Re: Is Broadband a Civil Right?

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

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 that
governments 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
>

Courtesy of the Benton Foundation <http://www.benton.org>
RSS Feed: <http://www.warpspeed.com/wordpress>




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