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Supreme Court won't hear appeal over Obama-era net neutrality rules
Net neutrality just secured a court victory... unfortunately, it won't make much of a difference in the near future. The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal of a 2016 DC court ruling that upheld the FCC's Obama-era net neutrality rules, leaving the earlier decision intact. The brief notice didn't explain why the Supreme Court had rejected the request, but noted that conservative Justices Alito, Gorsuch and Thomas would have overturned the lower court's verdict. Chief Justice Roberts and newly sworn-in Justice Kavanaugh weren't involved in the decision due to respective conflict of interest issues and past involvement.
US telecoms try to kill net neutrality by blocking key rules
The big US telecoms are trying every trick in the book to kill net neutrality, and that includes some very specific tactics. AT&T, CenturyLink and multiple industry groups have sent filings to the FCC asking it to block specific procedures, not the neutrality rules themselves. They want to stop the Commission from both reclassifying the internet as a utility and implementing a standard that prevents providers from "unreasonably interfering" with your internet access. Purportedly, these moves would require "crushing" costs and might chill investments in network upgrades -- arguments we've definitely heard before.
Carrier alliance sues to stop net neutrality rules
That didn't take long. The FCC's tougher net neutrality rules have only just been published in the federal register, and the lawsuits are already pouring in. The US Telecom Association has filed a suit claiming that the utility-style regulation of internet access is an "arbitrary and capricious" violation of US law. As you'd expect, the carriers still say they embrace net neutrality -- they just want the previous "light-touch" enforcement that has supposedly worked so far. We're sure that Netflix and other challengers would beg to differ, but that's now a matter for the courts to decide. [Image credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images]
CBS, Panasonic & DirecTV add US Open Tennis to 3D Demo Days lineup
Panasonic and DirecTV's n3D channel has added another event to its slate of coverage from Center Court of the US Open Championship during Labor Day Weekend and Finals Weekend. A notable shift for this production is the use of a new combination "Shadow D" camera rig developed by Vincent Pace, which Broadcasting & Cable mentions will allow one operator to control the 2D and 3D cameras at the same time. Panasonic is working with CBS Sports to add new, lower placements for the six 3D camera rigs, and a dedicated production team for the broadcast that will be viewable onsite, on DirecTV's n3D channel (103) and also at any retailers participating in the 3D Demo Days promotion between September 10-12 like Best Buy. According to HD Guru we can expect coverage between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the fourth, but the rest of the schedule is not yet available. This is Panasonic's second 3D tennis event of the season, but likely the first many of us will have a chance to put eyes on, especially if there's another epic Isner/Mahut three day, 11-hour match.
