Successful Blog

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

Net Neutrality 11-11-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

The top censored news stories of 2005-2006 [via Center for Creative Voices]

FOR 30 years, Sonoma State University’s Project Censored has released an annual list of the most important news stories not covered by the corporate media in the United States. Here again are the Top 10 news stories that didn’t make much news.

1. Net Neutrality

Throughout 2005 and this year, a largely underground debate has raged regarding the future of the Internet. More recently referred to as net neutrality, the issue has become a tug of war with cable companies on the one hand and consumers and Internet service providers (ISPs) on the other. Yet despite important legislative proposals and Supreme Court decisions throughout 2005, the issue was almost completely ignored in the headlines until 2006. And except for occasional coverage on CNBC’s Kudlow & Kramer, mainstream television remains hands-off to this day. . . .

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 11-10-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

Cable and Telco’s Lying about Net Neutrality


. . . My point is that if the Cable and Telco’s are spending Advertising Dollars Lying about Net Neutrality, we need to amp up our efforts to Protect our Rights to a Free Internet.

And in case our friends in Canada think they are safe from Cable and Telco interference with the Internet in the Great White North, Read The Newspapers… They’re trying the same thing up there.

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 11-09-2006

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Net Neutrality Links

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

On Network Convergence ( Susan Crawford )

It would be a great day for me, if I as a subscriber, had the power to download the movies I like, edit these movies for my home viewing ( for example when my kids are up, edit out violent and sex scenes and when they are asleep, edit back these scenes) and generally have the power to select what comes into my tv.

Today, broadcasters decide what comes into my home and typically say, if you don’t like it…change the channel.

NO, I DON’T WANT TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL. ITS MY HOME, I LIKE TV AND I SHOULD HAVE A SAY ON TO HOW THE CONTENT IS PRESENTED IN MY HOUSE.

Afterall, we all agree that most of the evolution is happening at the edge of the network which is directly interfacing with me and my family.

So there are various arguments to what convergence means, there are economic implications that trigger off political, corporate and technological events, but please don’t loose focus that all this is done to serve me, since I and another 4B people are paying for these past present and future services and of course salaries.

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