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Report Questions Benefits of Municipal Wireless Broadband Networks
Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco are among the major municipalities that are presently considering the establishment of city-run wireless broadband networks (Wi-Fi). They claim that by creating a public network, both the municipality and the residents would benefit. As John Street, Mayor of Philadelphia, stated in a recent speech before the United States Conference of Mayors: “Just as highways were a critical infrastructure component of the last century, wireless Internet access must be a part of our infrastructure for the 21st century.” Sounds reasonable at first blush, but strong and obvious opposition from service providers such as Comcast Corporation and Verizon Communications will prove to be a major obstacle. In addition, feasibility studies are now beginning to emerge that throw more cold water on the idea of a municipal Wi-Fi utopia.
According to a report by the New Millennium Research Council (NMRC), compiled by six scholars and telecommunications policy experts, “beneath the positive media coverage and glowing press pronouncements are troubling signs that these publicly held networks can result in less than anticipated outcomes,” leaving taxpayers to fund outdated technology from already strained city budgets (www.newmillenniumresearch.org/archive/wifireport2305.pdf).
The heart of the criticism of the NMRC report is that city-run Wi-Fis are not being realistic with respect to significant issues such as the potential for major cost overruns that jeopardize other pressing city priorities and damage commercial broadband competition with taxpayer-subsidized service.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
The Stranger to the Deed Rule
In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.