“Comcast Corporation” on The Daily Caller

During a radio broadcast that aired Monday, Fox’s Glenn Beck joked that he’d foreseen former “Countdown” host and “biggest pain in the ass in the world” Keith Olbermann’s abrupt MSNBC leave. (more)

1.) America bids adieu to ‘Meltdown’ with Keith Olbermann — On Friday, January 21, Anno Domini 2011, Keith Olbermann left MSNBC. Since then, the same people who accused Sarah Palin of controlling Jared Loughner’s mind have circulated the theory that the merger of NBC and Comcast led to Keith’s departure. The New York Times, a right-wing agitprop machine, has reported otherwise: “Underlying the decision, which one executive involved said was not a termination but a ‘negotiated separation,’ were years of behind-the-scenes tension, conflicts and near terminations.” For instance, in addition to working pro bono for the Democratic Party, donating money to candidates on the same day he had them on his show, engaging in–and giving voice to–blatant misogyny, treating his staffers with the disdain and disrespect due none but the most hardened of convicted sex offenders…Keith often just didn’t bother doing anything. “Some days,” reports the NYT, “Mr. Olbermann threatened not to come to work at all and a substitute anchor had to be notified to be on standby.” Incidentally, even liberals are happy with his ouster. Read what conservatives have to say here. (more)

Tick-tock goes the Federal Communication Commission’s merger clock counting the days the agency has spent reviewing the proposed Comcast-NBC Universal merger. The FCC says it tries to act on merger applications within 180 days. The clock is now at “Day 215″ — more than a month of working days past its self-professed goal. (more)

1.) Feds may have to bail out Detroit for a second time — If the federal government decides, in its finite wisdom, that poorly run states and municipalities do not deserve to sink or swim based on the electoral acumen of their residents (or lack thereof), and chooses instead to “bail out” bankrupt members of the American federation, there will be some irony in the decision. In Detroit, two of the city’s public pensions are under investigation for “risky investing” that cost the two funds $480 million in three years. According to the Detroit Free Press, “many of the investments involved secretive middlemen, who pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars, or were vetted by controversial investment adviser Adrian Anderson and his firm, North Point Advisors.” Anderson is currently under investigation by the SEC, but has not been charged. In the meantime, “the pensions are paying the legal bills of Anderson and a second adviser who scrutinized failed real estate deals.” Have you heard the one about the burglar who fell through the woman’s skylight and then demanded that she pay for his medical bills? This is sort of like that. (more)

A partnership backed by Facebook, Amazon.com, Comcast and other major technology firms on Thursday established a $250 million fund to invest in startups that hope to capitalize on the growing reach of social networking. (more)

Donovan McNabb shined with his arm early and legs late, Michael Vick sustained a bruising injury, and Kevin Kolb got back on the field Sunday in a 17-12 Eagles loss that – after a long week of talk – left plenty more to discuss. (more)

For two days now, the cannons in the net neutrality debate have fired nary a shot. Rep. Henry Waxman has yet to introduce the net neutrality bill [PDF] that supposedly leaked from his office earlier this week, but congressional insiders say the finished version will look much the same. If nothing changes in the legislation, could the ceasefire be permanent? (more)

Late Wednesday night, the New York Times dropped a bomb: According to unnamed sources, Google and Verizon–bitter opponents in the debate over net neutrality–had essentially abandoned their negotiations with the FCC in favor of working out a deal that would make both companies rich as hell while limiting Internet access for millions of consumers. (more)

Net neutrality advocates rejoiced when President-elect Barack Obama announced in November 2008 that University of Pennsylvania professor Kevin Werbach, along with Michigan law professor Susan Crawford, would facilitate the transition at the Federal Communications Commission. A Harvard Law grad, Werbach worked in the FCC’s new technology division for four years under former President Bill Clinton. In 1997, he was one of the first people to discuss policies for regulating the Internet. And during most of President George W. Bush’s two terms in office, Werbach criticized the administration’s reluctance to “reform” broadband. (more)

The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to take another step toward reclassifying the way it regulates Internet service providers, releasing a plan for public comment that would give the federal agency vast new powers over companies that distribute Web access. (more)

The 76ers are a few hours of negotiations away from hiring Doug Collins as their next head coach. (more)

Since 2005, the Federal Communications Commission classified broadband Internet access as an “information service,” and effectively deregulated it; your phone company via DSL, your wireless provider via whatever generation of network speed that it offered, and your cable provider via cable modems, could offer access without regulation as a telecommunications service provider under what is known as “Title II” of the Communications Act. Instead, the FCC declared it would regulate only as necessary under its Title I “ancillary authority.” In a Policy Statement the FCC espoused principles of good sportsmanship it would expect of market participants. (more)

Speaking to Hampton University graduates last week, President Obama ignited a debate when he told the students that a 24/7 media environment, and technology such as the iPod or iPad, can be a distraction, “rather than a tool of empowerment.” Putting aside the mixed signals delivered by the Blackberry-loving president who gave the Queen of England an iPod; is our current media environment a source of empowerment? (more)

Despite the protestations of Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genachowski that he has found a “third way” forward on regulating the Internet, the only place his path will lead is to a tightly-regulated, government-utility Internet. (more)

In the loud echoing outcry for net neutrality regulation over the years, there has always remained some voice of reason even if it was a low murmur. That voice has remained constant and consistent in its concerns regarding the infrastructure market. As the drum beats have grown louder in the recent months for regulation, examples of concerns over stifled investment in broadband infrastructure have increased: (more)

Volunteers at a weekend work party at Fawcett Elementary School in East Tacoma came prepared to get their hands dirty. (more)

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard will be here for the next seven years, after signing the biggest sports contract in Philly history. (more)

Broadband and Web service companies are beefing up their lobbying forces in Washington as the multibillion-dollar battle over Internet regulations gathers momentum. (more)

Google has just announced that they will now begin factoring page speed in their search algorithm rankings.  That means the faster a website loads, the higher up they show up in Google searches.  Sluggish sites on the other hand will be knocked down the search rankings even if they have the most relevant information.  While I believe that Google’s latest actions are rational and that it serves consumer interests since no one wants a slow results, it does raise an interesting dilemma for “Network Neutrality” advocates who propagate the myth that all websites should operate at the same speed. (more)

Players in the telecommunications industry were elated last Tuesday as the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit invalidated the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to regulate broadband service under the principles promulgated in the Commission’s Internet Policy Statement. (more)