open internet

This was shared on the ACM listserve. I think it is well worth your reading it:
Enclosure of the internet . You can also read this interesting time line by clicking on the following read more

Philly[dot]com writes:
"FCC chairman Julius Genachowski just announced news to cheer open-Internet advocates: a new policy that stands up for the principle of network neutrality and recognizes the broadband Internet for what it obviously is: the essential telecommunications service of the 21st century.

In regulator-speak, Genachowski's plan says that broadband transmission will be reclassified as a "Title II" service - a telecommunications service of the type subject to close oversight since the FCC was established in the 1930s. Under the Bush administration, the FCC declared broadband offerings to be "Title I" data service, subject to much looser regulation. Although the plan also promises to carefully limit the regulators' role - the buzzwords are "narrowly tailored" and "third way" - it has predictably been denounced as a "power grab."

It appears that the FCC may be on the right track. A bit early to tell but we can hope for the best.
Here is what one happy group has to say about this

The following is from our friends at the Media Access Project. I blogged about this the other day:

Media Access Project (MAP) has been a strong voice of opposition to Comcast's
attempt to acquire NBC Universal, and has been busy providing guidance to
organizations and policymakers on the complex legal ramifications of the
proposed deal.

This merger would be the most prominent example of vertical integration in the
broadband era - it would lead to the union of the nation's largest cable TV
operator and Internet service provider with a major content provider.

The acquisition would be a dangerous deal for all Americans. At the local level,
it would cause an unacceptable level of consolidation in media ownership and
advertising in 11 of the biggest media markets around the country - including
San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, and other cities.

The deal would also: