Tech Briefs Insider » 2008 » December http://www.techbriefsinsider.com Questions of the Week Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:05:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Should Congress bail out domestic automakers? http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/2008/12/09/question-of-the-week-66/ http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/2008/12/09/question-of-the-week-66/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:44:07 +0000 TechBriefs http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/?p=852 This week’s question regards the future of the U.S. auto industry. Congress is considering a $15 billion package of bridge loans and credit lines to help General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler recover from the financial crisis. Domestic automakers have requested a total $34 billion, contending the higher amount is required to maintain operations and avoid possible bankruptcy. Critics argue the automakers have failed to provide sufficient evidence they would wisely spend bailout funds. What do you think? Should Congress bail out domestic automakers? Yes or no?

Vote here.

]]> http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/2008/12/09/question-of-the-week-66/feed/ Should Internet service providers be allowed to limit the amount of data you can download? http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/2008/12/01/question-of-the-week-65/ http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/2008/12/01/question-of-the-week-65/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:50:02 +0000 admin http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/?p=850 This week’s question concerns Internet usage. America’s largest Internet service provider, AT&T, recently began an experiment to limit the amount of data subscribers can use each month. Starting in November, users of their slowest DSL service (768 kilobits/sec.) in Reno, NV, were limited to downloading a maximum of 20GB per month. Customers using their faster, 10 megabits/sec. service were restricted to 150 GB per month. The idea behind the experiment is to curb the so-called “bandwidth hogs,” the 5 percent of AT&T subscribers who routinely consume 50 percent of system capacity. Other service providers are said to be formulating similar plans. Meanwhile, critics of the plan argue that increasing bandwidth, not restricting service, is the solution. What do you think? Should Internet service providers be allowed to limit the amount of data you can download?

Vote here.

]]> http://www.techbriefsinsider.com/2008/12/01/question-of-the-week-65/feed/