[governance] Free Web Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head

[Jeffrey A. Williams]

Guru and all,

  I hope that the USG can and will follow thru.  But try to remember,
the old adage "Beware of greeks baring gifts".  At present, I cannot
see how the USG is ever going to pay for such a plan.  Ergo political
rhetoric vs reality is all this is for the moment.

Guru wrote:

> While we debate on 'Internet for All' at IGF .. the USG is already
> thinking of making it happen ...
>
> Guru
>
>
> h
> tp://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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Regards,

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