How Much is Digital Video Piracy Costing the U.S. Economy?
A new study estimates that the U.S. economy loses $29.2 billion every year as a result of global digital piracy. Impacts of Digital Video Piracy on the U.S. Economy was jointly conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Global Innovation Policy Center, and NERA Economic Consulting, and takes an in-depth look at how the proliferation of piracy devices and apps are not only delivering unauthorized programming over the internet and to TVs, but also outpacing the use of BitTorrent downloads in the piracy world. More than 80% of piracy is now attributable to streaming. For background, it's
Securing our Home and our Networks in an Internet-of-Things Future
The IoT universe is exploding. All one has to do is look around and see the smart gadgets, wearables, cameras, and virtual assistants that populate homes and that people take with them on the go. The number of IoT devices connecting to broadband networks is already large, but nowhere near its peak. Technology forecasts predict there will be 22 billion internet-connected devices worldwide by 2025, triple the amount there are today. This explosion will bring consumers added value and convenience, however it also adds new complexity and security risks that could prove devastating to millions of
Video: NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell Talks with CNBC about Facebook's Call for Increased Regulation
Last weekend in a Washington Post op-ed piece, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called for stronger government regulations in four areas: harmful content, election integrity, privacy, and data portability. Facebook has been under fire for quite some time now for data breaches, how it collects and uses customer data, its role in spreading misinformation, and multiple privacy scandals. Yesterday, NCTA President & CEO Michael Powell appeared on CNBC to weigh in on the conversation and offered insights into Facebook's recent efforts in this space, what Zuckerberg's request might mean for policymakers
CableLabs Unveils A New Approach Towards IoT Security
Fitness wearables, Echo, Nest, smart refrigerators. Chances are, many Americans have at least one of these in their homes. The Internet of Things has exploded in the last few years as innovators and internet service providers have come out with devices and ultra-fast internet speeds to improve the lives of consumers by making their to-do tasks at home, and at work, more convenient and efficient. And the surge is far from over. According to technology forecasts, the number of IoT devices globally is expected to reach 22 billion by 2025, which comes to about three devices per person—triple the
Congress Must Act to Fix the “Infinite Loop” of Net Neutrality Uncertainty
Tomorrow Michael Powell, President and CEO of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, will testify before the House Subcommittee for Communications and Technology. The hearing will focus on preserving an open internet for consumers, small businesses, and free speech. This is an issue the broadband industry not only supports, but also one we have consistently worked with policymakers to advance. Though the issue has become increasingly polarized, the fact remains that the core issue—protecting an open internet—is one everyone has always agreed on. Indeed, this critical issue deserves an
A CableLabs Engineer Discusses Today's Trends in Cybersecurity
As October and Cybersecurity Month wrap up, NCTA caught up with Steve Goeringer, principal security architect at CableLabs®, to delve a little deeper into the work that is going on behind the scenes to secure the networks and user experiences of today and to prepare for the emerging technologies of tomorrow. Goeringer, whose background includes engineering stints in the U.S. Army and at the National Security Agency, is not your traditional engineer with your typical set of technical certifications. Instead, his work brings a whole new mindset on how to rethink how the industry discusses and
Parents Find TV Ratings Valuable
In today's vibrant TV marketplace, every viewer–children included–can find content tailored to their unique tastes and preferences. But more importantly, cable programmers and content creators know how important it is for kids to grow up watching shows that are not only educational, stimulating and fun, but age appropriate as well. The TV Parental Guidelines, which are labels shown in the upper left corner of the screen at the start of a program and often after commercial breaks, were established to help parents choose programming that they feel is right for their kids. A recent survey
Circle With Disney Device is Instilling Healthy Online Habits Through Parental Controls
Every year, the internet welcomes a new wave of online tools and sites that make education and socialization more fun and rewarding, especially for kids. But as with most things in life, safety and moderation are key to making the most of what the internet has to offer. Internet service providers across the cable industry are committed to protecting today's kids from a range of threats that lurk online, from cyberbullies to social media addiction to obsessive online habits that affect the time spent with family members. Charter, Comcast, Cox, Mediacom and Midco all offer online parental
Why the Internet Will Remain Neutral and Open
June 11, 2018 is the day that the internet returns to the light-touch regulations that marked most of its history and gave rise to its tremendous growth. It was under this system that over $1 trillion in private capital was invested, leading to more than 90 percent of Americans getting access to fast internet. With lighter and less burdensome regulation of their business, ISPs are investing in better and faster networks. Very soon a majority of consumers will have 1Gbps speeds available. What consumers will notice today, tomorrow, next month, next year or pick your date, is quite literally –
More Americans Are Concerned About Online Privacy Than Net Neutrality
Today, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a Congressional Review Act, or CRA, that attempts to roll back last December’s FCC Order that freed the internet from 1930’s era regulations – regulations that have been proven to hurt investment in broadband networks. This partisan maneuver is being touted as a way to save net neutrality but, as we’ve been saying for years, the only real path to permanent net neutrality is through a bipartisan law in Congress. If you listen to the floor speeches, be prepared. There will be no shortage of hyperbole and hyperventilation in the many fantastic claims