As I read Sascha's proposals (http://www.openleft.....)
and others offered this week, I'm struck by how powerful and sensible is the vision of a commons-based, universal, high-capacity open-access Internet.
While imposition of network neutrality or structural separation rules on incumbents may be feasible, I think what's most important for achieving this vision is to unite the municipal broadband, unlicensed, open-access and open-source movements around a strategy that incorporates key elements of what Sascha, Harold, Ben and others are proposing, along with the approach to white space spectrum I laid out in an earlier comment (see: http://www.openleft.....).
If the collective forces of what I'll call "freedom" and "community" are able to leverage the large amount of white space spectrum (and maybe also some of the 700 MHz spectrum) to begin building an attractive alternative to what is offered by incumbents, the result will be a shift in real-world market power.
Rather than insisting that incumbents adopt the model we believe is best, it makes more sense to me that we focus on insuring we have the freedom and resources to manifest that model ourselves. And, as this online discussion reminds us, the Internet provides an efficient and ever-evolving platform for aggregating and synthesizing ideas and resources in highly efficient and creative ways.
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| Pursuit of NN and SS rules is essentially an effort to control those who seek to control, so they don't abuse the ability to control that their market power gives them. In key respects, this is playing the incumbents' game in the arenas in which they've aggregated great skill and resources (e.g., Congress, the FCC, the courts, the Patent Office, etc.), and have shown a willingness to invest those resources massively and relentlessly.
The approach I'm suggesting, and which seems to be embodied in Sascha's proposals, is that we build alternative networks and "business models" that are based less on top-down control and more on voluntary cooperation, community, collaborative innovation and what Yochai Benkler calls "commons-based peer production."
I believe this model can thrive if both models are offered to the American people. The combination of smart radios, open software-based applications, innovative approaches to community-based fiber deployment, and the power of Internet-enabled collaboration and entrepreneurship...these embody the best of what this country is about.
My recommendation to Congress is to focus on enabling this model to have its chance to become a reality...listen to folks like Sascha, the advocates of unlicensed spectrum and the local communities who want to insure they have the right to build 21st century Internet roads in their community. Then make it a priority to adopt policies that help this model grow and scrupulously avoid those that stifle it, regardless of how much pressure you may feel from incumbents to do otherwise.
As you seem to realize, Senator, you and your colleagues face a historic opportunity. If you embrace it, you can unleash the power of American citizens to help you fix the many problems you (and we) are struggling with, and to reinvigorate an American spirit that has become weakened by the excesses of fear, dishonesty and dysfunction now polluting our political, economic and media systems. Ultimately, this is much bigger than a "communication policy issue." It is, in fundamental ways, a "future of this country" issue.
I believe you appreciate that, and I thank you again for joining us this week. Please come back regularly to continue our collaboration. |
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