FCC: We Want Net Neutrality
Michael Masnick,
TechDirt,
Sept 25, 2009
Probably the biggest news last week was the FCC's pronouncement in favour of net neutrality. This is important for educators because it means that small companies would be able to compete on a level playing field with software and telecommunications giants (who would otherwise receive almost free bandwidth, subsidized by higher rates charged to smaller producers) and small institutions, individuals (like me!) and agencies will have the same network speeds as large institutions in 'strategic agreements' with the aforementioned telcos.
Coverage has been widespread. Columbia Journalism Review links to the speech by FCC chair Julius Genachowski and highlights two major aspects of the proposal: that "broadband providers cannot discriminate against particular Internet content or applications" and that "network operators cannot prevent users from accessing the lawful Internet content, applications, and services of their choice." Wired describes it as 'net neutrality and then some, and criticizes it (to which David Weinberger responds).' And Michael Geist draws parallels with the U.S. action and Canadian discussions on similar issues (here too).
More from Educause (here too, and here), Mashable, TechDirt again (taking the Wall Street Journal to task for suggesting that Google freeloads on bandwidth (how is it, and why is it, that the WSJ always ends up on exactly the wrong side of these issues, and so often on such ridiculous grounds?)), Skype Blogs (calling for an open internet in Europe). CBC covers it, Republicans oppose it, and, well, you get the picture.
Coverage has been widespread. Columbia Journalism Review links to the speech by FCC chair Julius Genachowski and highlights two major aspects of the proposal: that "broadband providers cannot discriminate against particular Internet content or applications" and that "network operators cannot prevent users from accessing the lawful Internet content, applications, and services of their choice." Wired describes it as 'net neutrality and then some, and criticizes it (to which David Weinberger responds).' And Michael Geist draws parallels with the U.S. action and Canadian discussions on similar issues (here too).
More from Educause (here too, and here), Mashable, TechDirt again (taking the Wall Street Journal to task for suggesting that Google freeloads on bandwidth (how is it, and why is it, that the WSJ always ends up on exactly the wrong side of these issues, and so often on such ridiculous grounds?)), Skype Blogs (calling for an open internet in Europe). CBC covers it, Republicans oppose it, and, well, you get the picture.
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