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Title II ‘Net Neutrality’ May Be Repealed

Internet service providers all across the fruited plain are awaiting December 14, 2017 with bated breath. On that date, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on possible repeal of Title II classification of the internet as a utility and ISPs as ‘common carriers’. Under Title II, ISPs are subject to regulation like land-line telephone services. The rules are often said to promote ‘net neutrality’.

A repeal ruling would revolutionize digital communications, though observers disagree vociferously about whether it would improve or degrade them.

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What is ‘net neutrality’?

In theory, ‘net neutrality’ seems unassailably right. As described by its supporters, it is the concept that ISPs should treat all data alike. They could neither slow or block disfavored content, nor accept payment for speeding other content. Without the rules, proponents say, an ISP might block or slow content from political opponents or market competitors. Comcast, for example, might throttle streaming of DirecTV.

‘Net neutrality’ is said to be necessary for a free and open internet.

What do the critics say?

Critics of the regulations say there has never been a convincing case that they’re needed. They point out that from 2005 to 2015, before the Title II web rules went into effect, average consumer data speeds surged by more than 1000% while internet traffic soared exponentially. Opponents of the rules argue that market forces will prevent abuse. If Comcast does throttle DirecTV streams, the cable system will lose credibility and alienate its customers. Comcast subscribers will then seek other providers.

What are the odds?

After December 14, we are likely to find out which view is correct. Given the partisan composition of the FCC (three Republicans, including chairman Ajit Pai, and two Democrats), a vote for repeal is nearly a foregone conclusion.

Since his appointment as FCC Chairman, Pai has often criticized the Tie II web rules. And on November 21, he issued a draft order to schedule the repeal vote.

How does this affect you?

If you have HughesNet service, you’ve nothing to worry about. We do not have a video division, and we don’t block or throttle any content.

 

(For the most reliable internet connection, talk to us. we can help.)

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‘Net Neutrality’: Is It Doomed?

For the internet industry, the regulatory climate may be facing a dramatic shakeup. The Federal Communications Commission has scheduled a December 14 vote on possible repeal of Title II web regulations. These rules are meant to promote what is known as ‘net neutrality’.

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‘Net neutrality’ is the concept that all data on the web should be treated alike. Internet service providers (ISP) should not discriminate by platform, content, website, application, or user. An ISP would not be allowed to block, throttle (slow down), or charge extra for access to specific websites or online content.

What fed the demand for ‘net neutrality’?

The matter became a live political issue in 2004, when Comcast throttled uploads of peer-to-peer file sharing apps such as BitTorrent. Despite public protest, Comcast did not stop the throttling until the FCC ordered it to do so. AT&T, Verizon, and other ISPs were also accused of blocking or throttling specific content. Some were accused of giving favorable treatment to data from corporate partners, including TV networks.

In 2014, the FCC received more than 3.7 million complaints about blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. The following year, the commission ruled that the internet is a telecommunications service. An ISP, then, is a ‘common carrier’ subject to regulation under Title II of the 1934 Telecommunications Act. The web would be regulated like any public utility.

Resistance to the New Rules

The Title II rules faced fierce criticism from the cable and telecom industries. Some claimed the rules would inhibit investment in internet systems. This would delay or prevent improvement in equipment or networks. In any case, the leading ISPs said, the rules went far beyond the FCC’s legal mandate.

Ajit Pai, the current FCC chairman, said that the current ‘net neutrality’ rules discourage innovation. Less innovation, he said, means less competition. This in in turn, he said, keeps prices high.

Pai says repeal of the Title II internet rules will foster competition, make broadband more widely available, and bring prices down. His critics say the move would only make the larger ISPs more dominant. The largest cable and telecom systems would enjoy near-monopolies on the flow of information.

Who’s right? We may find out after December 14.

 

(For the strongest internet connection, talk to us. We can help.)

 

 

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MIXED REALITY IN YOUR WORLD

How can we communicate most effectively? Electronic devices offer efficiency and range, but distance us somewhat from direct experience. In-person contact is more complete, but not always practical. With mixed reality, we can combine the advantages of both.

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Alexander Graham Bell’s first message through the telephone he had just invented was to his assistant, Thomas Watson. Bell said, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.” As important as his new invention was, Bell still valued face-to-face contact.

The telephone, of course, enabled communication over long distance. But with it, we hear only disembodied voices. We can’t see facial expressions, gestures, or backgrounds, and without this information, we often have to guess at meanings of words.

To this day, we often use our phones to schedule face-to-face meetings.

Through personal computers, we’ve increased efficiency in communication. But our efforts are still highly abstract. We started with keyboards and lines of text. We’ve moved on to touch pads and gestural mice. From these foundations, some of us have moved onto voice commands.

At every step, though, we’re still very much aware of our devices. We stare into rectangular screens. ‘Reality’ is still highly abstract.

What difference does mixed reality make?

Mixed reality (MR), also called merged reality, promises to make computing less abstract and more ‘real’.

Mixed reality is related to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). MR combines properties of both. AR is display of digital images over a real environment. The heads-up display on an auto windshield is one example.

MR takes the AR concept further by scanning the user’s physical environment. With this scanned data, it creates a digital map of his surroundings. The MR software knows, then, where to place digital objects so they seem real. While AR images appear to be a on a flat plane before the viewer, MR images appear three-dimensional. When a real object is between the viewer and a digital object’s apparent position, the real object obscures the user’s view of the digital object. If the digital object’s apparent position is in ‘front’ of the  real object, it will obscure the real object. MR images, then, interact in real time with the user’s physical surroundings. The viewer can walk around the images, zoom in on them, or manipulate them.

Mixed reality, then, promises to be nearly as direct and immediate as face to face conversation. Jeorg Mewes, the CEO of Avegant, said: “Mixed reality enables people to interact directly with their ideas rather than on screens or keyboards.” We are less conscious of our devices then; immersed more deeply in real and virtual worlds.

In a future post, we will outline some of the most important uses for mixed reality. Watch for it.

 

(To get the most from your computer, you need a strong internet connection. Talk to us. We can help.)

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Mixed Reality: the Future of Computing?

Microsoft is betting heavily on mixed reality (MR). Earlier this year, it released the Hololens, a holographic computing system. The Hololens overlays virtual images on real, physical environments. Wearing the Hololens headset and looking at a table in your office, for example, you may see a 3D image of a vehicle or a building on it. You can walk around the virtual object and examine it from different angles. You can even ‘move’ it with your hands, as you can with physical objects.

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What is mixed reality?

Mixed reality differs from Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). VR is a simulated 3D environment. VR is ‘immersive’; that is, it shuts out the physical world completely.  For you, VR would be what the Holodeck was for characters in Star Trek TNG.

VR is used in advanced flight simulators and other ‘immersive’ trainers.

Augmented Reality overlays simulated images on the user’s view of the real world. The heads-up displays on automobile windshields are examples of AR.

Mixed reality, also known a hybrid reality, is a version of AR. Unlike AR devices, though, the mixed reality device scans the user’s physical environment. It then creates a 3D map of his surroundings. With this map, the device knows where to place digital content so it’s realistic and the user can manipulate it with gestures. The MR images are more dimensional than AR images- hence more ‘real’.

What difference does it make?

Computing now usually entails staring at a screen. The images we see are confined within rectangles. We can’t suspend disbelief since we can’t suspend awareness that we’re staring into machines. No matter how well designed, touch screens and keyboards are highly unnatural means of dealing with our environments.

Mixed reality promises to change this. Communication becomes more intense- more ‘real’. You could seem to share physical space with a friend thousands of miles away. You see 3D objects, not merely pictures. You can move around the objects and manipulate them.

MR computing would be much more ‘natural’ and intuitive than the forms we’re familiar with. With MR, we are less conscious of our devices, We can communicate and learn more easily and more naturally.

In a future post, we will cover some of the most important applications for mixed reality.

 

(To get the most out of your computer, you need a strong internet connection. If you need more speed or reliability, talk to us. We can help.)

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WEATHERING THE STORM

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma reminded us how vulnerable we can be. We’ve learned from bitter experience that our utility, travel, and communication networks can fail at critical moments. Internet systems are no exception. We’ve found that they’re often no better at weathering disasters than our other public infrastructures are. And when internet systems fail, they’re often out of service for weeks- even months- on end.

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When underground cable and fiber systems are flooded, their networks are usually destroyed. It takes time to rebuild them. Wireline internet service, then, is likely to be unavailable in affected areas for several weeks at least.

