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CNET News
Maggie Reardon is a senior reporter for CNET News. She covers telecommunications.
PROFILE
Maggie Reardon
Guest
FROM Maggie Reardon
To the Point
Is net neutrality about to come to an end? The Federal Communications Commission calls it " restoring Internet freedom ," but whose "freedom" is the FCC talking about? AT&T, Verizon and other broadband providers are regulated like utilities -- required to give access to all content at equal speed. That's "net neutrality." The FCC would eliminate the "neutrality" and allow broadband companies to charge some websites more than others, creating fast lanes for those who could afford them and slow lanes for others. So, what's at stake for start-ups that depend on equal access to innovate and to grow — and for consumers?
Design and Architecture
Stormy connections Brandon Jernigan talks on a cell phone while riding his bike through flood waters. Photo by Marvin Nauman/FEMA This morning at Apple's new corporate campus, CEO Tim Cook and colleagues announced a reinvention of their retail stores, transforming them into town squares, as well as the new iPhone X, and a big change to the iWatch: the addition of cellular. But what's the point of a fancy phone if you can't make a phone call? His announcement comes on a day when much of the state of Florida and the Caribbean are without power. Nancy Klingener with NPR member station WLRN wrote that in Key West, "It's like we've been transported to the pre-digital pre-cellphone era. In fact, it's the pre-telephone era for most of us." As our lives become increasingly dependent on digital devices, what happens when the juice stops flowing? And how are cell phone companies making sure the lines of communication stay open even when the cell phone towers take a hit?
To the Point
WHO Says Cell Phones May Cause Cancer Recent studies have shown that the biggest danger from cell phones is more automobile accidents. But the International Agency for Research on Cancer said today there could be a health issue . The Agency is an arm of the World Health Organization , which might now issue new guidelines on cell phone use. Maggie Reardon is a senior writer with CNET News .
To the Point
Cell Phones as a Key Tool in Search and Rescue Missions James Kim and his family, who were lost near Grants Pass, Oregon, were the subject of massive news coverage and massive sympathy this week. Leaving the family in their car, he died making a "superhuman" effort to get help. His body was finally found through use of a cell phone. Searchers determined that Kim had struggled for miles in extraordinarily difficult terrain--even swimming in icy water. The awful irony is that, had he continued down the road, he would easily have reached a lodge and probably safety.
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Red State, Blue State
Is a ‘Red State Democrat’ Even a Democrat? Democrats and progressives were scratching their heads last week when West Virginia’s senator broke with the Democratic Party. We get their reaction.
KCRW Features
As sidewalk gardens grow on Skid Row, homeless residents lose a sidewalk In a city with tens of thousands of people living on its streets, sidewalk space can be a hot commodity. Businesses want to keep the sidewalk clear for customers, but the city’s housing crisis means that for some people, the sidewalk is home. Some property owners have reportedly used sprinklers or private security guards to make sure no one sets up camp outside their doors. And in recent months, people living on the streets have noticed a new tactic – business owners effectively occupying a portion of the sidewalk themselves.