Revolutionary innovation and competition have shaken up the telecommunications sector, prompting at least three important mergers. Government officials who set the rules of the game are now faced with key decisions that will affect the future of communications in America.
Today, the DOJ approved the SBC/AT&T merger, but some states, such as California, are dragging [...]

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The next time you print a summary of your favorite James Bond film, you should consider that there might be more than one spy on the page. That’s because printer manufacturers and the U.S. Secret Service have been quietly collaborating to track documents — a worrisome revelation.
An announcement by the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) that [...]

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Bold predictions about the future in The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, recently released by legendary inventor Ray Kurzweil, are causing reviewers to marvel in awe or disbelief. But while Kurzweil’s forecasts are fascinating, the book’s analysis of the present is just as important.
Amid discussions of reverse engineering the brain and the possibility [...]

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Here’s a great piece from Kevin Maney at USA Today on new diamond technology that has the potential to significantly change the computing world. He quotes me as saying that I’m awed by the technology, and I really am. The ability to make diamond wafers for use as semiconductors means, among other [...]

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Gavin Newsom, San Francisco’s controversial mayor, was in the spotlight again this week as he and his staff contemplated which lucky company will get the rights to provide WiFi access around the city. The real question is, why is government making this choice rather than market forces? To many in the communications industry, particularly cable, [...]

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I was at a fundraiser last night for the charity Best Buddies — a group that aims to help mentally disabled people by providing opportunities for friendship and employment. The group is run by Anthony Shriver, the brother of California’s first lady Maria Shriver. I spoke with both of them and also met [...]

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