Comments on: Internet ramblings, revisited. http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:22:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: cosmix.org » Blog Archive » Why net neutrality matters. http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/comment-page-1/#comment-333 cosmix.org » Blog Archive » Why net neutrality matters. Tue, 13 Jun 2006 01:04:12 +0000 http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/#comment-333 [...] I’ve written before (also here) about network neutrality as I believe it is one of the most important aspects of legislative policy that affects billions of people, yet has been largely ignored, as was DMCA and ECD before it. After discussing this with a friend, I decided it’s probably time to write a bit more about it. Net neutrality is the policy that requires network operators to not discriminate on application providers by shaping/controlling the traffic that passes through their networks. Less than a year ago the U.S. FCC (Federal Communications Committee) removed a part of their regulations aht ensured network neutrality among network providers. This has, in turn, led to a number of prominent social, industry, academia and political figures voicing their concerns about the prospect of a multi-tier internet, a network where operators discriminate between users and service providers. Similarly, traditionally ‘liberal’ organisations and individuals cried foul at any attempts to enforce legislation enforcing it, claiming that it is unconstitutional and limits the freedom of the internet industry. While I am against excessive government intervention in general, I believe this is a case where it is not just warranted, but essential. This is not about intervention. This is about the fair regulation of a utility. Perhaps the most important utility of them all: the internet. A medium of expression, communication, freedom of speech, innovation. In this article I will try to explain why I believe that attacks against network neutrality in the name of liberty are either hypocritical or naive. [...] [...] I’ve written before (also here) about network neutrality as I believe it is one of the most important aspects of legislative policy that affects billions of people, yet has been largely ignored, as was DMCA and ECD before it. After discussing this with a friend, I decided it’s probably time to write a bit more about it. Net neutrality is the policy that requires network operators to not discriminate on application providers by shaping/controlling the traffic that passes through their networks. Less than a year ago the U.S. FCC (Federal Communications Committee) removed a part of their regulations aht ensured network neutrality among network providers. This has, in turn, led to a number of prominent social, industry, academia and political figures voicing their concerns about the prospect of a multi-tier internet, a network where operators discriminate between users and service providers. Similarly, traditionally ‘liberal’ organisations and individuals cried foul at any attempts to enforce legislation enforcing it, claiming that it is unconstitutional and limits the freedom of the internet industry. While I am against excessive government intervention in general, I believe this is a case where it is not just warranted, but essential. This is not about intervention. This is about the fair regulation of a utility. Perhaps the most important utility of them all: the internet. A medium of expression, communication, freedom of speech, innovation. In this article I will try to explain why I believe that attacks against network neutrality in the name of liberty are either hypocritical or naive. [...]

]]> By: cosmix http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/comment-page-1/#comment-36 cosmix Sun, 12 Feb 2006 11:17:13 +0000 http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/#comment-36 Hey Antonio. Thank you very much for correcting me, with regards to where FON originates from. I was indeed confused by the fact that the guy was Argentinian. Interesting. The value for money you get is quite good, compared to that in Hellas. But compare this to what you can get with €30 in parts of France (24Mbits/1Mbit, free calls to landlines in France, TV) or the UK (£24, 24Mbits/1.3Mbit), and you'll see that even that price is not as great as it could have been. Hey Antonio.

Thank you very much for correcting me, with regards to where FON originates from. I was indeed confused by the fact that the guy was Argentinian.

Interesting. The value for money you get is quite good, compared to that in Hellas. But compare this to what you can get with €30 in parts of France (24Mbits/1Mbit, free calls to landlines in France, TV) or the UK (£24, 24Mbits/1.3Mbit), and you’ll see that even that price is not as great as it could have been.

]]> By: Antonio http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Antonio Sun, 12 Feb 2006 10:53:26 +0000 http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/#comment-35 Martin's blog in English: http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/ Martin’s blog in English:
http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/

]]> By: Antonio http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Antonio Sun, 12 Feb 2006 10:50:40 +0000 http://blog.cosmix.org/2006/02/08/internet-as-a-utility-and-wifi-for-everyone/#comment-33 FON is a project originated in Spain. The mistake came from the guy who is from Argentina although he is living in Spain since some time. He founded Jazztel, left it on bankrupcy and founded FON to repeat the trick. There has been and there is a huge controversy surrounding FON. The question, as you perfectly state, is, the way FON is going to make money. And here comes the trick, Bills (one kind of FON users) will pay for getting wi-fi connection while Linus (another kind of FON users) will provide this connection in exchange for wi-fi connection wherever they go. The way I see it is Bills pay 40 € to FON, Linus pay 40 € to their ISP's and FON does not provide almost anything, only some basic infrastructure under old wi-fii routers. It is also funny to see that relevant bloggers in Spain support this idea but digging on FON you may notice that some of them belong to FON advisory board. And to complete the equation, Google plus eBay plus Skype recently announced that they were going to invest 18 million € on FON. IMHO, I do not know for what and why. Knowing how most of these businesses work in Mediterranean area, I guess the reason but will see. One thing is for sure, there is going to be news on next months on these so we are not going to be bored for some time. PS: Just now I am paying 34,74 VAT included for a 2 Mbit ADSL connection, 300 Kbps upload with national calls included. And for a bit more, you may get 4 Mbps or 20 Mbps depending on the city and area you live. Regards. FON is a project originated in Spain. The mistake came from the guy who is from Argentina although he is living in Spain since some time. He founded Jazztel, left it on bankrupcy and founded FON to repeat the trick. There has been and there is a huge controversy surrounding FON. The question, as you perfectly state, is, the way FON is going to make money. And here comes the trick, Bills (one kind of FON users) will pay for getting wi-fi connection while Linus (another kind of FON users) will provide this connection in exchange for wi-fi connection wherever they go.
The way I see it is Bills pay 40 € to FON, Linus pay 40 € to their ISP’s and FON does not provide almost anything, only some basic infrastructure under old wi-fii routers. It is also funny to see that relevant bloggers in Spain support this idea but digging on FON you may notice that some of them belong to FON advisory board. And to complete the equation, Google plus eBay plus Skype recently announced that they were going to invest 18 million € on FON. IMHO, I do not know for what and why. Knowing how most of these businesses work in Mediterranean area, I guess the reason but will see. One thing is for sure, there is going to be news on next months on these so we are not going to be bored for some time.
PS: Just now I am paying 34,74 VAT included for a 2 Mbit ADSL connection, 300 Kbps upload with national calls included. And for a bit more, you may get 4 Mbps or 20 Mbps depending on the city and area you live. Regards.

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