Roy Mark

Online poker advocates upped the legislative ante Aug. 6 with the introduction of a bill in the U.S. Senate that would legalize online poker and other games of skill. Virtually all forms of online gambling are illegal under the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which prohibits financial institutions from accepting payments from credit cards, […]

NASA and the Department of Energy are encouraged by recent testing that could enable possible use of nuclear power on the surface of the moon or Mars. According to NASA, a fission surface power system could use a small nuclear reactor to produce 40 kilowatts of energy, enough electricity to power a future space outpost.The […]

Sprint and Samsung are joining forces on the green trail, announcing Aug. 6 the Samsung Reclaim, the first phone in the United States constructed from eco-friendly, bio-plastic materials. The Reclaim — made from 80 percent recyclable materials — is available from Sprint for $49.99 with a two-year service agreement. The phones go on sale Aug. […]

After a longer than expected approval process, Row 44 said Aug. 6 the Federal Communications Commission has approved the company’s satellite-based in-flight Wi-Fi for commercial aircraft. Combined with licenses already granted in Canada and Mexico, Row 44 plans to offer uninterrupted airborne Internet service throughout the North American continent. Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines have […]

Mission Accomplished: NASA Endeavour Spruces Up ISS July 15: Endeavour Blasts Off for International Space Station After stormy Florida weather forces NASA to postpone launches on July 11, 12 and 13, the space shuttle Endeavour finally gets under way on its mission to deliver and install an outdoor laboratory perch at the International Space Station. […]

The Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation Aug. 5 that would allow states to petition the Federal Communications Commission to operate wireless jamming devices in correctional facilities. Current law prohibits interference with wireless services, a safeguard intended to ensure the dependability of 911 emergency calls and to protect the rights of legitimate users of wireless services. […]

Sprint added two 3G/4G mobile broadband routers to its lineup Aug 5. The Personal Hotspot PHS300S supports up to four simultaneous Wi-Fi connections and the Cradlepoint MBR1000 broadband router for business supports up to 32 simultaneous Wi-Fi connections.Used in combination with Sprint mobile broadband devices, the routers can simultaneously connect Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones, laptops, MP3 players, […]

Key House leaders Aug. 4 called on Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to create a permanent relationship between the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and the U.S. government. A Joint Project Agreement between ICANN and the U.S. government is scheduled to expire Sept. 30.“Rather than replacing the JPA with additional JPAs or Memoranda of […]

Taken alone, neither the Federal Communications Commission’s quick decision to investigate the Google Voice ban on iPhones nor the stealthy introduction of a network neutrality bill in Congress is hardly blockbuster news. After all, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski came to office this summer promising broader consumer protections, and the network neutrality bill is being dusted […]

Wireless broadband provider Clearwire said Aug. 3 it plans to roll out service in 10 new markets by Sept. 1, continuing its march to bring 4G wireless service to 80 markets covering up to 120 million people by the end of 2010.The new markets are Boise, Idaho; Bellingham, Wash.; and eight markets throughout Texas, including […]