Net Neutrality Links
I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.
‘Neutrality’ Is New Challenge for Internet Pioneer andnterview By JOHN MARKOFF
Published: September 27, 2006
SIR TIM BERNERS-LEE was a software programmer working at the CERN physics research laboratory in Switzerland in the 1980ââ¬â¢s when he proposed the idea of a project based on hypertext ââ¬â linking documents with software pointers.
The World Wide Web went online in 1991 and rapidly grew beyond the physics community. In 1994, Sir Tim founded the World Wide Web Consortium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to promote open standards on the Internet. Earlier this year, he began speaking out in favor of ââ¬ÅNet neutrality.ââ¬Â The term describes one side in the debate in the United States over whether Internet service providers should be able to control the order in which they route packets of data ââ¬â or even be able to reject those packets ââ¬â or whether they should be required to be neutral on the matter. For example, in some cases I.S.P.ââ¬â¢s have restricted the routing of services provided by competitors like Internet phone calls.
He answered questions earlier this month by telephone from Cambridge, Mass.
Q. Do you think you would be able to invent the Web today, given the barriers that are emerging?
A. You have to imagine the Net without the Web. I think I would be able to invent it today, but if we lose Net neutrality, then imagine a world in which itââ¬â¢s much more difficult to invent the Web.
Q. Is your view that the anti-Net neutrality infrastructure actually threatens political democracy? Does it go beyond just the technical structure of the Internet?
A. Net neutrality is one of those principles, social principles, certainly now much more than a technical principle, which is very fundamental. When you break it, then it really depends how far you let things go. But certainly I think that the neutrality of the Net is a medium essential for democracy, yes ââ¬â if there is democracy and the way people inform themselves is to go onto the Web.
MORE TOMORROW . . .
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE
Liz — good morning and it’s wonderful to be here (if only for a couple of minutes)!
I can’t not comment about an interview quoting one of my favorite men.
I’m very glad that Sir Tim Berners-Lee is alive and well and able to focus some of his efforts to the Net Neutrality fight.
Hi Katie ,
Good Morning!
These answers heartened me, and made me feel hope.
Reading this bit made me think of all the times I’ve heard people say, “I’m so glad (fill in a name) isn’t alive to see their efforts come to this.”
But I’m thinking that perhaps if (that name) was around to fight with all their original passion, their efforts wouldn’t come to this (whatever this happens to be.)
I’ve read Berners-Lee’s original memo outlining his plan for the design, development and programming the WWW. And it is clear that from the beginning the democracy of the Internet was an important goal for him.
We are very lucky that he is working on this for us.
Well said, Katie, we are lucky that he is able to fight for this and that he is not American, and therefore no perceived to be on one side or the other, but instead to be a champion os the Internet itself.
Liz, I’m also very glad that you’ve got the commitment to find these discussions and bring them to us every morning.
Your Net Neutrality page is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to understand the evolution of this issue.
(And now — off to my day job!)
Thank you, Katie,
I learn too as I go.
Good day at work to you. Hope that project keeps moving at that lovely pace! 🙂