RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – In the latest Bulldog roundup of life science and technology news: Obama reiterates opposition to Internet fast lanes; FCC plans stealth Internet tax increase: The doctor will see you now — through Google; Netflix hikes subscription price for 4K TV owners; and Microsoft updates Skype for Windows, Mac with new chat interface.

Obama reiterates opposition to Internet fast lanes

President Obama said last week that he was “unequivocally committed” to net neutrality and firmly opposed to any proposal that would let companies buy an Internet fast lane to deliver their content more quickly to consumers. The statements, at a town-hall meeting in Santa Monica, Calif., on innovation, gave a strong signal to the president’s Democratic appointees on the FCC that he wants them to heed the overwhelming public sentiment expressed in 3.7 million comments sent to the commission in recent months concerning a set of rules proposed by the commission meant to protect net neutrality.

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FCC plans stealth Internet tax increase

American politicians of all stripes clearly see and oppose the abuses of the Internet abroad. But our government officials are not aware that the Federal Communications Commission, without statutory authority, is proposing to expand its taxation and regulation of the Internet.

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The doctor will see you now – through Google

Google seems to be getting smarter all the time. It’s already a sort of virtual encyclopedia. Now, for at least some users, it’s behaving like a wise, caring parent that will not only tell you to see a doctor but will actually make it happen.

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Netflix hikes subscription price for 4K TV owners

Netflix is now charging a premium for access to 4K streaming. Access to 4K — also known as Ultra HD — now requires a “platinum” plan, which costs $11.99 per month. A Netflix spokesperson said the price change comes in response to the increased costs of producing, acquiring and distributing 4K content.

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Microsoft updates Skype for Windows, Mac with new chat interface

Chatting in Skype for Windows and the Mac now looks more like the Windows Phone version, whether you like it or not. Microsoft’s Skype has announced version 7.0 for the Mac together with a new preview version for the Windows desktop. Both include a number of potentially attractive productivity improvements, including the ability to chat and talk simultaneously in the new Mac version. But there’s still an awful lot of white space, which may annoy some.

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