John Stankey, CEO of the AT&T Entertainment Group, recently spelled out how serious the problem can be. He said that Hurricane Harvey devastated his company’s networks in the Houston area. Fully restoring all networks, he said, will be expensive. It will, he said, require “a multi-year commitment”.

Wired networks can be poor at weathering natural disasters. Severe storms often force extended outages.

With a satellite system, though, you can avoid ground-based infrastructure completely. Restoring service takes very little time.

No communication system is entirely weather-proof. But no matter how severe the storm, your satellite service will usually be up again within a few hours after it passes. This almost never happens with flooded cable systems.

With satellite internet, you’re not dependent on a massive local network. This leaves you more flexibility to live where you want to. You can more easily locate your business where you want to.

 

All satellite internet systems are independent of local networks. HughesNet is the only one, though, confirmed by the FCC to deliver true broadband speed. HughesNet has also been independently rated first among all internet systems for reaching advertised speeds. That’s among ALL internet systems- not just satellite.

 

(Does your current internet service fail at weathering setbacks?  Do you need something more reliable? Talk to Satellite Country. We can help.)

 

 

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BROADBAND FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Broadband service that works well enough for home use might not be adequate for business. This is especially true for businesses located in rural or suburban areas. Broadband options that are fast enough are usually expensive. More economical options might have data caps that are too tight. Some businesses find that they often exceed their data caps with ordinary business use, even though they never play interactive games or download video.

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HughesNet Business Internet

HUghesNet plans come with NO hard data limits. To be fair, they do come with data caps. If you exceed your allotment, your download speeds could be slowed.

If this is a concern for you, consider HughesNet Business Internet. It offers a strong connection and low cost for the amount of bandwidth. HughesNet commercial plans start at just $69.99 per month. All HughesNet commercial internet plans feature download speeds of 25 megabits per second (25 MB/S) and upload speeds of 3 MB/S. Data allotments range from 35 GB to 250 GB per month. The best business plan will meet the needs of more than ten heavy users.

With the Status Meter, you can track your data usage in real time. And HughesNet, unlike competing vendors, offers the option of purchasing tokens to restore speed by adding bandwidth. Other vendors add the tokens automatically, even if you don’t want them.

The FCC has rated HughesNet first among all internet service providers for reaching advertised speeds. That’s ALL internet providers, including fiber and cable.

Free WiFi Modem

A WiFi modem is included with every Gen5 plan. With the WiFi modem, you have two network options: 2.4 Gz and 5Gz. The 2.4 Gz network transmits over longer distances, and through walls. But it’s susceptible to interference. The 5 Gz band is best for newer devices, such as tablets and phones, because it can handle more data. It could lose signal strength, though, if your device is too far away from the modem.

Devices which stream a high volume of video should use the 5Gz band.

With the HughesNet Mobile App, you’ll have a WiFi gauge, so you can detect where the signal is strongest.

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A Few of the Ways Businesses Use HughesNet Business Internet

With HughesNet Business Internet, all commercial internet functions are practical. Order fulfillment. Inventory. E-mail. Negotiating with vendors. Churches use it for communicating with members, coordinating food aid, even computer training to help parishioners acquire job skills.

Almost any internet function you can imagine, HughesNet can handle. The only exception is interactive gaming.

 

To find out more about HughesNet Business Internet, contact Satellite Country. We provide TV and internet service everywhere in the U.S.

Talk to us. We can help.

 

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TABLET OPTIONS: WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU?

Have you considered buying a tablet computer? There are certain advantages in owning one. Tablets handle all of the functions that smart phones do, but have much larger screens. If you want to watch videos, or you need to examine documents while away from home, a tiny phone screen might not be enough. And with a wireless mouse and a plug-in keyboard, a tablet can function like a full-size laptop or desktop computer. No other electronic device is as versatile.

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How do you pick the right one, though? You have multiple options, with widely varying specs and features.  You’ll need to consider operating systems, battery life, screen size, memory, and accessories.

What will you use it for?

If you want to use your tablet for graphics, you’ll need a large screen size, high resolution, and support for a stylus. If you plan to use your device for watching videos, screen size and battery life could be crucial- especially if you use your device away from home. If portability is important, you’ll want one of the smaller and lighter models. If you need to process huge amount of data, you’ll need plenty of memory and processing speed.

