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Net Neutrality 11-17-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

Japan sets up panel to study Net neutrality

TOKYO (Reuters) – The Japanese government on Wednesday set up a panel to discuss Internet network neutrality — a concept that has stirred heated debate in the United States — and study how the surging popularity of free file-sharing services such as YouTube.com is impacting the infrastructure.

[ . . . ]

Earlier this year, Japan’s ministry put together a report on future competition policy in the industry, in which it made some recommendations on the Internet neutrality issue.

The report gave suggestions such as charging extra fees to heavy Internet users to lighten the cost burden on network providers, while making sure that end-users and content providers would be able to access the network freely.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-16-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

So How About That New Congress? [via bj]

Lets do the micro first. Conrad Burns and George Allen are gone. Burns and Allen both opposed network neutrality and generally supported deregulating telecom, cable and media companies. Burns in particular was a true friend to the large broadcasters. He opposed low-power FM, supported deregulating big media companies, and generally did his best to advance the agenda of the folks I oppose.

On the flip side, Allen and Burns did support white spaces. But even so, for folks who support media and telecom reform that limits rather then enhances corporate power, their departure makes life a heck of a lot easier.

Looking to the Committee Chairs and leadership – Inouye supported overturning the FCC’s dereg in 2003-04. Inouye has also supported net neutrality, opening up the broadcast “white spaces” to unlicensed use, and protecting local franchising. While I would not call Inouye or Reid enthusiastic champions for issues I care about the way Dorgan and Feingold have been, I do think they will support positive reform on both media and telecom. They are likely to allow legislation in favor of network neutrality, low power FM, and limiting further media consolidation proposed by other members. Whether they will make such legislation a priority remains to be seen.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-15-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

We Neutrally Reserve the Right to Charge Anything at Anytime

So the first anti-net neutrality ad hit San Diego this week, claiming that unless we allow the ISPs to prioritize certain packets based upon how much the sender is willing to pay, the consumer will be forced to pay more.

I’m a bit confused…we consumers are already paying more. The ISPs already make people to pay for their internet access. And if you use a lot, such as by being a big company or a popular blogger, then your ISP starts charging you more because of all the traffic. And who pays for it? Certainly not the person providing the content. No, the costs get passed on to the consumer, of course. Whether it is through direct cost by the amount the site charges for their services or indirect cost by their charging the advertisers more for their support which the advertisers pass along, the person who pays when a site becomes popular and starts drawing traffic is the consumer.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-14-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

On a Legislative Agenda by Matt Stoller

There are a few reasons that net neutrality is on the netroots legislative agenda. One is quite obvious – without NN, we couldn’t do what we do. The second is not so obvious, and that’s the organizing work that has gone into this issue. There is a genuine popular movement to expand and clarify the internet’s legal and technological status. From DJs to video game players to sportsbloggers to small businesses, the movement to keep the internet neutral has used this people-power to fight on a Federal level and on state levels. And now we’re going to go on offense. But this isn’t because it’s the right thing to do, or because the Democrats win. It’s because there’s a genuine popular movement organizing around this political change, and there’s a clear consensus around the issue, and it’s all backed by a strong and broad coalition of which the netroots is only one piece.

So I guess this is as good a time as any to talk about power and why we’re going to be disappointed by this Congress. As much as we might want to see a good number of great and good policies passed, electing a Democratic Congress means only that the Democrats control the legislative agenda. It does not mean that great and good policies will be enacted. While Speaker Pelosi is going to be enormously influential, power in our political system flows from the people. Specifically, it flows from organized groups of people willing to force politicians to do the right thing through systematic pressure on various institutions.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-13-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

Follow the money

So I’m trying not to get too excited about all the Democrats running things on Capitol Hill right now. I know that things may not work out. On the net neutrality front, the punditry is that there won’t be a big telecom bill for a long time because the Bells have gotten the video franchise rules they wanted from the states. Some people think net neutrality isn’t really a standalone issue, so it can’t fill up an entire bill on its own.

But there is an angle that might work. Democrats should be, if they think about it, the party of long-range social planning. They should be the party that worries about investment in fundamentals that will support society into the future. Education! Stem cell research! National parks! Basic science of all kinds! And — universal access to broadband.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Net Neutrality 11-12-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

Shift Happened: How Might a Democrat-Controlled Congress Affect Media, Internet, Communications and Entertainment?

The shifting of the balance of power from Republicans to Democrats on Capitol Hill will likely have dramatic consequences on US foreign military/diplomatic policy and on domestic social policy. . . .

My first relatively obvious observation is that the shift in power tips the balance to the Net Neutrality forces and puts the Bells on the defensive for the first time since passage of the “96 Telecom Act” as they continue their efforts to obtain video franchising relief. Perhaps this means there is a potential compromise in the works – video franchising relief for a more meaningful iteration of Net Neutrality?

But is it all good news for the Internet voice/video/media/entertainment disruptors? I know, given the vast resources devoted on all sides of the debate to Net Neutrality, one might conclude that Net Neutrality is the only issue that matters, but it is not. While the Internet application providers and users might win on the Net Neutrality front, I harbor no great expectations that the Democrats will be any less paternalistic than their Republican corollaries on the social issues affecting the Internet and communications, particularly the inertia pushing traditional emergency response, lawful intercept, and now indecency statutes and regulations on Internet applications, without any serious regard for the deleterious effects on innovation and progress.

Bottom line, however, is that I no longer expect Congress to pass any significant, Internet-affecting, legislation this year. I, however, do expect that the FCC might try to fill the breach and try, itself, to move on video franchising reform, universal service contribution methodology and access charge reform, and continuing down the path of imposing traditional telecom- and broadcast-like regulation on Internet applications, while further deregulating the transmission media. I also expect that many of the battles might move back to the states as Congress becomes less fertile turf for the traditional carriers.

Want to know what you can do?
MA Bell Monopoly Versus the Free Internet — Tell the FCC Net Neutrality Is Not Negotiable

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE