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Net Neutrality 9-28-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Lies, cable TV, and Patrick Hynes

What’s all this about? Well, if you’ve been reading the business sections of the papers over the past year or so, you’ve probably seen a few articles about this stuff. From what I understand, the debates involve delivery of television signals and other high-bandwidth content (i.e., Internet service) to people’s homes. Cable TV has been the dominant player for the last 20 years, thanks to technological issues and municipal-level monopolies, but ISPs and telephone companies are positioning themselves for an era where the Internet is used to deliver paid television programming.

A related issue is how Internet traffic will be treated in the future. Currently the Internet isn’t owned by anyone, but companies do own parts of it. Any network connection that’s part of the Internet treats all traffic – whether email, Google searches, news, music, or video – equally, or relatively equally. From what Borderline has been able to fathom, some companies which own “backbone” connections (kind of like the superhighways of the Internet) as well as potential distributors of high-bandwidth programming — want to be able to segregate traffic by type and price, so things like blogs or free video posted on local websites would be on the slow road with lots of traffic lights, while paid video channels would be on the faster toll road. “Net Neutrality” refers to the efforts to keep the Internet the way it is now, i.e., all traffic is treated in the same way, rather than paid programming getting higher priority.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 9-27-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Net Neutrality Fight Moves to Pennsylvania Legislature

. . . With the Stevens bill looking like it’s going to die and a possible changeover in Congress, the telecom companies are looking for an alternative legislative vehicle so they don’t have to have strong net neutrality protections tacked onto the telecom reform bill next cycle. And that means going to the states. Rather than passing national franchising, the telecom companies are trying to get a bunch of big states to pass state video franchising bills, and then they won’t have to deal with a Federal bill next cycle and net neutrality can just die without legislative action. One of these states is Pennsylvania, and the bill is called SB 1247.

Now, video franchising isn’t bad in itself, but this bill is horrible. It allows redlining, which means that no one will invest in building out broadband to rural areas. The only people who will get cable and internet service over fiber are in high income suburbs and dense urban areas. And obviously, there is no net neutrality protections.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 9-26-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

What Scott Cleland (and Co.) Doesn’t Get About Net Neutrality

[ . . . ]

But we want to make it clear, again, what the network neutrality fight is about. It’s having a U.S. digital media system where all forms of content can conveniently and affordably be created & distributed—to TV’s, PC’s, and mobile devices. Network neutrality is a policy where access to content doesn’t depend on the whims of the owners of your network, operating system, or e-commerce provider. It means maximum freedom in the broadband era, an enhancing of our democracy. That includes the right to receive any kind of content you want—now. In the not too distant future, the ability of programmers and political leaders to effectively communicate ideas will depend on their access to the “triple play” distribution system. The battle for network neutrality is to ensure we have no digital gatekeepers—including AT&T, Comcast, as well as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo!, etc.

Mr. Cleland’s backers wish to control that future—otherwise they would have to content themselves with only the (considerable) revenues from fair-minded distribution. Comcast, AT&T and the others all want to be King of the broadband domain. But in a digital democracy—there shouldn’t be lords of the realm, only citizen/users/creators.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Hold the Sky, Feet on the Floor . . .

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I've been thinking . . .
Often before I write I need time to reflect, to find the words. I put on my headphones and let music to get me there. Music takes me from the worries on my desk and lets me access my center.

Today, I wanted to hold onto a beautiful day in Chicago.

I let Howard Jones help me.

Ordinary things in life are where
this heaven likes to be

Hold the sky, feet on the floor
Hold the sky, feet on the floor

We make our sun to shine
We make our space and time
We make the weather
We make it change

Howard Jones, We Make the Weather, People

I’ve listened to this song for years. Yet, every time I hear it, I learn a little more about what it could mean to me.

What a great way to approach to business, life, relationships. Hold the sky, feet on the floor. That client who didn’t show for a meeting last week, he can’t stop my sun from shining, neither can the numbers in my blog stats or the phone that won’t stop ringing.

Everyday is a new day and we get to decide what the weather will be. It’s not such a hard concept, if I take time to breathe.

Isn’t that part of our branding? We problem solve to change bad weather? Don’t we innovate by changing time and space? Aren’t the best big dreams well-grounded in what we can actually do?

And the people . . . the relationships that add the greatest value to my life are the ones that just by being change the weather. They are the friends and colleagues who teach me to dream BIGGER and still keep myself standing in reality.

Relationships like that have changed my life. They have the power to change the world.

Today is the only today I have. You can bet I’m going to hold that sky with both arms standing right here in my living room.

We make the weather. We make it change.

Liz's Signature

Carnival of Extreme Customer Service Is On!

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Looking for More Service in Your Live?

Did my FedEX guy story get you thinking about great service . . . wishing we had more of it? Then head over to carnivale and check out how to get the customer service competitive edge.

Meikah at Customer Relations: The New Competitive Edge has brought together a list of exceptional bloggers writing on Impossible or Exceptional Service. At this carnivale you’ll find.

  • Doug of Service Untitled
  • Glen of Customer Service Experience
  • Mike of ConverStations
  • Paul of The Unlawyer
  • Maria of CustomersAreAlways
  • Reden of Renewable Energy

    • and me.

Now there’s a list! Stop on over for fine writing and insights you won’t find everywhere by clicking the title below.

Carnival of Customer Service

Thanks, Meikah, for putting these wonderful works together in one place for us.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Net Neutrality 9-25-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

US Telecom Bill Is DOA

Net neutrality kills overdue legislation, as new Internet lobby force rises on Capitol Hill.

The Communications, Consumers’ Choice and Broadband Deployment Act looks to be on the verge of extinction.

[ . . . ]

The bill is the first piece of comprehensive telecommunications legislation in a decade. It covers a wide range of telecommunications and regulatory issues such as video franchising, universal service, and municipal broadband.

Still, passage of the bill hinges on Net neutrality, a concept not well understood in both the general U.S. population and the Senate.

A coalition of organizations and individuals led by MoveOn.org, the Free Press, Consumers Union, Gun Owners of America, Google, and Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.org, moved the Net neutrality discussion into the mainstream with a relentless Internet-based lobbying effort.

In both the Senate and House committees, Net neutrality dominated the sometimes disjointed debate. Despite the fact that bills passed in both houses that did not include Net neutrality provisions, the SaveTheInternet.com coalition seems to be on the brink of victory.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE