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Net Neutrality and its Impact on the Nonprofit Community
by Luca Valente May 17, 2010

May 17, 2010

FYI, Luca Valente *Net Neutrality and its Impact on the Nonprofit Community * Posted by Insights Contributor May 11, 2010 http://smartblogs.com/insights/2010/05/11/net-neutrality-and-its-impact-on-… *-- Shelly Alcorn, CAE, is a thought-leader, speaker and association management consultant. Reach her on twitter @shellyalcorn,<http://twitter.com/shellyalcorn> on LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/in/shellyalcorn> or at the Association Subculture blog <http://www.associationsubcultureblog.com/>. * Your association’s strategic mission won’t mean a thing if you can’t use the internet to get it to your members. Can’t use the internet? Whaaaaa’? Don’t believe me? Listen to the Chairman of the FCC - Julius Genachowski and his recent comments <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUjkjQ31zSM>regarding open access, how important it is and why it is under attack. Then – sign this petition to the FCC from the Nonprofit Community<https://secure.freepress.net/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4…> . I’ve been following net neutrality for a long time. It’s not a new issue. Back in 2006 the Daily Show did a classic bit with Jon Hodgman<http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-19-2006/net-neutrality-act> that is still good for a chuckle albeit a nervous one when contemplating what it really means. Here is the gist. Right now, internet providers provide access to the internet. Overall access speed has continued to increase with the advent of T1, cable, etc. What telecommunications companies have been unable to do so far is control the speed in which all things travel on the internet — they only control how fast you can get to it. So, if you have a slow connection, your internet is slow. But ALL sites you visit are slow. If you have a fast connection, your internet is fast. But ALL sites you visit are fast. Here are two instructional videos from YouTube to watch that will explain the issue far better than I can – Net Neutrality<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jHOn0EW8U&playnext_from=TL&videos=o-3na6-u…> and – What IS Net Neutrality<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L11kLmWha6o&playnext_from=TL&videos=aIKHZ9np…> ? This is why this matters so much: Nonprofits, particularly those who engage in political activity, stand to lose their ability to use the internet effectively for advocacy. Not only is it an issue of speed alone, but corporate interests would have the ability to effectively censor those associations who took positions on issues they disagreed with. Verizon ran into trouble in 2007 when it tried to prevent NARAL from sending text messages <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/business/27cnd-verizon.html> to their own members on women’s reproductive rights. What if that behavior became institutionalized? If the nonprofit community passively accepts the demise of net neutrality, they will potentially suffer untenable consequences. Smaller associations probably can’t print 10,000 yard signs, but they can get involved in online communication efforts. But not if they can’t get to the sites they need to get to. On April 6, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Comcast and against the Federal Communications Commission. Read about the decision here<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/06/AR201004060…> . The FCC only has a few options to act: - Do nothing. - Wait for Congress to act. - Reclassify broadband services so they fall squarely within the regulatory structure. Although Chairman Genachowski has expressed support for net neutrality contradictory news reports have been swirling this week. Earlier in the week news reports seemed to indicate the FCC was abandoning net neutrality. The uproar from activists was vociferous and as recently as yesterday, May 5, 2010 the Wall Street Journal reported the FCC will, indeed, push forward with reclassification<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703961104575226583645448758.h…>. In spite of that good news, the battle isn’t over yet and the situation remains fluid. What can you do as a nonprofit trade and professional association? Keep this issue in the forefront of your communications agenda, take action and stay informed. 1) Send a message to Chairman Julius Genachowski of the FCC<http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/genachowski/> in support of net neutrality 2) Visit www.savetheinternet.com 3) Visit www.nten.org 3) Visit the Electronic Frontier Foundation<http://www.eff.org/issues/net-neutrality> My thanks to NTEN <http://www.nten.org/> for recently hosting open, no charge conference calls on this issue. There are some really smart, really dedicated folks working on this issue. When I hear about activities, I will tweet them so feel free to follow me @shellyalcorn<http://twitter.com/shellyalcorn> . Nonprofits have a lot to lose if net neutrality is not protected. Please. Engage. Now. = = = = = Timothy Karr Campaign Director Free Press :: www.freepress.net SavetheInternet.com :: www.savetheinternet.com Follow :: www.twitter.com/TimKarr 201.533.8838 reform media. transform democracy.

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La maledizione di Diaspora
by Paolo Brini May 17, 2010

May 17, 2010

Vi segnalo uno stimolante articolo che mostra perché l'hype intorno a Diaspora, insieme ai 170.000 dollari raccolti in poche settimane, potrebbero diventare un serio problema per Diaspora. Diaspora becomes everything and anything to anyone who wants to believe. How can anyone deliver on boundless expectations? Ciao, Paolo

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Mercoledì 19, ore 18: La Responsabilità dei Provider nella Giurisprudenza Recente
by Federico Morando May 17, 2010

May 17, 2010

Cari Amici e Colleghi, il Centro NEXA per Internet e Società del Politecnico di Torino vi invita a partecipare all'incontro: ** *"La Responsabilità dei Provider nella giurisprudenza recente: **i casi Grande Fratello <http://nexa.polito.it/sites/nexa.polito.it/files/trib-roma-161209.pdf>, Vividown <http://speciali.espresso.repubblica.it/pdf/Motivazioni_sentenza_Google.pdf> e Google AdWords <http://curia.europa.eu/jurisp/cgi-bin/form.pl?lang=it&alljur=alljur&jurcdj=…>.* * */Intervengono: Carlo Blengino <http://www.nexa.polito.it/fellows#blengino>, Juan Carlos de Martin <http://www.nexa.polito.it/directors#de_martin>, Marco Ricolfi <http://www.nexa.polito.it/directors#ricolfi>, Anna Saraceno <http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CBcQFjAA&url=http…>/ * Mercoledì 19 Maggio*, alle ore *18.00 *Centro NEXA - Corso Trento 21, Torino <http://nexa.polito.it/contact>* *Ingresso libero Per ulteriori informazioni: http://nexa.polito.it/provider_nella_giurisprudenza_recente Un caro saluto, Federico Morando ** ** -- ----------------------------------- Federico MORANDO Managing Director & Research Fellow NEXA Center for Internet & Society Politecnico di Torino - DAUIN Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24 10129 TORINO - ITALY tel.: +39 011 564 5954 fax: +39 011 564 7216 mob: +39 339 7507974 mail: federico.morando(a)polito.it web: http://nexa.polito.it _______________________________________________ nexa-fellows mailing list nexa-fellows(a)server-nexa.polito.it https://server-nexa.polito.it/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nexa-fellows

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NYTimes: World’s Largest Social Network: The Open Web
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 17, 2010

May 17, 2010

From The New York Times: DIGITAL DOMAIN: World’s Largest Social Network: The Open Web Facebook’s hybrid of public and private access runs contrary to the Web’s openness and connectedness. http://nyti.ms/9w048A

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NYTimes: Europe to Offer 5-Year Plan for Telecom Industry
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 17, 2010

May 17, 2010

From The New York Times: Europe to Offer 5-Year Plan for Telecom Industry Some advocates worry that Neelie Kroes, the new European commissioner for the digital agenda, may not be forceful enough. http://nyti.ms/alZuHV

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il codice "Maroni-Romani" di "auto"regolamentazione del Web
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 16, 2010

May 16, 2010

Come racconta Federico Mello sul "Fatto Quotidiano", http://tinyurl.com/34zxxwf, martedi' 11 maggio il Ministro Maroni ha incontrato le associazioni dei provider di servizi web per presentare una bozza del "Codice di autodisciplina a tutela della dignità della persona sulla rete Internet" accompagnato da un protocollo d'intesa. I due documenti sono disponibili sul sito del Sole24ore: http://tinyurl.com/2cmmwb3 Una prima analisi di Guido Scorza e' qui: http://www.guidoscorza.it/?p=1814 Un passaggio su tutti: > Il cuore del Codice di "autoregolamentazione" - nel senso già chiarito > - è, certamente, rappresentato dall'obbligo che si vorrebbe assunto da > tutti i "web service provider" di rimuovere tutti "i contenuti > illeciti o potenzialmente lesivi della dignità umana". Credo che nelle prossime settimane ne parleremo molto. juan carlos

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Fwd: [IP] Re: German court orders wireless passwords for all
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 15, 2010

