[governance] Free Web Plan Being Pushed by FCC Head

[Jeffrey A. Williams]

Lee, Guru, and all,

  Lee may very well be correct in his assumption here.  I for one,
cannot see how the USG can afford to provide free internet for
everyone, let alone government officials given our current financial
condition as a nation.  We owe nearly everyone huge sums that
will likely take most of the next generations lifetime to repay, and
all of the current generations remaining lifetime to just make the
interest payments, and that's with a tax increase, BTW.

Lee W McKnight wrote:

> 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
>
>
> 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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