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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">While we debate on 'Internet
for All' at IGF .. the USG is already thinking of making it happen ... <br>
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Guru</font><br>
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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
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>
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Outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is
pushing for action in December on a plan to offer free,
pornography-free wireless Internet service to all Americans, despite
objections from the wireless industry and some consumer groups.
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At its December meeting, the FCC could also consider new rules designed
to speed up consideration of disputes between independent cable
programmers and cable providers such as Time Warner Cable Inc. and
Comcast Corp., which either refuse to carry some channels or put them
on specialty tiers of service that cost subscribers more.
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The agency also will ask for more feedback on its proposal to require
programmers to sell their channels to cable operators individually
instead of in bundles.
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The free Internet plan is the most controversial issue the agency will
tackle in December. Mr. Martin shelved plans to consider a wider
variety of sticky issues pending at the agency, including a request by
the Hollywood studios to hobble TVs and set-top boxes so studios can
offer copy-protected theatrical releases sooner.
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The proposal to allow a no-smut, free wireless Internet service is part
of a proposal to auction off a chunk of airwaves. The winning bidder
would be required to set aside a quarter of the airwaves for a free
Internet service. The winner could establish a paid service that would
have a fast wireless Internet connection. The free service could be
slower and would be required to filter out pornography and other
material not suitable for children. The FCC's proposal mirrors a plan
offered by M2Z Networks Inc., a start-up backed by Kleiner Perkins
Caufield & Byers partner John Doerr.
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Consumer advocates have objected to the FCC's proposed pornography
filter, while the wireless industry has objected to the entire free
Internet plan. To address concerns about the filter, the FCC is
proposing that adults could opt out and access all Internet sites.
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T-Mobile USA, in particular, has raised concerns. The Deutsche Telekom
AG unit paid about $4 billion a few years ago for nearby airwaves and
has complained that the free wireless Internet plan will likely result
in interference for consumers of its new 3G wireless network. The FCC
dismissed the company's interference concerns this fall, although
T-Mobile disagreed with that finding.
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Gurumurthy Kasinathan
IT for Change
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.ITforChange.net">www.ITforChange.net</a>
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://ITforChange.net">http://ITforChange.net</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://India.IS-Watch.net">http://India.IS-Watch.net</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://IS-Watch.net">http://IS-Watch.net</a>
*IT for Change is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with United Nations’ Economic and Social Council*
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