F.C.C. Plan to Widen Internet Access in U.S. Sets Up Battle

[Writer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/business/media/13fcc.html

The Federal Communications Commission is proposing an ambitious 10-year plan that will reimagine the nation’s media and technology priorities by establishing high-speed Internet as the country’s dominant communication network.

The plan, which will be submitted to Congress on Tuesday, is likely to generate debate in Washington and a lobbying battle among the telecommunication giants, which over time may face new competition for customers. Already, the broadcast television industry is resisting a proposal to give back spectrum the government wants to use for future mobile service.

What do DU'ers think about this? Do you think this challenges news stations that purportedly work for the public interest?

[Vincardog]

1. I would rather see EVERYONE have access to cheep or free broadband than have a few new stations that

would be bought and shut up by CCM.

[seabeckind]

2. Of course it would

Trying to take on another corporate trough.

[havocmom]

3. Very sharp double-edged sword. Lots of good can come from internet use

and lots of dis-information can be unleashed very quickly too. Since the ruling 1% basically relies on keeping the rest of us at each others' throats for their personal security, too few hands controlling message always worries me. And, can't it all be shut down pretty swiftly is some group wants to squelch communication?

While I know twitter helped get a lot of information out of a locked-down Iran, I am uneasy with my ignorance of just how communications might be cut off by means which would disrupt internet service to vast areas.

While I do hope FCC intends to make service providers live up to their product claims, there has not been much in recent regulatory history of ANYTHING to inspire confidence consumers will get real protection.

From a purely pragmatic view, too much reliance on one medium always seems tactically risky to me. And monopolies are not good for consumers.

I am considering studying the care, feeding, training of carrier pigeons. And I am saying that only in half jest.

[suston96]

4. Ignorance is not bliss........

Two points:

First: James Madison said this:

A popular Government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance....

Second: Solar flares and whatever other disaster, natural or man-made, can kill satellite communications in an instant. What then?