Paul's Web Space 2.1

F2C: Freedom to Connect

I'm looking forward to attending F2C: Freedom to Connect 2008, next Monday and Tuesday, March 31 and April 1, 2008, at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MD (where I just happen to live). F2C always brings together the most interesting people and projects, all with one goal in mind, making the Internet more useful and powerful for everyone, making it a tool that people can use for whatever purpose, with the maximum capability, while not being limited by business rules set by telecommunications providers nor short-sighted government regulation.

I just received the last pitch email for this conference, so I want to pass along that after tonight, registration cost goes way up. So if you want to experience this stimulating and thought-provoking event in person, sign up today. They will have major WiFi capability, and a live chat online and on screen powered by 37 Signals CamfireNow.com, as well as a webcast for those who wish to simply watch remotely. (But then you also miss out on the truly killer networking that happens there as well.)

The names of the speakers this year are as good as ever, including Susan Crawford, Brad Templeton, Micah Sifry, Tim Wu, Bruce Schneier, Danny O'Brien, Gigi Sohn, Clay Shirky, and many others. As was the case last year, Howard Levy will provide the musical background to program breaks, this year accompanied by Chris Siebold. Should be fun AND informative.

Labels: broadband policy, netneutrality, telecommunications

   Link: http://freedom-to-connect.net/

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Verizon blocks political TXTs

Today's New York Times reports that Verizon is censoring pro-choice speech using its SMS network. Lots of groups have used this capability to keep members or supporters informed – so far, with little interference from cellphone carriers. No longer.

In his post to the People for Internet Responsibility list, Lauren Weinstein points out that this action calls into question the very notion that we would allow such large and powerful public entities to control political speech in this country. Verizon makes as good a case for Net Neutrality as AT&T did when they censored Eddie Vedder during a Pearl Jam set at Lollapolooza (bleeping anti-bush lyrics he inserted into a song).

MobileActive.org, an organization that has been encouraging the use of mobilt technology for activism worldwide, and has also written about this event, noting that NARAL plans to call on it's members to protest this censorship. In the end, this action can only help the cause of Net Neutrality championed by the likes of SaveTheInternet.com, of which I am a supporter.

Labels: freedomofspeeech, internet, netneutrality, telecommunications, verizon

   Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/business/27cnd-verizon.htm

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