[governance] net neutrality and mobiles

Thu Sep 23 02:38:23 EDT 2010

There are some interesting permutations here  and just as we seem to be
having some difficulties deciding what internet governance means perhaps we
also have some difficulties with these new developments deciding what the
Internet means.

One of the issues is that we consider the Internet to include its content 
this is obvious from our discussions covering copyright or child safety or a
range of other issues as internet policy and/or governance issues. But the
same content could be on an internet web site at the same time as it is a
television broadcast, a CD, or on the other end of things, a SMS message or
a phone call. It stretches things of course if we decide that all of these
are actually the internet  in that case broadcasting and communications
have ceased to exist and there is one ubiquitous media which covers
everything in this sphere.

So if a piece of content is accessed via a television, is it internet
content? Probably not (unless you create a subset of tv content called iptv
and decide it is somehow different). And that just creates another set of
confusions.

Similarly, is content accessed via a mobile phone app internet content 
even if it is also on the internet (eg Facebook?). If a content database
delivers to phones without interfacing with TCP/IP networks at any point
(and this is certainly possible) - whats it got to do with the Internet,
(even if the same content is simultaneously available on a website)?

There are lots of questions here  if via my mobile phone I access Facebook
from a browser, is that in some way different from a policy point of view to
if I access the content via an app from a simultaneously generated database
hosted by my mobile carrier  and with no internet protocol use whatsoever?

I think this is the dilemma we face with converging media and with a loose
definition of the internet which includes its content. Its also the problem
we face if we define the internet by a certain technical protocol.

Old ground, I know  but it is becoming increasingly relevant to start to
figure out what we mean by the internet (and therefore by internet
governance). Wikipedia and most sources still use definitions of computer
networks to define the internet - when the world has changed. I cant find a
sensible definition  out there.

Ian Peter

From: parminder <parminder at itforchange.net>
Reply-To: <governance at lists.cpsr.org>, parminder <parminder at itforchange.net>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:19:27 +0530
To: "governance at lists.cpsr.org" <governance at lists.cpsr.org>
Subject: [governance] net neutrality and mobiles

Hi All

See below more news of continued vertical integration and violation of net
neutrality principle in developing countries (wonder how is it in developed
countries, and developing countries like Brazil which have a general NN
agreement).

Customised handsets take one directly to a telecom operator controlled
portal, which then would control one's online experience. Enough freebies
and utilities will be packed into this portal, to make it attractive and
help develop deep dependencies, which is easy to do since the telecom
completely controls the channel and there seems to be no one watching over.

I hope we could collectively ponder over and debate the implication of this
fast changing scenario of wireless Internet on issues of rights, equity and
justice. Very soon it will be too late, and the new architecture will be set
and petrified. As they say, 'architecture is policy' unless policy comes in
early enough to influence the architecture in the right directions.
Parminder 

http://telecomyatra.afaqs.com/news/?sid=1971_Tata+Docomo+Yahoo!+and+Alcatel+
form+alliance 
<http://telecomyatra.afaqs.com/news/?sid=1971_Tata+Docomo+Yahoo%21+and+Alcat
el+form+alliance>  
<http://telecomyatra.afaqs.com/news/?sid=1971_Tata+Docomo+Yahoo%21+and+Alcat
el+form+alliance> 

Tata Docomo has announced the launch of its first co branded mobile handset
OneTouch Net in collaboration with Alcatel and Yahoo!

The Qwerty device offers one touch access to Tata Docomo's Dive In portal
and comes pre loaded with Yahoo!'s services.

The phone will be available in two colour combinations - white and lavender,
and black and silver. It comes with 80 MB of in built memory, a 2.0
megapixel camera, MP3 player, FM radio and stereo Bluetooth 2.0 technology.

"The device is being offered at a price point of just Rs 5,499 and comes
with lifetime free Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger services", Sunil Tandon,
regional head, Tata Docomo said.

OneTouch Net will also provide access to services such as My Song, Call Me
Tunes, Buddy Chat, My Talkies, Astro Portal, Funzone, Song Book etc. through
customised keys on the handset.
_____

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.cpsr.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
     governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org

For all list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance

Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.igcaucus.org/pipermail/governance/attachments/20100923/541b2d08/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.cpsr.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
     governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org

For all list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance

Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t