[governance] Free Web Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head

[Lee W McKnight]

Guru,

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.

Lee



-----Original Message-----
From: Guru [mailto:guru at itforchange.net]
Sent: Tue 12/2/2008 7:47 AM
To: governance at lists.cpsr.org
Subject: [governance] Free Web Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head
 
While we debate on 'Internet for All' at IGF .. the USG is already 
thinking of making it happen ...

Guru


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809560499668087.html?mod=rss_whats_news_technology 


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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

-- 
Gurumurthy Kasinathan
IT for Change
www.ITforChange.net
Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities
http://ITforChange.net 
http://India.IS-Watch.net 
http://IS-Watch.net
*IT for Change is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with United Nations' Economic and Social Council*




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