apple juice

The corporations are winning…

Steve Wozniak to the FCC: Keep the Internet Free:

“We have very few government agencies that the populace views as looking out for them, the people. The FCC is one of these agencies that is still wearing a white hat. Not only is current action on Net Neutrality one of the most important times ever for the FCC, it’s probably the most momentous and watched action of any government agency in memorable times in terms of setting our perception of whether the government represents the wealthy powers or the average citizen, of whether the government is good or is bad. This decision is important far beyond the domain of the FCC itself.”

(Via Daring Fireball)

FCC: We Didn’t Impose Stricter Net Neutrality Regulations on Wireless Because Android Is Open: “

FCC statement:

Further, we recognize that there have been meaningful recent moves toward openness, including the introduction of open operating systems like Android. In addition, we anticipate soon seeing the effects on the market of the openness conditions we imposed on mobile providers that operate on upper 700 MHz C-Block spectrum, which includes Verizon Wireless, one of the largest mobile wireless carriers in the U.S.

In light of these considerations, we conclude it is appropriate to take measured steps at this time to protect the openness of the Internet when accessed through mobile broadband.

WTF? As Nilay Patel writes:

[I]t doesn’t matter how open your OS is when you’re stuck with a filtered and throttled connection, and it’s a pretty huge stretch to think Android’s openness (however you want to define it) has anything to do with network access itself.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Mark it down as the day the internet (as we know it) died.

Obama FCC Caves On Net Neutrality:

“An anonymous reader writes ‘…the rule, which will be voted on during tomorrows FCC meeting, falls drastically short of earlier pledges by President Obama and the FCC Chairman to protect the free and open Internet. The rule is so riddled with loopholes that its become clear that this FCC chairman crafted it with the sole purpose of winning the endorsement of AT&T and cable lobbyists, and not defending the interests of the tens of millions of Internet users.”

(Via Slashdot)

Al Franken: The Most Important Free Speech Issue of Our Time:

“Imagine if Comcast customers couldn’t watch Netflix, but were limited only to Comcast’s Video On Demand service. Imagine if a cable news network could get its website to load faster on your computer than your favorite local political blog. Imagine if big corporations with their own agenda could decide who wins or loses online. The Internet as we know it would cease to exist.

That’s why net neutrality is the most important free speech issue of our time. And that’s why, this Tuesday, when the FCC meets to discuss this badly flawed proposal, I’ll be watching. If they approve it as is, I’ll be outraged. And you should be, too.”

 

If I could have all of my friends and family really understand one “technology” thing I am passionate about, it would probably be net neutrality. Net Neutrality is fundamental to the way the web has developed thus far, and I’m afraid that most people just don’t know or don’t care anymore to know when it is being threatened.

Internet access in America is actually quite poor compared to other developed countries. As mentioned in the following article, Finland has made 1mbps internet access a basic right of citizenship. We pay more money for slower access than most other developed countries. (Sounds like our health care system, eh?)

Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the web, has written an article in Scientific American that I hope you’ll take a look at.

Like Democracy Itself, It Needs Defending: “Long Live the Web — An impassioned plea to actively support openness on the Web from Tim Berners-Lee.

‘The principle of universality allows the Web to work no matter what hardware, software, network connection or language you use and to handle information of all types and qualities. This principle guides Web technology design.

Technical standards that are open and royalty-free allow people to create applications without anyone’s permission or having to pay. Patents, and Web services that do not use the common URIs for addresses, limit innovation.

Threats to the Internet, such as companies or governments that interfere with or snoop on Internet traffic, compromise basic human network rights.

Web applications, linked data and other future Web technologies will flourish only if we protect the medium’s basic principles.’

(Via MetaFilter.)