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<title>RE: [governance] Free Web Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head</title>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>>Sorry to be the voice of cynicism here, but the proposal is more
about increasing Mr. Martin's post-FCC income (as consultant/lobbyist)than USG
providing free Internet for all any >time soon.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Didn’t understand this, Lee. How would his post-FCC prospects be enhanced
by this announcement (other than if he planning to run for some kind of
elections). Wouldn’t his consultant/ lobbying chances be much better if
he were giving pro-industry (pro-telecom) pronouncements. Parminder <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>PS: Martin spoke about the same issue in a similar manner at the Seoul
OECD meeting. </span></font><font color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-family:
Arial;color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Lee W McKnight
[mailto:lmcknigh@syr.edu] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, December 02, 2008
9:06 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> governance@lists.cpsr.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [governance] Free Web
Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Guru,<br>
<br>
Sorry to be the voice of cynicism here, but the proposal is more about
increasing Mr. Martin's post-FCC income (as consultant/lobbyist)than USG
providing free Internet for all any time soon.<br>
<br>
Lee<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Guru [<a href="mailto:guru@itforchange.net">mailto:guru@itforchange.net</a>]<br>
Sent: Tue 12/2/2008 7:47 AM<br>
To: governance@lists.cpsr.org<br>
Subject: [governance] Free Web Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head<br>
<br>
While we debate on 'Internet for All' at IGF .. the USG is already<br>
thinking of making it happen ...<br>
<br>
Guru<br>
<br>
<br>
<a
href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809560499668087.html?mod=rss_whats_news_technology">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809560499668087.html?mod=rss_whats_news_technology</a><br>
<br>
<br>
Outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is<br>
pushing for action in December on a plan to offer free, pornography-free<br>
wireless Internet service to all Americans, despite objections from the<br>
wireless industry and some consumer groups.<br>
<br>
At its December meeting, the FCC could also consider new rules designed<br>
to speed up consideration of disputes between independent cable<br>
programmers and cable providers such as Time Warner Cable Inc. and<br>
Comcast Corp., which either refuse to carry some channels or put them on<br>
specialty tiers of service that cost subscribers more.<br>
<br>
The agency also will ask for more feedback on its proposal to require<br>
programmers to sell their channels to cable operators individually<br>
instead of in bundles.<br>
<br>
The free Internet plan is the most controversial issue the agency will<br>
tackle in December. Mr. Martin shelved plans to consider a wider variety<br>
of sticky issues pending at the agency, including a request by the<br>
Hollywood studios to hobble TVs and set-top boxes so studios can offer<br>
copy-protected theatrical releases sooner.<br>
<br>
The proposal to allow a no-smut, free wireless Internet service is part<br>
of a proposal to auction off a chunk of airwaves. The winning bidder<br>
would be required to set aside a quarter of the airwaves for a free<br>
Internet service. The winner could establish a paid service that would<br>
have a fast wireless Internet connection. The free service could be<br>
slower and would be required to filter out pornography and other<br>
material not suitable for children. The FCC's proposal mirrors a plan<br>
offered by M2Z Networks Inc., a start-up backed by Kleiner Perkins<br>
Caufield & Byers partner John Doerr.<br>
<br>
Consumer advocates have objected to the FCC's proposed pornography<br>
filter, while the wireless industry has objected to the entire free<br>
Internet plan. To address concerns about the filter, the FCC is<br>
proposing that adults could opt out and access all Internet sites.<br>
<br>
T-Mobile USA, in particular, has raised concerns. The Deutsche Telekom<br>
AG unit paid about $4 billion a few years ago for nearby airwaves and<br>
has complained that the free wireless Internet plan will likely result<br>
in interference for consumers of its new 3G wireless network. The FCC<br>
dismissed the company's interference concerns this fall, although<br>
T-Mobile disagreed with that finding.<br>
<br>
--<br>
Gurumurthy Kasinathan<br>
IT for Change<br>
www.ITforChange.net<br>
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities<br>
<a href="http://ITforChange.net">http://ITforChange.net</a><br>
<a href="http://India.IS-Watch.net">http://India.IS-Watch.net</a><br>
<a href="http://IS-Watch.net">http://IS-Watch.net</a><br>
*IT for Change is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with United Nations'
Economic and Social Council*<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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