Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Internet Pioneers and Leaders Tell the FCC: You Don’t Understand How the Internet Works

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

I don't know how much damage the end of net neutrality in the United States would cause, but over the long run, it's probably significant. This is in large part because it is based on a flawed understanding of internet technology. In this email Tim Berners-Lee, Vinton Cerf, and other internet pioneers release a short letter linking to their earlier submission to the FCC (53 page PDF) in opposition to the ending of net neutrality. Beyond the obvious policy intent, this document is a great short-form introduction to the basics of internet technology, describing the principles on which it was founded, and the changes over the last 15 years. It also provides a significant number of concrete examples of cases where users were harmed in the absence of clearly defined rules.

Today: 2 Total: 90 [Direct link] [Share]


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

Copyright 2024
Last Updated: Nov 23, 2024 2:20 p.m.

Canadian Flag Creative Commons License.

Force:yes