Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Internet Content in Peril in Non-Competitive World

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
While broadband has long been a fact in Canada (I haven't had dial-up at home since 1998) consumers in the United States are still struggling to get bandwidth. This effort is reaching a critical turning point. As the author writes, "The cable and phone companies are insisting that they need vertical control or they won't provide broadband (fast) data connections to U.S. households... What's the problem if the cable and phone companies insist on being both the data- access providers and the Internet service providers? Simple: They will abuse this power." Providers - and especially small providers - of online learning content should see the implications. The vast potential online learning market could be concentrated in a few hands if preferred access is granted to only a few providers. The potential for the widespread creation and sharing of learning content would be greatly diminished.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Dec 22, 2024 07:00 a.m.

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