joining Megaupload attack [networkworld.com]
• Senator Says LightSquared E-mails Smack of Improper Contact [multichannel.com]

While the MPAA decried yesterday's SOPA/PIPA protests as a "publicity stunt," it seems clear that the protests did have their intended effect, with at least 18 Senators having withdrawn support for SOPA. ProPublica is keeping a running tally, and the numbers aren't going in the RIAA/MPAA's desired direction.

Yesterday we pointed out how Comcast had finished DNSSEC upgrades -- a very good thing in that it adds a layer of protection for users against DNS cache poisoning and phishing scams. We also noted that an added perk of the upgrades was that Comcast could no longer engage in DNS redirection, a practice whereby ISPs generate additional revenue by sending users who mistype URLs to ad-laden search portals -- instead of delivering a page-not-found result.

• Apple, RIM deny providing backdoor to customer data for government of India [theregister.co.uk]
• How France's Free.fr service will reinvent mobile [gigaom.com]
• Homeplug Power Alliance announces AV2 standard to support broadband speeds [eetimes.com]
• After beating Verizon in false advertising lawsuit, new Cablevision ad claims Optimum Online faster than FiOS [fiercecable.com]
• Entrepreneurs see opportunity in new race for domain names [wsj.com]
• Doubts cast over EU funding for UK broadband projects [ispreview.com]
• Will Microsoft's new WiFi-NC set a new network standard? [networkworld.com]
• Nokia looks to AT&T for US comeback [lightreading.com]
• In-Game purchase revenues to increase to $4.8BN in 2016, up from $2.1BN in 2011 [marketwire.com]
• Half of smartphone owners willing to watch ads for free apps [arstechnica.com]
• Mobile app usage further dominates Web [flurry.com]
• MySpace to re-invent itself as "over the top" Web TV experience [allthingsd.com]
• CenturyLink to bring IPTV to Qwest markets, expand FTTN network [fiercetelecom.com]
• In-Car wireless raises security, safety concerns [firecebroadbandwireless.com]

• FCC chairman says Lifeline program will help bridge the digital divide [huffingtonpost.com]
• Android as we know it will die within 2 years? [The Grain]
• Gigabit WiFi taking center stage at CES [macworld.com]
• 4G LTE in the car: The best use of next-gen wireless broadband yet? [zdnet.com]
• Surprise! AT&T's network is pretty good [CNN Money]
• Sprint launches initial 4G devuces, including a 4G hotspot [businesswire.com]
• AT&T to drop PS Vita on Feb. 22nd, also unveils pricing [slashgear.com]
• Android passes iOS for market share during December [cnet.com]
• The Pirate Bay Shows Futility of Domain and DNS Blocks [torrentfreak.com]
• RIM unveils Playbook OS 2.0, Blackberry 7.1 [totaltele.com]
• Buy a one year NYT or People Nook sub, get a Nook free [paidcontent.org]
• Company claims emergency phone's battery has 15 year standby time [gizmodo.com]

• Vint Cerf gets rebutted: Internet access IS a human right [techi.com]
• Comcast 'completes' DOCSIS 3.0 rollout [lightreading.com]
• Broadcom Unveils Next-Gen "5G Wi-Fi" Chips Capable Of Up To 1.3Gbps [maximumpc.com]
• Dish Poised To Unveil Wireless Broadband Plans, Multiroom DVR: Reports [multichannel.com]
• 3G and 4G Handsets Will Capture More than 50% of Handset Sales in 2012 [abiresearch.com]
• AT&T says it will complete network upgrade by 2013 [yahoo.com]
• Clearwire's got capacity to share [wirelessweek.com]
• RIM puts resources behind single Blackberry 10 device [cnet.com]
• VP of Hughes says satellite is being ignored [pcpro.co.uk]
• Telecomms industry revenue to reach $2.1 Trillion in 2012 [bgr.com]
• Iran latest to clamp down on Internet [guardian.co.uk]
• ICANN to expand top level Internet domains despite critics [reuters.com]

• GoDaddy boycott fail: Twice as many domans transfer in than out [techdirt.com]
• Verizon: Yes, we're having 4G network 'growing pains'; Each outage has been a different problem, but have had 99% up-time [cnet.com]
• HTC releases bootloader to unlock phones launched after September 2011 [recombu.com]
• Kaspersky claims to have found proof that writers of the Stuxnet and Duqu malware are the same person, warn of at least three new families of advanced malware potentially in circulation [theregister.co.uk]
• EFF wins appeal to reopen warrantess wiretapping case [theregister.co.uk]
• Apple envisions face, presence detection security for IOS devices [patentlyapple.com]
• Google testing new email subscription ad format [techcrunch.com]
• Apple's market share grew from 9.8% to 11.2%, but Samsung still top OEM [techcrunch.com]
• Apple slowly gaining patents to fight its war of attrition with Android [artechnica.com]
• AT&T to get first LTE Windows phones? [cnet.com]
• Plystation Vita sales plummet in 2nd week [telegraph.co.uk]
• Nintendo stealthily building full-blown app store for release with upcoming Wii U [thedaily.com]

• Leap and MetroPCS new take-over targets for AT&T? [bloomberg.com]
• Verizon says 4G outage fixed [cnbc.com]
• Free Skype WiFi for NYC for New Years [webpronews.com]
• Verizon maintains network leadership with advanced wireline & wireless tech and expanded infrastructure [thestreet.com]
• Largest UK provider BT officially rolls out 80mbps FTTC broadband for testing [ispreview.co.uk]
• How your privacy is being eroded online [alternet.org]
• Websites, apps vulnerable to low-bandwidth, non-bot takedown [Computerworld]
• As GoDaddy Deals With SOPA Fallout, Hollywood Wants To Punish GoDaddy For Enabling Infringement [techdirt.com]
• Apple to unveil two new versions of next-gen iPad in January [digitimes.com]
• Surprise! Google, Facebook most visited sites of 2011 [venturebeat.com]
• Amazon sells over 4M Kindle devices in December [techcrunch.com]

• MegaUpload to Universal: You've got some 'splainin' to do! [torrentfreak.com]
• GoDaddy exodus begins today [foxnews.com]
• Where in the world is LTE? (And for how much?) [lightreading.com]
• Why 4G hasn't taken off (yet) [pcworld.com]
• How Sonic.net and it's 8GB fiber service will take on caps, residents, and AT&T [gigaom.com]
• Senator seeks NTIA Help in Delaying Domain Name Increase [multichannel.com]
• China Telecom explains 'fake' broadband [crienglish.com]
• Leaked roadmap gives insight to path of Windows phones [wmpoweruser.com]
• USB stick turns any screen into an Android station [avinteractive.com]
• Apple iPad 3 less than a month away? [broadbandgenie.co.uk]
• Rumor Mill: Samsung Galaxy S III will be a 3D smartphone [dvice.com]

GoDaddy is one of a significant number of companies that support the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), a bill that critics charge violates the First Amendment and could break the Internet in a misguided attempt to stop piracy through website filtering. Courtesy of the folks over at Reddit, there has been a significant movement to shift domains away from GoDaddy, with many declaring this Thursday "Dump GoDaddy Day." The loss in business (an estimated 70,000 domains) resulted in the company issuing a statement saying that they no longer supported the legislation:

• Companies running for cover while demanding to bebtaken off SOPA boosters list; support for anti-piracy bill starts to crumble [techdirt.com]
• Go-Daddy apparently learns from Netflix debacle - abruptly withdraws support of SOPA anti-piracy bill after being faced with full-out customer revolt (but doesn't oppose the bill either) [gizmodo.com]
• Go-Go - the company which supplies top 10 US airlines with in-flight WiFi - files for IPO [seekingalpha.com]
• Telcos appealing against India's harsh 3G roaming pact ban [reuters.com]
• No winner in iPhone vs. Android race [theregister.co.uk]
• The great ebook swindle [guardian.com]
• RIM gets kicked while down - sued for using the name BBM [engadget.com]
• Buffalo will have next-gen 802.11ac wireless devices at CES [softpedia.com]
• Apple looking into fuel cell power for Macbooks [appleinsider.com]

Happy Holidays to all!