May 15, 2010

Qualche precisazione in merito al caso tedesco segnalato da Stefano Quintarelli. juan carlos -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [IP] Re: German court orders wireless passwords for all Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 21:06:59 -0400 From: David Farber <dave(a)farber.net> Reply-To: dave(a)farber.net To: ip <ip(a)v2.listbox.com> Begin forwarded message: *From: *Konrad Neuwirth <konrad(a)fimsch.net <mailto:konrad@fimsch.net>> *Date: *May 13, 2010 5:19:47 PM EDT *To: *dave(a)farber.net <mailto:dave@farber.net> *Subject: **Re: [IP] German court orders wireless passwords for all* Hello there, although there was a ruling and it was quite important, I feel that a few corrections are in order. Am 12.05.2010 um 18:37 schrieb Dave Farber: >> BERLIN – Germany's top criminal court ruled Wednesday that Internet >> users need to secure their private wireless connections by password >> to prevent unauthorized people from using their Web access to >> illegally download data. The court that spoke was actually the Bundesverfassungsgerichtshof -- the Federal Constitutional Court. You can find it's web presence at <http://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/en/index.html>. it as much a criminal court as the supreme court in the US is. >> Internet users can be fined up to euro100 ($126) if a third party >> takes advantage of their unprotected WLAN connection to illegally >> download music or other files, the Karlsruhe-based court said in its >> verdict. What the verdict says is actually a little more specific, and it's actually in part good news. Before the verdict, lawyers chasing down the illegal sharing of copyrighted materials could (and did) make up horrendous sums of 'damages' that the use of file sharing technologies caused, sending out large bills to the owners of the specific IP numbers at the time of sharing. This is now no longer possible, for there is now the 100 EUR limit on such cases. It's also not a 'fine' in the sense that it's a money transaction involving the government -- it's actually just between the rightholders lawyers and the internet user. It also says that the owner of unsecured WLANs can be held responsible for any and all copyright violations coming from their network, even if they were on holiday at that time -- the lack of proper WLAN protection is the point what makes them responsible. It'll be interesting to see how WLAN access point vendors react now. //Konrad Archives <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now> <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/> [Powered by Listbox] <http://www.listbox.com>

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IHT: "The Battle for the Internet" By BERNARD KOUCHNER
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 15, 2010

May 15, 2010

L'altro ieri il ministro degli esteri francese, BERNARD KOUCHNER, ha pubblicato il seguente op-ed sull'International Herald Tribune. juan carlos May 13, 2010 The Battle for the Internet By BERNARD KOUCHNER PARIS --- In 2015, 3.5 billion people --- half of mankind --- will have access to the Internet. There has never been such a revolution in freedom of communication and freedom of expression. But how will this new medium be used? What obstacles will the enemies of the Internet come up with? Extremist, racist and defamatory Web sites and blogs disseminate odious opinions in real time. They have made the Internet a weapon of war and hate. Web sites are attacked. Violent movements spread propaganda and false information. It is very hard for democracies to control them. I do not subscribe to the naïve belief that a new technology, however efficient and powerful, is bound to advance liberty on all fronts. Yet, the distortions are the exception rather than the rule. The Internet is above all the most fantastic means of breaking down the walls that close us off from one another. For the oppressed peoples of the world, the Internet provides power beyond their wildest hopes. It is increasingly difficult to hide a public protest, an act of repression or a violation of human rights. In authoritarian and repressive countries, mobile telephones and the Internet have given citizens a critical means of expression, despite all the restrictions. [...] Continua qui: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/opinion/14iht-edkouchner.html

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prof. James Boyle a Firenze il 20 maggio alle ore 15:00
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 15, 2010

May 15, 2010

**Il prof. James Boyle (Duke Univ.) mi invia il seguente annuncio che diffondo con grande piacere (nonche' un po' invidia, visto che io non potro' esserci). juan carlos * Special Seminar in the context of the Global Governance Programme* *Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies and Department of Law* *Cultural Agoraphobia: Cognitive Bias, Intellectual Property and Network Policy* *by* *Prof. James Boyle - William Neal Reynolds <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Neal_Reynolds> Professor of Law* * and co-founder of the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke University School of Law <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_University_School_of_Law> in Durham, North Carolina <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham,_North_Carolina>* * * * * *Thursday 20 May 2010 at 15:00* *Coffee and tea will be served at 4.30pm* *Sala Triaria, Villa Schifanoia * *Villa Schifanoia -* Via Boccaccio 121 I-50133 Firenze

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Domenica 16 maggio al Salone del Libro (ore 11)
by J.C. DE MARTIN May 14, 2010

May 14, 2010

Domenica 16 maggio alle ore 11 al Salone del Libro presso lo stand della Regione Piemonte (pad. 5) presenteremo la conferenza "University and Cyberspace: Reshaping Knowledge Institutions for the Networked Age" (http://university-and-cyberspace.org) ovvero la conferenza COMMUNIA 2010. Dopo i saluti del nuovo Assessore alla Ricerca e Innovazione della Regione Piemonte, Massimo Giordano, converseranno: - prof. Urs Gasser (Harvard University, executive director Berkman Center) - prof. Mario Ricciardi (Politecnico di Torino) - sig. Mario De Rossi (fondatore di oilproject.org) - dott.ssa Gabriella Serratrice (Regione Piemonte) Spero di vedervi numerosi! un caro saluto, juan carlos

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