George Ford is getting booed and heckled -- with editorial comment

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

I can understand why some folks were hesitant to show up . Why is it that at the center of what should be the 
reflection on the freedoms we claim to value, all too often contrary views are booed and shouted down.

There is a need for public meetings BUT there is also a need for a venue where there can we real discussions of facts 
and values.  That seems to be missing or at least buried under the emotional rhetoric of all sides.

Dave



________________________________________
From: Jon Peha [peha () cmu edu]
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 11:35 AM
To: David Farber
Cc: ip
Subject: Re: [IP] Re:    George Ford is getting booed and heckled

I also testified at this hearing.
It is indeed true and sad that George Ford was booed.
(although it is not true that he was the only economist.  Greg Rosston was there)
I did not agree with 100% of George's comments,
but his perspective matters, and he deserved to be heard.

It is also sad that no provider of broadband cable or DSL service wanted
to participtate in the hearing, despite invitations.
(Brett Glass's presence helped, but his wireless network is quite different.)
These are complex issues, and good solutions can only be found if all parties can present their concerns.
I would have liked to hear more from providers about their congestion concerns.
To IP readers who work for broadband providers, if you prefer not to engage in hearings,
I hope you will file written comments that are constructive, specific, and on point.

Jon Peha
www.ece.cmu.edu/~peha<http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~peha>


David Farber wrote:

________________________________________
From: Brett Glass [brett () lariat net<mailto:brett () lariat net>]
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 10:19 PM
To: David Farber; ip
Subject: Re: [IP] George Ford is getting booed and heckled

At 06:58 PM 4/17/2008, David Farber wrote:



"It is pretty sad that the only economist here today could barely be heard over the heckling and boos.  This event is 
really a farce."



I was there. And, yes, he was booed and heckled, basically for being pro-market and anti-regulation. It's a good thing 
that Tom Hazlett didn't show; they might have thrown things. ;-)

The room -- where, ironically, I both performed music and spoke when I attended Stanford 25 years ago -- was not full. 
Most of the crowd that did attend was marshalled by a group called "Save the Internet," which fed them talking points 
and much incorrect information. The crowd was uncivil and booed anyone who appeared not to favor an expansive and 
radical definition of Network Neutrality. (Except for me.... They kind of didn't know what to make of me. I wasn't 
representing a corporate behemoth but also was not an unqualified advocate of their agenda. One speaker did attack me 
during the public comment period, though.)

In any event, I was the sole representative of an Internet service provider speaking at the hearing. I had quite a lot 
to say that was unique and substantive and had not been heard by the Commissioners before. Alas, while I would have 
liked to have enough time to cover all of the major points, I only got to speak for 8 minutes. (Larry Lessig got much, 
much longer because his group at the Law School was hosting the hearing.) However, I did file written comments which 
covered all of the points I intended to make.

--Brett Glass


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