Operating Systems

If you want advanced graphic functions, an iOS device is probably your best choice, though Android and Windows 10 are beginning to catch up. In our view, the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil would be the ideal combination for graphics. If you’re accustomed to Windows, Microsoft’s Windows 10 OS offers a complete desktop operating system in a tablet. Android devices are compatible with a wide variety of other devices- and they usually cost less than Apple devices.

Price

Apple products tend to cost much more than Windows or Android devices. The iPad sells for $329 to $559. Tablets in the iPad Pro line sell for $649 to $1279.

If you’re budget conscious, an Android tablet would be a better option. The Amazon Fire HD 8 version is a bargain at just $80 through Amazon. The Lenovo Tab 10 costs just $119. The Asus ZenPad 8 costs $128. At the upper end for Android tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 starts at $598 (Amazon); the Google Pixel C sells for $685.

Windows 10 tablets tend to fall into the middle of the price range. Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet, which functions almost like an iPad Pro, sells for $719. The HP X2 Detachable sells for $250.

When evaluating price, consider the cost of accessories. For most Windows 10 tablets, keyboards are included.

Our Choices

For graphics, and the most complete range of functions, we’d choose the iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil.  If you don’t like the Apple system, the Surface Pro is a solid alternative.

For tight budgets, we recommend the Lenovo Tab 10 or the Asus ZenPad 8. The Amazon Fire HD 8 is cheaper- just $80. But Amazon Fire users lack access to the Google Play Store. For us, the more limited selection of apps is a disqualifier.

 

(To get the most from your computer, you need the right internet service. For the best deals in home internet, shop with Satellite Country. Talk to us. We can help.)

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HURRICANE HARVEY HAMMERS CABLE SYSTEMS

Severe storms are no fun for any of us. In addition to the obvious hardships they bring, they can knock cable, telecom, and wireless communication systems out of service for weeks or even months on end.

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How has the Houston area fared?

Hurricane Harvey was especially brutal. Though other hurricanes have packed higher wind speeds, Harvey caused more damage because it parked over southeast Texas for several days. While stalled, it dumped more than fifty inches of rain on the area in only four days. This is a new record. It’s even more than famously-wet Seattle got in all of 2016.

Harvey’s effect on cable systems has been catastrophic.

On August 28, two days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Comcast said it would suspend operations in the affected area. Comcast is the largest cable firm in the U.S.

On September 6, the FCC reported that on Friday, September 1, six days after Harvey’s landfall, more than 270,000 cable TV and internet in the affected area subscribers still lacked service. In addition, two TV stations and nine radio stations were still off the air.

It’s possible that the FCC understated the service outages. Some subscribers have yet to report service loss, since they face more pressing concerns.

What does the future hold?

John Stankey, CEO of the AT&T Entertainment Group, ratified the FCC’s grim assessment. Speaking at a media conference in Las Vegas, he said his company expects a spike in ‘cord-cutting’ figures for the third quarter. Much of this- though not all- he attributes to Hurricane Harvey. Comparing it to Hurricane Katrina (2005), Stankey said that full restoration of all communication networks will be expensive, requiring a “multi-year commitment”.

At the same media conference, a Comcast spokesman said his company expects to lose 100,000 to 150,000 subscribers in the third quarter. Much of this loss he attributes to Hurricane Harvey.

Expect several months to pass, then, before all cable services in the Houston area are fully restored.

What can you do?

Wherever you live, you have no guarantee that you won’t suffer extreme weather or other natural disasters. But there are a few steps by which you can protect yourself.

For reliable TV and internet service, consider a satellite system. Severe weather can affect it, but is unlikely to cause outages lasting days, weeks, or months. Usually, your service will return once the storm passes.

 

(For the HughesNet service that’s meets your needs, contact Satellite Country. Talk to us. We can help.)

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BACKING UP YOUR COMPUTER

Have you been backing up your computer? If you’re like the rest of us poor sinning mortals, you probably haven’t. It might not have even crossed your mind.

And why should it? Very few people suffer the theft of their laptops or the crashing of hard drives, so it’s easy to assume that our files are safe. We have nothing to worry about, right?

