Tiered Internet a threat to small business growth?
March 7, 2006 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Comments Off
Although I understand the need for telcos and cablecos to recoup the
cost of upgrading their networks, I find the plans to raise Internet
and Email fees troubling for small business.
The High-Speed Money Line - New York Times: "
By KEN BELSON
Published: March 6, 2006
Are consumers going to start having to spend a lot more to surf the Web?
Phone and cable companies have stoked those fears recently by floating plans that would have Amazon, Yahoo and other Web sites paying new fees to ensure that their content will be delivered to customers faster.
This possibility has raised the prospect that consumers may end up having to pay twice for access to the Internet — once to the phone or cable company that sells them a dial-up or broadband line, and again to Internet companies that pass along new charges for fast access to content from their sites.
EFF: Breaking News: "
February 24, 2006
Strange Bedfellows Unite to Fight AOL's 'Email Tax'
This Tuesday, an unlikely coalition of left and right, non-profits and small businesses, and Internet advocacy groups will hold a national telephone news conference call to announce an unprecedented combined campaign against AOL's new 'pay-to-send' email proposal - which amounts to an 'email tax.'
To RSVP for the call, please email Alex@Fenton.com. Space is limited.
Under AOL's recently announced 'certified email' proposal, large emailers willing to pay an 'email tax' can bypass spam filters and get guaranteed access to people's inbox"
EFF: Breaking News: "
March 07, 2006
DearAOL.com Coalition Grows From 50 Organizations to 500 In One Week
30,000 Email Users Sign Open Letter
San Francisco - Despite AOL's attempt to divide its critics, the DearAOL.com Coalition announced Monday it has grown tenfold from 50 organizations to more than 500 as it fights AOL's controversial plan to create a two-tiered Internet that leaves the little guy behind.
Last week, AOL's proposed 'email tax' came under fire from a coalition of political groups on the left and right, businesses and non-profits, charities, and Internet advocacy organizations.
Light Reading - Services Software - AT&T Sets Up Internet Tollbooths - Telecom News Analysis:
As it grows in size and scope, AT&T Inc. says it will also be among those carriers building tollbooths for its last-mile broadband networks.
The telco giant's product development and sales teams are now busy designing ‘packet prioritization’ products for sale to content providers that depend on AT&T last-mile networks to deliver services to consumers. Such products reserve a ‘fast lane’ on AT&T's networks for the safe and speedy transit of traffic from whichever company is paying the toll.
Techies Ramp Up For Internet’s Next Incarnation
March 7, 2006 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Comments Off
This is promising..and a lot more exciting than a 'smart refrigerator'.
Techies Ramp Up For Internet's Next Incarnation: " By Ellen McCarthy
Thursday, May 26, 2005; Page E01
Those in the know call it " IPV6 ," short for Internet Protocol Version 6. (For the curious, we're currently using Version 4 -- Version 5 never really got off the ground.)
The essential advantage of Version 6 is that it can expand to give Internet addresses not only to every cell phone, iPod and BlackBerry that will eventually come online, but also to Web-enabled sensors that will someday be scattered around our homes, cars and communities, allowing users to control more of their world through the Internet.
The current version has about 4.3 billion available addresses; the new one has so many it is expressed in exponents (3.4 x 10 to the power of 38).
(Via .)
A “Book Sprint” for 5-6 billion w/o Internet
March 7, 2006 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Comments Off
Follow the link to the press release and be inspired by a very cool Bigger Game.
‘Wireless Networking in the Developing World’! It’s freely available for download at http://wndw.net/ and it’s quite comprehensive.
The book addresses what Rob Flickenger, the book’s editor and lead author, calls a chicken-and-egg problem: “While much information about building wireless networks can be found on-line, that presents a problem for people in areas with little or no connectivity”, said Flickenger from his workshop in Seattle. The book covers topics from basic radio physics and network design to equipment and troubleshooting. It is intended to be a comprehensive resource for technologists in the developing world, providing the critical information that they need to build networks. This includes specific examples, diagrams and calculations, which are intended to help building wireless networks without requiring access to the Internet.
The authors, all experts in the field of wireless community networking, gathered in London for a “Book Sprint” last October. The book sprint was the brain-child of Tomas Krag, one of the book’s authors, and was to be the kickstart of a 3-month effort culminating in a finished book.
A “Book Sprint” for 5-6 billion w/o Internet
March 7, 2006 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Comments Off
Follow the link to the press release and be inspired by a very cool Bigger Game.
‘Wireless Networking in the Developing World’! It’s freely available for download at http://wndw.net/ and it’s quite comprehensive.
The book addresses what Rob Flickenger, the book’s editor and lead author, calls a chicken-and-egg problem: “While much information about building wireless networks can be found on-line, that presents a problem for people in areas with little or no connectivity”, said Flickenger from his workshop in Seattle. The book covers topics from basic radio physics and network design to equipment and troubleshooting. It is intended to be a comprehensive resource for technologists in the developing world, providing the critical information that they need to build networks. This includes specific examples, diagrams and calculations, which are intended to help building wireless networks without requiring access to the Internet.
The authors, all experts in the field of wireless community networking, gathered in London for a “Book Sprint” last October. The book sprint was the brain-child of Tomas Krag, one of the book’s authors, and was to be the kickstart of a 3-month effort culminating in a finished book.
self-alignment
March 7, 2006 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Comments Off
When I speak about alignment, people often think that its about business: people, projects, organizations.' But it can be about yourself and its a good place to start, whatever your work or business situation.' I enjoy sharing my resources and my learning about growth through self-alignment.
For physical self-alignment, I swear by the 5 Tibetans.' A friend taught me 10 years ago and I find the practice invaluable.' Its a powerful routine that you can do at home and the benefits are great.
New concepts: “Networked Individualism”, “Glocalization”
March 7, 2006 by Mary Wynne-Wynter · Comments Off
MuniWireless » Blog Archive » New Pew Center Study — More Research Supporting Community Internet: The Strength of Internet Ties: Summary of Findings at a Glance.' The internet helps build social capital.
- The internet plays socially beneficial roles in a world moving towards “networked individualism.”
- Email allows people to get help from their social networks and the web lets them gather information and find support and information as they face important decisions.
- The internet supports social networks.
- Email is more capable than in-person or phone communication of facilitating regular contact with large networks.
- Email is a tool of “glocalization.” It connects distant friends and relatives, yet it also connects those who live nearby.
- Email does not seduce people away from in-person and phone contact.
- People use the internet to put their social networks into motion when they need help with important issues in their lives.
- The internet’s role is important in explaining the greater likelihood of online users getting help as compared to non-users.
- Americans’ use of a range of information technologies smooths their paths to getting help.
- Those with many significant ties and access to people with a variety of different occupations are more likely to get help from their networks.
- Internet users have somewhat larger social networks than non-users. The median size of an American’s network of core and significant ties is 35. For internet users, the median network size is 37; for non-users it is 30.
- About 60 million Americans say the internet has played an important or crucial role in helping them deal with at least one major life decision in the past two years.
- The number of Americans relying on the internet for major life decisions has increased by one-third since 2002.
- At major moments, some people say the internet helps them connect with other people and experts who help them make choices. Others say that the web helps them get information and compare options as they face decisions.
Source: Jeffrey Boase, John B. Horrigan, Barry Wellman, Barry, and Lee Rainie. The Strength of Internet Ties. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project, January 2006."