Interesting People mailing list archives
Re: Is Broadband a Civil Right?
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:40:13 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: "Richard Bennett" <richard () bennett com> Date: July 1, 2009 1:18:24 PM EDT To: <dave () farber net> Subject: RE: [IP] Is Broadband a Civil Right? Reply-To: <richard () bennett com>The actual article in Huff Po is amazing in its naivete. The argument goes
like this:"...isn't' broadband access what is making the Iran Protests happen? Wasn't
broadband and essential component of freedom and democracy. In short - should broadband access be a civil right?" and then:"If the internet is the backbone of free speech and participation, how can it be owned by corporate interests whose primary concern isn't freedom or
self expression or political dissent? Doesn't it have to be free?"Given a choice between government or corporate control of the Internet and
broadband networks in general, it's certainly not obvious to me thatgovernments are more likely to protect free speech rights than corporations;
who's more sensitive to criticism of the government?Arguments like this one demonstrate the dismal state of higher education in
America. Richard Bennett -----Original Message----- From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net] Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:31 AM To: ip Subject: [IP] Is Broadband a Civil Right? Begin forwarded message: From: dewayne () warpspeed com (Dewayne Hendricks) Date: June 30, 2009 11:26:59 PM EDT To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <xyzzy () warpspeed com> Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Is Broadband a Civil Right? IS BROADBAND A CIVIL RIGHT? [Commentary] There are some moments when you can feel the conversation change -- and the world tilt from right to left. Today was one of those days. It began early at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City. The PdF as it's known, is now in it's 6th year -- and attracts the top talent in politics, consulting, and technology. Predictably, the conversation this year revolved around Twitter, Iran and the transformational power of social media to change the political landscape. The days agenda featured a list of Obama campaign and administration superstars -- and it perhaps is somewhat ironic that Julius Genachowski, the newly appointed FCC chairman wasn't able to attend, as he was being confirmed in DC just as the afternoon sessions began. But the elephant in the room wasn't about software, or technology -- it was about Broadband. The issues around Universal Access emerged as the most powerful metaphor for freedom, democracy, and free speech. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rosenbaum/is-broadband-a-civil-righ_b_2 22797.html
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Current thread:
- Is Broadband a Civil Right? David Farber (Jul 01)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Is Broadband a Civil Right? David Farber (Jul 02)