Stoller NN Open Thread: "Big Telecom, a Threat to Our Democracy?"

by: Daniel De Groot

Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 15:58

Ok, now it's Matt's turn in the sun:

Big Telecom: An Emerging Threat to Our Democracy?
Sat, 07/19/2008 - 3:00pm, Ballroom F
Massive telecom companies control virtually all of our voice and internet communications these days-and new evidence shows a near-total lack of commitment to our democracy. AT&T has proposed filtering all content traveling on its network. Verizon tried initially to block NARAL's pro-choice text messages. Most telecom companies are fighting net neutrality. Can democracy survive an assault by those who control the tubes?
PANELISTS: Cindy Cohn, Michael Kieschnick, Matt Stoller, Nancy Keenan, Timothy Karr

Watch here

Daniel De Groot :: Stoller NN Open Thread: "Big Telecom, a Threat to Our Democracy?"

I'll be listening but expect less updates than the last one. Puttering around my apartment doing chores.

16:14 - ok, they've started.

16:36 - Cindy is telling EFF's perspective on the FISA and warrantless spying issue. The spying room in San Fransisco, Qwest's refusal to particpate, and what lawsuits EFF will launch to continue this fight going forward.

16:43 - Next panelist is talking about the history of AT&T and its current incarnation as mingled with SBC and describes it in terms of being a "Texas Republican" company. AT&T's sordid history of political contributions is recounted.

16:52 - Stoller with a funny anecdote: "My friend has a copy of the Bill of Rights written on metal. That way, when he goes through an airport metal detector, he goes 'Oh, that must be my bill of rights!'" - Matt uses this as a lead in to the increasing cultural trend of merely obeying authority for silly things that don't really contribute to security.

16:57 - Stoller: "Architecture of Control" and he describes the deeper meaning of the fisa fight being a battle for the soul of a free society or a controlled one.

Tags: Matt Stoller, live blogging, Netroots Nation, FISA, (All Tags)

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Stoller NN Open Thread: "Big Telecom, a Threat to Our Democracy?" | 2 comments

We ought to be fighting for net neutrality over cell networks too (4.00 / 1)

but we're really not. The issue has got scant attention. Something like thirty percent of US households ONLY have cell phone access. Most of these do NOT have internet access.

There are any number of useful services that can be deployed over cell phone networks. For instance seniors who need advice on prescription meds can (if you set it up that way) text the number for a given drug and get info sent back to their phones on it. Same with young moms looking for information on infant meds or the latest health info on infant formula. These are two groups, in fact, heavily over-represented in the cell-phone only demographic.

After Katrina ACORN, which was HQ'd in New Orleans, used text messaging to re-establish contact with its employees, activists and associates in the affected areas.

And of course, people have tried to use cell phone networking in electoral campaigns, to establish quickie phone banks and for GOTV.

But without the establishment of network neutrality over the cell phone networks --- and right now the cell networks have no such protection, all these uses and future ones undreamed of are at the whim of such public spirited bodies as Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. And right now, we don't have it.

"If you want that good feeling that comes from doing things for other people, then you have to pay for it in abuse and misunderstanding..."
Zora Neale Hurston

by: bruce.dixon @ Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 22:01:31 PM UTC