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06 Dec 2010 23:21

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Politics: Reddit’s grassroots political efforts ready for their close-up

  • You know what’s cool? When friggin’ Reddit fights for what it believes in. We posted about this phenomenon a month ago when it was tentatively called RPAC, and from there, they’ve kept it up. The Open Source Democracy Foundation (a 501(c)(4), not a PAC) is ready for its close-up, and their first order of business is net neutrality. “Regardless of peoples’ ideologies and political persuasions,” says the organization’s founder, Eddie Geller, “we find it hard to believe anyone wants the Internet to be less free or less open.” With the the SavetheInternet.com Coalition, they’re working on a letter-writing campaign to the FCC. But lest you think they’ve outgrown their roots, they’re still on Reddit, collectively plotting their next steps. Keep an eye on these guys. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

03 Dec 2010 17:12

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Tech: Level 3’s fight with Comcast over Netflix heats up, big time

  • If the dispute were simply ‘commercial,’ the dispute would have already been settled or would never have arisen in the first place. Comcast’s status as the nation’s largest provider of consumer broadband service enables Comcast to force Level 3 to pay the ‘toll’ Comcast has demanded.
  • A statement from Level 3 Communications • Complaining about Comcast’s plan to charge a toll for its handling of Netflix’s traffic – which effectively doubles the amount of bandwidth they’ll be sending to Comcast’s customers. As this could have the effect of hurting end-users by incurring more charges on them, Level 3 is right to push back here. This is a net neutrality fight that you should watch, because Comcast appears to be using their leverage as an internet provider to protect its cable business. This is bad. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Nov 2010 21:34

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Culture: Spiffy: Reddit users build their own political action committee

  • So, to anyone who thinks Reddit is just a bunch of silly videos and a meme machine, here’s probably the most interesting use of the site so far. A Reddit political action committee. Their issues? Net neutrality, campaign finance reform, and a general emphasis on progress before profit. This is why Reddit is different. We don’t see anyone making a DiggPAC. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

13 Aug 2010 11:17

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Tech: Google’s all on the defensive after that net neutrality thang

  • We’re not so presumptuous to think that any two businesses could – or should – decide the future of this issue. We’re simply trying to offer a proposal to help resolve a debate which has largely stagnated after five years.
  • A statement from Google • Regarding criticism it has faced since they decided to go down the net neutrality rabbit hole with Verizon. Their suggestion, which was to treat wireless internet networks differently from wired networks, has gone over like a lead balloon with net neutrality fans. Facebook has gotten in on the jabbing too, saying this in a statement the other day: “Preserving an open Internet that is accessible to innovators — regardless of their size or wealth — will promote a vibrant and competitive marketplace where consumers have ultimate control over the content and services delivered through their Internet connections.” Ouch. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Aug 2010 09:36

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Tech: Google and Verizon’s net neutrality deal: As bad as it sounds

  • The agreement outsources the FCC’s powers and authorities to the very industries these rules are supposed to oversee.
  • Public Knowledge Senior Director Sherwin Sly • Discussing yesterday’s deal of an announcement between Google and Verizon. This is the sticking point many other people and groups have, just an FYI. Sure, it’s good for them to talk to the FCC about this kind of thing, but they’re basically trying to set public policy for everyone with a bunch of backroom deals. Sounds shady to us. Many feel that there’s a hidden agenda at work here, and if they do use this self-appointed authority, it could be dangerous. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Aug 2010 20:13

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Tech: Did the New York Times totally fail on Google/Verizon article?

  • @NYTimes is wrong. We’ve not had any convos with VZN about paying for carriage of our traffic. We remain committed to an open internet.
  • A tweet from Google’s public policy feed • Denying the New York Times’ claims that they plan to play turncoat on net neutrality with Verizon. We must say, it’s not often the NYT gets a story totally wrong, and, well, this is kind of a biggie to get wrong. To top it all off, Verizon is also denying the claims. Embarrassing. (For what it’s worth, the Times article is still up with no correction in sight.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Aug 2010 10:12

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Tech: Is Google throwing net neutrality under the bus for Verizon?

  • What the #(&!, Google? We thought you were above listening to big telecom’s advances to shape internet bandwidth. So, why have you been secretly talking to Verizon for nearly ten months about basically ending net neutrality? You’re a big enough company that you could’ve totally prevented this from happening. So why give in? What benefit is there to either you or your millions of users? Unbelievable. We thought you were cut from a much tougher cloth. Screw “Don’t be evil,” guys. It’s dead. Google killed it in one fell swoop. (Oh yeah, there’s this other report which basically contradicts The Times. And this one. We hope these are right. But we’re still keeping the unchecked rage above because we’ve never been so angry at Google before and it’s a new feeling to us.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

05 May 2010 20:13

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Tech, U.S.: The FCC twists, turns its way through the net neutrality wormhole

  • before The FCC planned to use
    its weight to move
    carriers to follow net
    neutrality rules it created.
  • then A federal court said this
    wasn’t legal and that
    Congress should make
    a net neutrality law.
  • now The FCC now plans to …
    regulate the Internet like the phone system. How
    wacky! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Apr 2010 12:20

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Tech, U.S.: Twitter can’t believe Federal Court’s net neutrality decision



Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Feb 2010 09:38

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Tech: 4chan blocked by Verizon Wireless. Will they ever learn?

  • You just don’t block 4chan. You just don’t. Back in July, the site – which revels in offensiveness and the more controversial end of free speech – was blocked by AT&T over reports of a denial of service attack, later found to be caused by a “network error.” The case with Verizon Wireless, however (which doesn’t affect landline DSL connections, by the way), was based on content. Site owner moot was told the site was “explicitly blocked” by the company. Net neutrality was created for this reason, guys. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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