Author: easyfilo

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The Federal Communications Commission has voted to ban the exclusive revenue-sharing deals between landlords and Internet service providers that prevent broadband competition in apartment buildings and other multi-tenant environments. The new ban and other rule changes were adopted in a 4-0 vote announced yesterday.

Although the FCC “has long banned Internet service providers from entering into sweetheart deals with landlords that guarantee they are the only provider in the building,” evidence submitted to the commission “made it clear that our existing rules are not doing enough and that we can do more to pry open the door for providers who want to offer competitive service in apartment buildings,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in her statement on the vote. The broadband industry has sidestepped rules that already exist with “a complex web of agreements between incumbent service providers and landlords that keep out competitors and undermine choice,” she said.

With the new rules, “we ban exclusive revenue sharing agreements, where the provider agrees with the building that only it and no other provider can give the building owner a cut of the revenue from the building. We also ban graduated revenue sharing agreements, which increase the percentage of revenue that the broadband provider directs to the landlord as the number of tenants served by the provider go up,” Rosenworcel said. Rosenworcel had circulated the proposal to commissioners in late January.

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It’s time for another Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes a good price on Logitech’s MX Master 3 wireless mouse, which is down to $80 at Staples. You’ll need to use the coupon code “40765” in your cart to see the deal at checkout. Though we’ve seen Staples run this deal a few times in the past, it’s still a $20 discount from the mouse’s MSRP and typical street price. It also brings the device to within $5 of the all-time lowest price we’ve tracked from a reputable seller.

We previously named the MX Master 3 a top pick in our guide to the best wireless mice. It’s certainly expensive, even at this deal price, but if you spend the majority of your workday chained to your PC, it could be worth the money. It’s somewhat bulky, but it’s comfortably contoured and has a soft finish and a sizable thumb rest. It performs reliably across different surface types, and it’s loaded with useful hardware and software features, such as a smooth-feeling electromagnetic scroll wheel, a second scroll wheel for scrolling horizontally, and a couple of programmable side buttons. You can customize how some features work on an app-by-app basis through Logitech’s companion app, too, and the rechargeable battery is rated at an acceptable 70 days per charge.

The mouse won’t be as accommodating to those with small hands, and it can’t connect through a cable in a pinch. Its design and sensor aren’t meant for gaming. And sadly, there’s no left-handed version. But if you use your mouse heavily throughout the day and don’t mind paying a bit extra, it’s well worth considering. Note that Logitech makes a version specifically for Mac users, as well.

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California lawmakers plan to introduce a new bill to protect children’s data online this Thursday, mirroring the UK’s recently introduced children’s code, as part of growing momentum globally for stricter regulation on Big Tech.

The California age-appropriate design-code bill will require many of the world’s biggest tech platforms headquartered in the state—such as social media group Meta and Google’s YouTube—to limit the amount of data they collect from young users and the location tracking of children in the state.

If passed into law, it will also place restrictions on profiling younger users for targeted advertising, mandate the introduction of “age-appropriate” content policies, and ban serving up behavioral nudges that might trick them into weakening their privacy protections.