Another Web Pioneer Speaks Out for Net Neutrality

[BurtWorm]

http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2006/05/03/another-internet-founder-speaks-out-for-net-neutrality/


Tim Berners-Lee, one of the inventors of the Web, came out in support of Net Neutrality calling it fundamental to maintaining a fair and competitive market economy.

When, seventeen years ago, I designed the Web, I did not have to ask anyone’s permission. The new application rolled out over the existing Internet without modifying it. I tried then, and many people still work very hard still, to make the Web technology, in turn, a universal, neutral, platform. It must not discriminate against particular hardware, software, underlying network, language, culture, disability, or against particular types of data. The Internet is increasingly becoming the dominant medium binding us. The neutral communications medium is essential to our society. It is the basis of a fair competitive market economy.

This tip came from Om Malik at GigaOm. Om adds: “I think it is time for start-ups and their backers to take stock of what the loss of network neutrality would mean to their business. Win or lose, this one has business implications, more so for many of the smaller corporate citizens.”

The financial industry is beginning to make noise to that end. According to a story in The Hill, the financial-services industry is weighing coordinated opposition to the telco-friendly language in the House’s bill, “fearing a financial hit if lawmakers allow phone and cable companies to charge banks more for secure Web service.”

Berners-Lee joins fellow pioneer Vinton Cerf in support of a free and open Internet.

[orwell]

1. Paging Mike McCurry...

...Mike, are you, uh, listening?

I didn't think so...

Carry on...

[deaniac21]

2. I wish everyone would listen to the web pioneers!!

:evilgrin:

[joeunderdog]

3. Kick to keep people aware that this is another threat to Democracy.

go to MoveOn.com and spread the word...before you can't spread it.

[Canuckistanian]

4. I just found out about this

Tim Berners-Lee IS the inventor of the internet, as far as I'm concerned.

I read about Mosaic and Berners-Lee in an article that I found on a Gopher server (a pre-browser hyper-linked Internet text service) Anyone remember the legendary server at the University of Minnesota?

I didn't try Mosaic, but I did get the first version of Netscape. Web pages were very primitive, but very exciting. PICTURES! COLORS! FORMATTED TEXT! I was hooked.

I've watched the internet from from a geeky Unix command filled service to the monster 'Net it is today.

And Tim Berners-Lee is the one who started it.

:thumbsup:

[sheelz]

5. Careful...

"Net Neutrality": Why are the Bad Guys So Much Better at Naming Things?

Why are the bad guys so much better at naming things? Especially legislation. Especially bad legislation.

No Child Left Behind. Healthy Forests. Clear Skies. The PATRIOT Act.

They have a special gift for coming up with monikers that are easy to remember and easy to get behind. Sure, they're deceptive, but they're also very effective.


The same can't be said for the utterly befuddling "Net Neutrality" -- the critically-important push to ensure that the Internet stays democratic and uncontrolled by the telecom giants that want to become its gatekeepers. (For those not fully up to speed on this vital issue -- and that's most everyone I've talked to -- check out savetheinternet.com, and posts by Rep. Ed Markey, Adam Green, Josh Silver, and Matt Stoller). Now, I understand that "Net Neutrality" is a technical term used to describe the separation of content and network operations, but what political genius decided to run with such a clunky name? The marketing mavens behind the Kerry '04 campaign?

When you first hear "Net Neutrality", what immediately pops into your head? A tennis match in Switzerland? Basketball players who don't choose sides? Tuna fishermen who don't have a position on being dolphin-safe? Absolutely nothing? Bingo!

And that's the problem.

<more at>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/net-neutrality-why-are_b_20311.html

[Canuckistanian]

6. Kick!

[BurtWorm]

7. kick

[Canuckistanian]

8. Kick yet again!