Communications Law Commons^™

'How's My Doctoring?' Patient Feedback's Role In Assessing Physician Quality, Ann Marie Marciarille

Faculty Works

A society-wide consumer revolution is underway with the rise of online user-generated review websites such as Yelp, Angie’s List, and Zagat. Service provider reviews are now available with an intensity and scope that attracts increasing numbers of reviewers and readers. Health care providers are not exempt from this new consumer generated scrutiny though they have arrived relatively late to the party and as somewhat unwilling guests.

The thesis of this article is that online patient feedback on physicians is relevant and valuable even though it is also uncomfortable for health care providers. This is because the modern physician-patient relationship is …

The Sky Is Not Falling: The Effect Of A Performance Right On The Radio Market, Gregory F. Donahue

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Burden To Prove Libel: A Comparative Analysis Of Traditional English And U.S. Defamation Laws And The Dawn Of England's Modern Day, Elizabeth Samson

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The article examines the divergence between English and U.S. defamation laws, particularly the burden of proof in libel cases. It argues that while the U.S. has evolved to prioritize free speech by shifting the burden to the plaintiff, England maintains a plaintiff-friendly approach, leading to libel tourism and chilling free speech. The author suggests that England should consider reforming its burden of proof to address these issues.

Online Sexual Solicitation Of Minors: An Analysis Of The Average Predator, His Victims, What Is Being Done And Can Be Done To Decrease Occurrences Of Victimization, Elana T. Jacobs

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The Internet, while a transformative tool for society, has become a breeding ground for online sexual solicitation of minors, with predators exploiting its anonymity to target vulnerable adolescents, particularly females aged 13 to 17. Despite efforts by government programs like the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and independent organizations, the lack of uniform sentencing guidelines and inconsistent data collection undermine deterrence and prevention. The note advocates for stricter sentencing, enhanced awareness campaigns, and improved data collection to combat this growing issue effectively.

The Playground Bully Has Gone Digital: The Dangers Of Cyberbullying, The First Amendment Implications, And The Necessary Responses, Jamie Wolf

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The note argues that cyberbullying has evolved into a significant issue in the digital age, requiring a reevaluation of First Amendment protections and legislative responses. It critiques the current legal framework, particularly the Tinker v. Des Moines standard, for failing to adequately address off-campus speech that impacts the school environment. The author advocates for a balanced approach that protects victims while ensuring due process, emphasizing the need for comprehensive statutes and proactive measures by schools and parents.

Association For Civil Rights In Israel V. Israel Police, Dorit Beinisch, Asher Grunis, Miriam Naor, Esther Hayut, Hanan Melcer, Eliezer Rivlin, Edna Arbel

Translated Opinions

This abstract is not part of the Court's opinion and is provided for the reader's convenience. It has been translated from a Hebrew version prepared by Nevo Press Ltd. and is used with its kind permission.]

Petitions concerning the constitutionality of some of the arrangements prescribed in the scope of the Criminal Procedure Act (Powers of Enforcement – Communications Data), 5768-2007, which came into effect on June 27, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as “the Communications Data Act” or “the Act”) and enables the Israeli investigatory authorities to obtain communications data from all the communications companies – the various cellular or …

A Subsidy By Any Other Name: First Amendment Implications Of The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act Of 1999, Andrew D. Cotlar

Federal Communications Law Journal

The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (“SHVIA”) changed the face of the market for television video services by authorizing direct broadcast satellite carriers to carry local television stations within their own local markets. This Article discusses the carriage provisions of SHVIA, currently the subject of a First Amendment challenge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and also the basis upon which the Federal Communications Commission recently issued new rules. SHVIA poses some very interesting, potentially far-reaching First Amendment issues. This Article examines the mechanics of the law, as well as its constitutional implications.

Law And The Open Internet, Adam Candeub, Daniel Mccartney

Federal Communications Law Journal

The FCC has issued a new set of Internet access regulations and policies (namely Preserving the Open Internet Broadband Industry Practices, Report and Order, FCC 10-201, rel. Dec. 23, 2010), which would prohibit broadband service providers like AT&T or Comcast from discriminating against unaffiliated content providers. The FCC's proceedings, and the network neutrality debate, concentrate on two economic questions: (1) whether to broadband service providers can or will steer traffic to affiliated content limiting consumer access, and (2) how to preserve the Internet's capacity for creativity and innovation. Yet despite the prominence of economics in the debate, economic theory cannot …

Editor's Note, Sarah L. Kellogg

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Masthead Vol.64 No.3 (2012)

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Wikileaks And The First Amendment, Geoffrey R. Stone

Federal Communications Law Journal

FCBA Distinguished Speaker Series

In November 2010, Julian Assange's WikiLeaks collaborated with major media organizations to release thousands of classified U.S. State Department documents. American soldier Bradley Manning stands accused of leaking those documents to the website. In response, Congress introduced the SHIELD Act to amend the Espionage Act of 1917, making it a crime for any person to disseminate any classified information concerning American intelligence or the identity of a classified informant. Such sweeping language, while possibly constitutional as applied to government employees like Manning, is plainly unconstitutional as applied to those like Assange and WikiLeaks who subsequently publish …

Behavioral Advertising: The Cryptic Hunter And Gatherer Of The Internet, Joanna Penn

Federal Communications Law Journal

In an era where three out of every four Americans have Internet access, the term "surfing" has transformed from riding waves into running the risk of having private information gathered, stored, and disseminated-all without the user's knowledge or permission. This new found online practice, known as "behavioral advertising," is a veritable goldmine for those companies that know the game. But will the FTC or Congress soon make new rules concerning how to play? This Note begins by explaining the differences between behavioral targeting and retargeting and the techniques that the two methods use to collect data. This Note then explores …

The Fcc’S Sponsorship Identification Rules: Ineffective Regulation Of Embedded Advertising In Today’S Media Marketplace, Jennifer Fujawa

Federal Communications Law Journal

In the contemporary media landscape, the advertising industry is increasingly relying on embedded advertising to reach consumers. The scope of embedded advertising in today's marketplace raises significant concerns and complicated First Amendment questions regarding the type of regulation needed to suit the interests of all parties concerned. In 2008, the FCC released a joint Notice of Intent/Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled Sponsorship Identification Rules & Embedded Advertising, which requested comments on the FCC's proposed changes to its sponsorship identification rules in light of this growing prevalence of embedded advertising. Yet, four years later, the FCC's sponsorship identification rules are exactly …

An End To End-To-End? A Review Essay Of Barbara Van Schewick’S Internet Architecture And Innovation, Adam Candeub

Federal Communications Law Journal

Amidst much controversy, the FCC released its landmark "network neutrality" order in December 2010. This regulation prohibits Internet service providers, such as Verizon or Comcast, from discriminating in favor of traffic or content that they own or with which they are affiliated. Professor Barbara van Schewick's recently published book, Internet Architecture and Innovation, could not be timelier. Employing a variety of economic and technical arguments, van Schewick defends the type of regulation the FCC passed as necessary to preserve the Internet's potential for innovation. My central critique of Internet Architecture is its deployment of economic theories on one side of …

Bart Cell Phone Service Shutdown: Time For A Virtual Forum?, Rachel Lackert

Federal Communications Law Journal

The balancing act between protecting First Amendment rights and the necessity of law enforcement to maintain the public order is not simple under normal circumstances. On August 11, 2011, San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit ("BART") created a paradigm embodying the very essence of this problem by shutting down cell phone and Internet service to prevent citizens from organizing and planning a protest. Both the constitutional and telecommunications law implications of BART's cell phone and Internet shutdown beg for analysis and reform, especially in an age of rapidly advancing technology. This Note analyzes the legal implications of BART's shutdown, and …

Reforming Retransmission Consent, Meg Burton

Federal Communications Law Journal

Under the retransmission consent regulations of the 1992 Cable Act, broadcasters and cable providers must negotiate with one another for permission to retransmit a broadcast signal over a cable system. While the majority of such negotiations are resolved amicably, there has been a growing trend of negotiations resulting in signal blackouts that harm consumers. In March 2010, cable providers filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC arguing that the current regulations are outdated and asking that the FCC alter the regulations to curb harmful negotiation tactics employed by broadcasters. Broadcasters replied that the retransmission consent scheme is working as …

Should Cyber Exploitation Ever Constitute A Demonstration Of Hostile Intent That May Violate Un Charter Provisions Prohibiting The Threat Or Use Of Force?, Anna Wortham

Federal Communications Law Journal

More and more, the United States and other countries rely on complex infrastructures that are primarily controlled by information technology. Although extremely destructive cyber threats and attacks against nations are a reality, the laws governing cyber exploitation have not kept pace with this threat. Because the United States and other nations may use cyber capabilities offensively as well as defensively, it is important that the laws for engaging in such cyber conflict be well defined. Currently, it seems unlikely that cyber exploitation can ever be regarded as a threat or use of force under the UN Charter because it is …

Needed: More Than A Paper Shield, Sandra Davidson, David Herrera

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Renewing The Chase: The First Amendment, Campaign Advertisements, And The Goal Of An Informed Citizenry, John Stewart Fleming

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Tattoos, Tickets, And Other Tawdry Behavior: How Universities Use Federal Law To Hide Their Scandals, Mary Margaret Penrose

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.