Now basing their determinations on real data and not just lobbyist Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, the FCC earlier this month released a study highlighting U.S. broadband coverage gaps. While highlighting that ISPs have done some amazing work at getting broadband deployed to many areas, there’s still roughly 14-24 million Americans without broadband, and their hopes over ever getting broadband is “bleak.”

Of course the very idea that U.S. broadband wasn’t a shining beacon of absolute perfection “upset” ISP policy, PR folk and lobbyists, who very quickly attacked the FCC for simply acknowledging what every major study concludes without fail: the U.S. is a mediocre player in terms of broadband deployment, speed and price. Today FCC boss Julius Genachowski defended the FCC’s findings in a Seattle speech (warning: pdf link):

The different reactions to this report were telling. Some saw that high-speed broadband was available to a very large percentage of Americans, and said everything is fine. Nothing more to do. Mission accomplished. I disagree. When up to 24 million Americans don’t have access to a communications technology that is essential to participation in our 21st century economy and democracy, I say that is unacceptable.

Again however, the primary reason the U.S. remains mediocre in broadband price, speed and availability is a lack of competition. And again, the FCC isn’t going to tackle competition because it would upset some of this nation’s biggest campaign contributors. Trying to “reform” the infinitely-broken USF and doling out grants isn’t necessarily a bad thing but none of the FCC’s current proposals really get to the real problem: the fact that most people live in a monopoly or duopoly broadband market, and as a result pay too much money for frequently sub-par connectivity.

Link to the original article…

As the battle heats up over the FCC’s push to partially reclassify broadband ISPs under Title II of the Communications Act, carriers (and their army of lobbying groups have been trotting out some familiar arguments. Namely, that if the FCC takes any action (no matter how wimpy), the result will be stifled investment and lost jobs. Art Brodsky at Public Knowledge takes a look at claims that Title II reclassification will result in lost jobs and stifled investment, and notes that both AT&T and Verizon are doing a good job on that front all by themselves with no real change in the regulatory environment:

Let’s talk jobs. Between March 31, 2009 and June 30 this year, Verizon cut 26,455 jobs. During the same period of time, AT&T cut 22,350 jobs. That’s 48,805 jobs cut by two companies during a period in which the regulatory regime did not change.

Let’s talk investment. In 2008, AT&T spent $19.6 billion for capital expenditures in networks and other spending (capex in the parlance). In 2009, it was $16.6 billion a 15.7% decline during a period in which the regulatory regime did not change. Verizon spent $17.2 billion for capex in 2008. In 2009, it was $17 billion an 11.6% sic, should be 1.6% decline during a period in which the regulatory regime did not change.

Of course the “stifled investment” meme is the oldest telecom lobbyist talking point in the playbook, and no matter how many times it’s debunked (even by the companies own CFOs) it never goes away. Back in reality, network investment is far-more-frequently dictated by competition, which neither Verizon or AT&T see in many of their markets. Meanwhile in Verizon’s case, their job reductions have far more to do with the death of the landline and Verizon’s conscious decision to hang up on rural Americans than anything the FCC may or may not do.

Link to the original article…

So, how about a small sampling of the Cyber Monday Sales? I’m not too thrilled so far, but if you know of any, send us a tip!

Newegg Cyber Monday Savings – Notable purchase, LG 37″ Widescreen LCD HDTV 37LG30 [ view here ]
Dell Cyber Monday Savings
Staples Cyber Monday Sales Event
Best Buy Cyber Monday 2-Day Sales Event – Best Buy is so bad, they’re changing the rules of what Monday truly means
MacMall 3-Day Cyber Monday Sales – Mac Mall ups the ante… Monday is now 3 days
Kmart Cyber Monday Savings – Hey, toys are an extra 5% off
Karmaloop Clothing – Save 15% extra via coupon: 15BF
Cyber Monday Listings from Dealighted.com – Many savings, notable purchase, Virgin America $39 flights
Cyber Monday Listings from Dealnews.com
Frys Cyber Monday Savings

I’ll update more after I find more that are worthwhile. A lot, just aren’t worth it so far it seems.

Got a tip? Send it on in

tips [at] removethelabels [dot] com

Nokia announced today a total combined loss of 1.36 Billion – that with a big “B” folks – due to slumping sales during it’s Summer 2009 sales. This would include the sale(s) of their flagship Nokia N97 which sold relatively strong with 2 million units in about 3 months. The problem though was that most users shifted from their flagship, more expensive phones to much lesser expensive phones due to the global economy downturn.

Then how could the Nokia N900 [ site here ] save Nokia? By all intents and purposes, it’s a very high priced phone that clocks in at over $500 USD unsubsidized. And the forthcoming Nokia X6 32gb [ announcement here ] is even higher priced. So can the Nokia N900 and the buzz around it be a very good thing for Nokia? Could the introduction of the Nokia Twist and other phones built just for the lower priced, subsidized market help get Nokia an American market presence that’s been sorely lacking for quite a while?

T-Mobile has their upcoming Project Dark/Black announcement that might put the Nokia N900 in more pockets than previously thought before. Can increased sales of the Nokia N900 at least help Nokia? I truly hope so.

[ Electronista ] [ Bloomberg ]

Keeping up with the newest technology is expensive. Being in the know about what is already out and how it compares to what’s coming down the pipe and ultimately what’s the cheapest you can find that newest thing you might be obsessing over is just downright time consuming. Not all of us are or have a direct line to a “gadget guru” that can answer all of our questions on the spot via a phone call or text message. And to be perfectly honest, given the current economic situation, unless you’re Bill Gates, each and every dollar counts.

If you have a Facebook account – really, by now, who doesn’t? – you can log into Freshdeals.com [ site here ] and ask questions that will be answered by other Freshdeals.com members that have found or saw products that you are also searching for for cheaper or give you insight as to why you wouldn’t want to buy that gadget in front of you because a newer version is coming out in a week or so. Also, the site itself gives you the opportunity to buy certain things at a much discounted price as well from business partners/websites that have what you’re looking for at a heavily discounted price.

Even without logging in and asking questions – that’s really the draw of the site though, to be able to interact with real live people – the site covers it all. From children’s clothing to plasma HDTV televisions to home decor and furniture to hair products and just about all points in-between. In fact, a quick glance around, I was able to locate some GNC Mega Mens Vitamin for $19 dollars, down from the typical $45 dollars I tend to spend with the $5 off coupon that I clip out from time to time. Saving $26 dollars that quickly makes Freshdeals.com a site worth a second look and worth my time. Give it a spin!

[ Freshdeals.com ] [ Remove The Labels: Deals ]

For the last few years, I’ve done my absolute best to avoid Black Friday sales. You’ve all heard the stories… grandmas getting trampled for that $39 DVD player, grown men wrestling over a toy in front of their kids, soccer moms becoming ninjas in the clothing section using hairpins in ways that make even Chuck Norris cringe.

The horror… the horror.

I’m happy just to sit home, ride out my tryptophan overdose and find potentially less dangerous ways to get those hot items online. Sounds lazy, sounds “new age”, but I’d rather avoid getting dropkicked by some geriatric soccer ninja dad with a peg leg for a Tickle Me Elmo.

Here’s a few websites that make my life easier:

Blackfriday.info
Dealnews
Dealighted
The Bargainist

Feel free to share your favorites.

However one word of caution; do not forget that Circuit City is currently in bankruptcy. So be aware if they have any mail-in rebates because you just might not get them. Also Continental Promotion Group, one of the largest rebate processors has gone out of business and even if you get a rebate check back, you might want to avoid cashing it to avoid fees, read more here.