Ed’s Telecom Alert

Discriminating Folks,

Net Neutrality is an explosive issue right now.   Underlying issue is simply should Internet be regulated or continue unregulated?  Which of these two is best to preserve the Open Internet?  Should Internet providers be allowed to give preference to those people who pays the highest monthly rate?   Or the other way around, should Internet providers be allowed to block heavy users of Internet?  

These are just questions out of many in the NPRM that the FCC is asking Public and Industry.  Lot of industry responded: I counted so far 75 have responded.   NPRM is bit long, but not too difficult to read and understand. 

Open Internet

Quotable Quotes:

The underlying purpose is: "In order to promote innovation, investment, competition, and free expression, and to protect and empower consumers.."

and also this: "..that would codify the Internet Policy Statement’s four principles and strengthen them by prohibiting broadband Internet access providers from treating lawful traffic in a discriminatory manner, and by requiring providers to be transparent regarding their network management practices."

Reason for NPRM seems to be that: 

"The discussion generated by the Commission’s Open Internet proceeding appears to have narrowed disagreement on many of the key elements of the framework proposed in the NPRM:

Fifth, that in light of rapid technological and market change, enforcing high-level rules of the road through case-by-case adjudication, informed by engineering expertise, is a better policy approach than promulgating detailed, prescriptive rules that may have consequences that are difficult to foresee."

There are lot more analytical remarks from the FCC.  If you are interested, read on.  However, Net Neutrality issue is what will determine how we, the users of Internet, be able to use Internet and to what extent and what we’re not allowed to.

Unless I overlooked, I do not see any comments from deaf/hoh groups that commented.   I know that this is generally for industry, but Internet Users or non-profit/advocacy organizations certainly can comment.   I see many did like one from Hispanic group, etc.  

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Open Internet Long Link: https://prodnet.www.neca.org/publicationsdocs/wwpdf/da101667.pdf

(For those who wants to know what "discriminating" means: with "ing" and used before noun, it becomes adjective and means a person having or showing refined taste or good judgment.  I mention that cuz discriminate (verb) can be conveyed as a negative term.)

Folks..

Many of you likely already have seen that one; if so, sorry about that. 

Obama Remarks

Quotable Quotes:

"..got some legislators here who have been fighting on behalf of the disabilities community for a very long time.."

Remarks listed quite a few politician who made the bill possible. 

"And it was a moment for every American to reflect not just on one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in our history, but what that bill meant to so many people.  It was a victory won by countless Americans who refused to accept the world as it is, and against great odds, waged quiet struggles and grassroots crusades until finally change was won."

"Now, the bill I’m signing today into law will better ensure full participation in our democracy and our economy for Americans with disabilities.  The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act will make it easier for people who are deaf, blind or live with a visual impairment to do what many of us take for granted — from navigating a TV or DVD menu to sending an email on a smart phone.  It sets new standards so that Americans with disabilities can take advantage of the technology our economy depends on.  And that’s especially important in today’s economy, when every worker needs the necessary skills to compete for the jobs of the future."   

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Obama Remark Long Link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/10/08/remarks-president-signing-21st-century-communications-and-video-accessib

Folks…

This is non-TRS issue, but this article is interesting and it is about the technology innovations that continually tries to sate the appetite for faster and faster-still broadband speeds.

Insatiable Hunger

Quotable quotes:

"OUR taste for the Internet is insatiable — traffic is growing so fast that its transmission systems may soon be filled to capacity. But scientists are coping, finding ingenious ways to satisfy our deep bandwidth hunger."

"A fiber is no thicker than human hair, but can carry many wavelengths of laser light, with each wavelength adding to the bits transmitted per second. The bit rates now attainable are in the billions (gigabits) per second or even trillions (terabits) per second."

"..in the new system from Alcatel-Lucent, two binary digits or bits can be encoded by using four phases of light. And the polarized light can vibrate up and down or sideways. In this way, four bits of data can be transmitted per time slot instead of one.."

I really do not fully understand the last two statements, but they look impressive and innovative.   To think that bit rates can do as much terabits per second is really mind-boggling.  

eyes open & thumbs up,
 
Ed

Insatiable Hunger Long Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/business/10novel.html

Folks,

I’ve already posted the FCC Public Notice on access for low blind, low vision and deaf blind, but wanted to share a blind person’s perspective of this access issue. 

Access Bill

Quotable quotes:

"Today marks a huge step forward for people with disabilities," said Paul Schroeder, VP, Programs & Policy for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). "Once enacted, this legislation will ensure that the 25 million Americans with vision loss, and the millions more with other disabilities, can fully take part in the digital era. It will improve job opportunities, education opportunities, and more."

"Legislation can’t solve everything, but it can chart a course for the future," said Mark Richert, Policy Director for AFB and a principal negotiator with the communications and TV industries. "For millions of Americans just like me who have been largely shut out of the amazing technologies most people take for granted today, the new law means we’ll be able to work more productively, respond to emergencies more safely and effectively, and participate even more in society and culture. It’s about moving from isolation and dependence to inclusion and opportunity.""

eyes open & thumbs up,

Ed

Access Bill Long Link: http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?DocumentID=5318