2015 Event The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approves net neutrality rules, which guarantee equal Internet access to all users; broadband companies had been seeking the ability to sell faster access to certain customers while slowing access for others 2014 Event Telecom company Vodafone reports that certain nations allow authorities direct access to citizen communications data without a warrant; the company is prohibited from revealing the names of these nations 2014 Event The Federal Communications Commission moves away from the idea of net neutrality, in which all Internet users are able to equally access and view content; the agency instead proposes to allow large companies to pay Internet service providers for access to faster-streaming 'lanes' 2014 Event Atlanta-based Birch Communications, Inc. and Cbeyond announce their merger; Birch will pay approximately $323 million, with Cbeyond stockholders receiving up to $10 per share 2014 Event The cryogenic engine built India's Space Research Organisation engineers powers the launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D5), which successfully placed a 1,982-kg GSAT-14 communications satellite into orbit in 17 minutes 2013 Event North Korea restores the Red Cross link used for government-to-government communications with South Korea 2011 Event The head of the Taiwanese Army's electronic communications and information department, Major General Lo Hsien-che is arrested for leaking secrets to China 2011 Event A $28 billion merger between Comcast and NBC Universal is approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission 2010 Event Taiwan is hit by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake, twelve people are injured, communications and rail services are disrupted 1998 Event Tellabs Inc. acquires Coherent Communications Systems for $670 million 1994 Event Netscape Communications founded as Mosaic Communications 1988 Event ESA's Ariane-3 launches 2 communications satellites (1 Indian) 1985 Event Kosmos 1700 communications satellite placed in geostationary orbit 1985 Event Capital Cities Communications Inc. acquires ABC 1983 Event Cryptographic Communications System and Method (RSA) patented 1983 Event World Communications Year begins 1973 Event Intelsat communications satellite launched 1970 Event U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik 52 and Molniya 1-13 communications satellite 1969 Event U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik 50 and Molniya 1-12 communications satellite 1966 Event 1st Pacific communications satellite launched, Intelsat 2 1965 Event Launch of 1st Soviet communications satellite 1965 Event Syncom 3, 1st geosynchronous communications satellite, passes from civilian to military control 1964 Event Echo 2, U.S. communications satellite launched 1963 Event Hot Line communications link between Washington D.C. and Moscow begins 1963 Event U.S. Syncom 2, 1st geosynchronous communications satellite, launched 1963 Event U.S. launches communications satellite Syncom 1 1962 Event Telstar, 1st geosynchronous communications satellite, launched 1960 Event Echo 1, 1st communications satellite, is launched 1958 Event 1st test project of Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equip 1948 Birthday Reed Hundt, born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Federal Communications Commission chairman, 1993 - 1997, advisor to McKinsey & Company 1934 Event Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created 1925 Birthday Lorraine Sweeny, communications specialist 1900 Event 1st prize of 100,00 francs offered for communications with extraterrestrials. Martians excluded-considered too easy
