My goodness
A "pugnacious Bush commerce official" "began shouting back at Supernova 2007 attendees..." Astonishing.
"Increasingly, it seems, those companies will be allowed by the Government to charge for different levels of internet service - ending net neutrality."
In my part of the country I can choose dial-up, DSL, Cable or Satellite with a dizzying array of download/upload speeds available--all charging different rates for "different levels of internet service".
I can choose from $8 a month to a few hundred dollars a month for a service that satisfies my needs. Please keep the government out of those choices, I'll pick my own out of these free-market alternatives.
"Identifying delegates as "application providers", he said it was their responsibility to compete with broadband incumbents by offering their own service, founded initially on portions of the 700Mhz spectrum. This spectrum will be sold under auction once terrestrial TV providers complete their move to digital in February 2009."
It is the responsibility of would-be providers to compete in a free-market economy. They must have the financial backing to be able to develop the 700 Mhz part of the spectrum and competitive bidding will weed out those who are lacking in that respect.
A point to keep in mind is that at 700Mhz, two-way communication is limited by some restrictions such as line-of-site, man-made and natural obstructions, need for specialized (directional) user antennas and therefor it is of limited use for many rural areas as well as urban areas where cable and DSL are economically viable today.
And this: The Bush administration, meanwhile, was challenged to donate a portion of the spectrum to academic institutions for research purposes. Speaking after Kneuer, a researcher for Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA) expressed frustration that there's currently no reliable way to gather independent data on the internet."
My evil twin is tempted to say: WTF?(twice)
1. What "research purposes" would be advanced by donating a portion of the 700Mhz spectrum to academic institutions?
2. How does allocation or non allocation of the 700Mhz spectrum affect in any way a "reliable way to gather independent data on the internet." ?
Furthermore this: ""We need numbers on spam, but where do you get numbers on spam from - anti-spam vendors. These aren't the people you want to be getting numbers from when setting policy," she said."
Perhaps the author knows of no other providers of "numbers of spam". If so then I suggest further research.
Quote: ""Let's look at what a public network is really used for. We cannot answer that. And the carriers are about to ask us to pay for traffic, 99 per cent of which is spam!
I'm not sure how the author defines a "public network". If it is a network easily accessed by the public for the common good then we can answer that.
I don't know the author's personal email hygiene habits but if 99% of Gavin's email is spam I would suggest that Gavin seek help from professionals.
And finally this: "If the Commerce Department really wants to help us they will provide the research community with a really open network we can all study."
Here's my thought, the Commerce Department is in no way restricting your access to a "really open network". Including the heretofore secret "IPV 6"
Feel free to study it to your heart's content.