From PC World:
After months of often bitter debate, European Union lawmakers reached agreement on how to preserve citizen’s rights to Internet access in a meeting that ended in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The issue, which pits citizens’ civil liberties against the rights of content owners such as record and movie companies to protect creative [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Internet Access category.
EU Breaks Deadlock in Debate Over Right to Internet Access
Internet talks to create copyright police
From The Ottawa Citizen:
Canadian officials are taking part in negotiations for a top-secret copyright treaty that could see families barred from the Internet for a year if someone in the household is suspected of illegal downloads.
Under the worldwide rules of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), Internet service providers such as Bell and Rogers in Canada [...]
The Open Internet Blog
From the Open Internet Blog:
The Internet’s open architecture has enabled this network of networks to become a unparalleled platform for innovation and speech, as well as an enduring engine for economic growth. Last month, I proposed that the FCC adopt a fair and high-level framework to preserve an open Internet.
While my goals are clear, the [...]
Texas works to improve Internet access in libraries
From the San Antonio Business Journal:
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission convened a meeting in San Antonio to launch a new strategy to improve Internet access in public libraries.
More than 200 public library systems in Texas lack Internet access. The purpose behind the Texas Opportunity Online Broadband Summit is to pinpoint ways public libraries [...]
Bandwidth Boost For Libraries Gaining Support – A plan to put fiber optic technology in public libraries may be a candidate for federal stimulus funding
From Information Week:
An effort to make the nation’s public libraries a major source of robust Internet access is gaining momentum as a disparate group of foundations, companies, and trade and government agencies weigh in with plans to build support for bringing fiber optic technology to the country’s 16,500 libraries.
GOP Turns Up Heat to Block Network Neutrality
From eWeek:
With the Federal Communications Commission voting as early as this month on Chairman Julius Genachowski’s plan to expand and codify the agency’s network neutrality principles, House Republicans seek to delay the vote as long as possible. In the Senate, Republicans may introduce legislation to block any new network neutrality rules.
House Republicans continued their pushback [...]
US ‘to loosen’ grip on internet
From the BBC:
The US government is expected to relax control over how the internet is run when it signs an accord with net regulator Icann on Wednesday.
The “affirmation of commitments” will reportedly give Icann autonomy to run its own affairs for the first time.
Previous agreements gave the US close oversight of Icann – drawing criticism [...]
Senators Plan Bill To Advance Net Neutrality
From the Washington Post:
Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.) said in an interview Monday that he and Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) are considering legislation aimed at helping advance the adoption of new rules on net neutrality. Such a bill could be a timetable or deadline for the Federal Communications Commission to finish its rule-making process, [...]
French Parliament Approves ‘three-strikes’ Anti-piracy Law
From PC World:
The French National Assembly voted Tuesday to adopt, by 258 votes to 131, the so-called “three strikes” law criminalizing file-sharing. Those caught infringing copyright online could face the suspension of their Internet access, a fine or even prison.
The Senate approved the same text on Monday. With the two houses of parliament in agreement, [...]
Republicans to Push Against Net Neutrality; FCC Says Start of Process
From the Washington Post:
Senate Republicans moved Monday afternoon to prevent the FCC’s proposed rules on net neutrality with an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that would tie up funding at the agency for new regulatory mandates. Observers said, however, that the move was unlikely to be approved in the Democrat-majority Congress.