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Still, it’s wise to take a few precautions. Given what’s at stake, we should be backing up our computers routinely. If a power outage or accident destroys your computer, you could lose years of photos or business files, and if someone steals your laptop, you could lose all of the data for a project you’ve been working on for months. As a writer who has rough drafts for up to a dozen clients in my computer at any one time, I certainly couldn’t afford to take chances.

Data backup might not be as critical for your career, but you’ll probably feel the pain from data loss if your computer fails or is stolen.

What can you do, then? What means do you need for backing up your computer?For the most complete protection, you’ll need to combine local backup with cloud storage.

LOCAL BACKUP

PCs and Macs already have built-in backup systems that are highly reliable, but you’ll need an external hard drive to use them properly. Seagate and Western Digital offer reasonably-priced models with solid reputations.. As a rule, your external drive should have at least as much capacity as your internal drive. Ideally, it will have 50% to 100% more.

Windows 10  (File History/ Backup and Restore)

Microsoft offers integrated backup with Windows 10. Plug in your hard drive, and find your File History setting. Select the folders you want backed up, and how often you want Windows to do it. You will need to keep your hard drive plugged in for the backup function.

Mac OS X  (Time Machine)

Mac offers a unique tool called Time Machine. Just plug in your hard drive and open Time Machine for configuration as your backup drive. The software will handle the backing up of your files automatically, at scheduled intervals. If you need to reset your Mac, or you buy a new one, OS X will prompt you to enable Time Machine backup to restore your files from.

CLOUD STORAGE

Local backup is important, but it’s vulnerable. Like hard drives and other hardware, local backup is subject to destruction, theft, or loss. For complete protection, then, consider cloud storage. For individual files, the simplest means of cloud backup is with online systems such as Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive, and Google Drive. All enable scanning of local folders and simple uploading of them to the cloud. Then, even if your computer is destroyed, you can log into your account and open your files from anywhere.

If you need even more protection, you might consider a subscription service such as Backblaze. It costs $5.00 per month or $50.00 per year. It’s not as convenient for casual use as Dropbox or Google Drive, but it is highly secure full-service cloud storage.

 

With a few simple precautions, backing up your files and preventing critical data loss will be easy.

 

(For the internet service that works best for you, talk to us. We can help.)

 

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HOW DISASTER RELIEF EVOLVES

In just twelve years, our tools for coping with natural disaster have improved dramatically. Compare what was available in 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with what we have now.

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Why does information technology matter?

Snapchat, new and unfamiliar to most of us in 2005, has seen heavy use for live storm updates since Hurricane Harvey made landfall. Thousands of Texans have used the app to report power outages and post updates about their immediate surroundings. Some users call on it to inform relatives that they’re safe. Snapchat’s Map section highlights areas of heaviest use, continually updating data about areas needing emergency relief.

Snap said that its usage skyrocketed over the weekend, with nearly 300,000 posts on its Harvey Our Stories page.

Facebook has also been essential to the relief effort. With Facebook Live, users mark themselves “safe” or post video pleas for aid.

How does FEMA use social media?

Official agencies also rely on social media for more effective response. FEMA, for example, hires temporary staff to scan the internet for relevant information. These “social listeners” aggregate Facebook, Snapchat, and other social media posts. With this data, FEMA hones its relief efforts. The agency then sends crews to observe affected areas. From their reports, FEMA directs “the right information to the right people”.

Information technology also helps in directing the aid to where it’s needed. Without modern tools, effective logistics can be nearly impossible. In an emergency, it is largely based on sheer guesswork. After Hurricane Katrina, some relief agencies had thousands of tarps and blankets piled up in one place- far from where they were needed. With updated real-time information, this mistake could have been prevented.

With the social media tools available now, relief agencies can disperse supplies much more efficiently. Aid goes where it’s needed. As the situation evolves, so does the data tracking it.  Aid workers can adjust continually to changing circumstance.

What has changed since 2005?

Twelve years ago, FEMA waited for assessments before providing aid. That doesn’t work well, though, and FEMA knows it. Its current policy is to act quickly. It moves as much supply and personnel as possible, as quickly as possible. If it has more than it needs, it can scale back.

Without dramatic advances in information technology since 2005, this more nimble FEMA would never have emerged.

 

(For timely information, you need a strong internet connection. Talk to us. We can help.)