Understanding regional sports networks, and why they make sense with ESPN — but why ESPN makes less and less sense with Disney. Then, a brief — and final — follow-up on Title II and Net Neutrality.
Disney and Fox
Disney’s rumored acquisition of 21st Century Fox is all about competing with Netflix; whether or not that is a good thing depends on your frame of reference.
Tech’s Person of the Year; Uber at the End of 2017; Fowler’s True Impact, and Means
Susan Fowler is tech’s person of the year, both because of her impact on Uber and on the tech industry broadly.
The Pollyannish Assumption and Bright Lines, YouTube’s Market Power, Google vs Amazon
Society collectively decides what is wrong through laws: that’s a useful bright line for platforms. Then, YouTube is demonstrating its market power, and Google and Amazon are acting like monopolies.
The Pollyannish Assumption
Moderating user-generated content is hard: it is easier, though, with a realistic understanding that the Internet reflects humanity — it is capable of both good and evil.
“Light Touch”, Cable, and DSL; The Broadband Tradeoff; The Importance of Antitrust
Follow-up on net neutrality, and why the evidence suggests that less regulation has indeed spurred more investment; antitrust, though, is key.
The Department of Justice Sues to Block the AT&T-Time Warner Acquisition, The DOJ’s Case, AT&T’s Objections
The DOJ is suing to block AT&T from acquiring Time Warner; the case is stronger than precedent might seem, because precedent is actually on the government’s side. Politics, though, loom large.
Bob Lutz on the Future of the Automobile, Uber and Lyft Ban Rider, Twitter’s Verification Mess
If the only way to get a ride is through a transportation company, should your political views matter? Twitter is, unintentionally, making that a moot point by setting the stage for regulation.
Stitch Fix and the Senate
Stitch Fix is a perfectly fine company that is a big startup success, in part because it paid attention to costs. It is very problematic that the Senate is threatening that, and potentially entrenching incumbents.
Tech Goes to Washington
Facebook, Google, and Twitter testified before a Senate committee: it provided evidence of how tech prefers power over decentralization, even if it means regulation