lots of conferences -- F2C: Freedom to Connect]

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: F2C: Freedom to Connect
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 08:47:24 -0500
From: David S. Isenberg <isen () isen com>
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>

Dear Dave,

For IP, per your judgement.

I am organizing F2C: Freedom to Connect on April 3 & 4 in
Washington DC around an issue, Internet Freedom, that I think IP
readers will agree is one of the fundamental issues of our era:
How do we, as a society, think about Internet connectivity?
Is it a fundamental right, a natural extension of Freedom of Speech
and Freedom of the Press?  Or is it a privilege, subject to meritocracy,
private commercial arrangements and the chaos of the marketplace?
I think it is critical to come together to consider the bigger picture
that will give context to new laws shaping telecom.  (Congress missed
the Internet in 1996 -- what will they miss this time?)

Network Neutrality, for example, is just one small, complex, tactical
piece of the Internet Freedom picture in my view.  Even though Net
Neutrality (another word for Stupid Network) is a great idea on its
face, the closer we look, the more elusive Vint Cerf's "lightweight,
easily enforceable, Network Neutrality rule" seems.  To me, Internet
Freedom includes a much wider range of issues -- like vibrant
competition,
multi-modal connectivity, new technology, spectrum re-regulation, the
whole idea of common carriage and the role of government in
infrastructure.
Recently, with NSA data collection in this country and Chinese filtering
requirements on apps providers, we need to be talking about government's
role in network superstructure, too. It'll be a very full two days.

There are many who will be affected by telecom policy initiatives who
are
not part of the discussion, and F2C is aimed at bringing them in!
So I'd really appreciate your help, Dave, in getting the word out to the
IP List!

Also aimed at expanding the discussion, I'm teaming up with
Pulver.com and
partnering with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law
School, where I'm a Fellow, plus Tropos Networks, Voxeo, O'Reilly Media,
Free Press, Public Knowledge, Google, Center for Digital Democracy,
and as
many other companies, organizations and individuals who are concerned
about Internet Freedom as possible.  See http://pulver.com/f2c for
details.

There's a deal that's not listed on the F2C website that members of IP
can take advantage of:  Register using Priority Code FODEL and get
50% off the regular Early Bird price, $295 (vs $595).

(Plus, if you and Gigi can make it, welcome!!! Please be my guest!
We'll save two seats for you!)

The speakers list is shaping up nicely.
Reed Hundt is giving the Conference Keynote.
Representative Rick Boucher D-VA is confirmed.
Chris Sacca, Google's biz-dev point-man (responsible for the SF WI-Fi
project) has just signed up.
Plus we have several other government VIPs at the forefront of the
Internet Freedom debate almost confirmed.  Other speakers include:
    * Gary Arlen, Editor/Commentator, Arlen Communications Inc.
    * Jonathan Askin, General Counsel, pulver.com
    * Jim Baller, Senior Principal, Baller Herbst Law Group
    * Drew Clark, Senior Writer, National Journal
    * Mark Cooper, Research Director, Consumer Federation of America
    * Cynthia De Lorenzi, CEO, Patriot.net
    * Ed Felten, Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs,
Princeton University
    * Dewayne Hendricks, CEO, Dandin Group
    * Dave Hughes, Owner, Old Colorado Communications
    * Reed Hundt, Principal, Charles Ross Partners
    * David Isenberg, Principal, Isen.com
    * Jeff Jarvis, Creative Director, Advance.net
    * Jim Kohlenberger, Executive Director, The VON Coalition
    * Bruce Kushnick, Chairman, Teletruth
    * Blair Levin, Managing Director, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company,
Incorporated
    * Om Malik, Editor, GIGAOM.com
    * Rick Ringel, Dir. of Engineering, Media Applications Grp.,
Inter-Tel
    * Doc Searls, Senior Editor, Linux Journal
    * Ron Sege, CEO, Tropos
    * Gigi Sohn, President, Public Knowledge
    * Esme Vos, Founder, Muniwireless.com
    * David Weinberger, Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
    * Frannie Wellings, spokesperson, Free Press
    * Tim Wu, Professor, Coumbia Law School

More info at http://pulver.com/f2c

Thanks, Dave!
David I
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