• EFF reverse-engineers Carrier IQ - Requests help in deciphering data [engadget.com]
• AT&T wins regulatorry approval to buy Qualcomm spectrum [reuters.com]
• FCC green lights first White Space device [arstechnica.com]
• Senator demanding answers about blog being held captive by government for a year [techdirt.com]
• Blackberry 10 is 'a failure that won't be able to compete': Company source [bgr.com]
• Hackers steal data of millions of Chinese Net users [penn-olsen.com]
• Is Verizon violating its promise to be open by blocking Google Wallet? [techdirt.com]
• 120 London subways to get WiFi [computerworld.com]
• Privacy advocates sue DHS over 'big brother'-like social media surveillance [networkworld.com]
• Go-Daddy SOPA support results in boycott, domain transfers [readwriteweb.com]
• Retailers trying to thwart price-check apps [wsj.com (subs!)]

• RIAA chief writes the NY Times in order to defend SOPA [nytimes.com]
• Verizon LTE now covering 2/3 of the country [gigaom.com]
• LTE bringing mobile revolution [fiercewireless.com]
• Huawei testing gigabit DSL [gigaom.com]
• Strategy Analytics: 6Million Homes Now Using Wireless As Only Broadband Service, But Fixed Broadband Will Remain Primary Access Method [marketwatch.com]
• Comcast expands IPv6 rollout to Illinois, Glorida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey [fiercecable.com]
• FCC asked to investigate Verizon/Google Wallet flap; group says Verizon is developing own tech with AT&T and T-Mobile [infosecurity-magazine.com]
• Almost half of European businesses regularly used mobile broadband for internet access in 2011, marking a massive increase in take-up over just one year [zdnet.co.uk]
• Towerstream hot for hotzones, carriers not warming up - yet [fiercewireless.com]
• First Amendment battle over BART reveals the power of the cell tower [yahoo.com]
• US LTE build-out timeline - Where we'll be in 3 years [fiercewireless.com]
• ACA: Encryption of Basic Tier is Good, But Give Flexibility to Small Operators [cable360.net]
• Game console video streaming on the rise [nielson.com]
• Domain Name Registry expansion runs into pushback on Capitol Hill [multichannel.com]
• Microsoft gives iPhone users 25GB of free storage [MSNBC.com]

• Dish Network: Plan B for T-Mobile? [bloomberg.com]
• Broadband Stimulus: Spent - $4.7 billion; Completions - Zero [yahoo.com]
• Lightsquared: Leaked test that says our network interferes with 75% of GPS signals is a distorion of truth [arstechnica.com]
• FBI: Carrier ID files used for law enforcement purposes [muckrock.com]
• Congressional investigation into the seizure and year-long fight for return of hip-hop blog's domain [techdirt.com]
• Judge Denies Verizon Request To Delay Payments To ActiveVideo [multichannel.com]
• A look ahead at mobility in 2012 [pcworld.com]
• Royalty-free web video spec sets sail with Apple's help? [theregister.co.uk]
• Wikipedia mulls total web blackout to protest SOPA [torrentfreak.com]
• Virgin offers 'lifetime' malware protectieon to customers [cableforum.co.uk]
• Victims of scareware to get slice of $8M pie [theregister.co.uk]
• We're getting more skilled at talking and driving [MSNBC.com]
• Amazon preps major UI update for Fire [reghardware.com]
• Call of Duty MW3 becomes hottest selling entertainmet product of all time [reghardware.com]

• FreedomPop vows to supply free 4G service via Lightsquared next year [pcworld.com]
• Verizon CEO rebuts op-ed piece with total bunk [commondreams.org]
• Senator threatens to hold up FCC nominees over Lightsquared [washingtonpost.com]
• MPAA sends 'top 10 list' of reasons to censor the Internet via PROTECTIP (PIPA) To Congress [techdirt.com]
• Verizon blames 'technical issue' for national 4G outage [reuters.com]
• SOPA foes ready alternative plan [cnet.com]
• Ratings company expects 3% - 4% rise for US telco, cable sector 2012 revenue [totaltele.com]
• A year ofter wrongful domain seizure, music site back online after fighting smoke, mirrors, and stonewalling by ICE [torrentfreak.com]
• Netherlands-based digital certificate authority suspends ops due to breach [theregister.co.uk]
• NCTA prez and former FCC chaiman Michael Powell: Distinctions between cable and Web becoming blurred [multichannel.com]
• Surprise! Research company determines that alot of people go online just for fun [networkworld.com]
• ICANN expansion to get hearing [multichannel.com]
• New iPad to launch in February? [businessinsider.com]
• Google+ does facial recognition, but it's opt-in from the beginning - avoiding Facebook-like creepiness [techcrunch.com]