Internet Access for all would be a great step toward equality!

Why are we being left behind? Nationally, it might be difficult to get total support for laws that would make Internet access a human right. Locally, in Washington, D.C., the challenge is even greater. However, internationally, this view is shared by the United Nations, which is making a big push to deem Internet access a human right.

In June 2009, I was actually relieved that France's highest court declared Internet access a human right as reported by the UK Daily Mail. In August of the same year, it was reported that the United States is the only industrialized nation without a national policy to promote high-speed broadband, according to various studies released by the Communications Workers of America.


Continue reading on Examiner.com: Internet access as a human right in the US! - Washington DC Urban Technology | Examiner.com

High Speed for everyone?

There is little doubt amongst industry professionals that current and next-generation fiber optic cable systems are and will be for some time to come the only economical and timely way to deliver telephone service, medical and resource monitoring, remote medical diagnostics, dynamic on-demand video and the media-rich total presence advertising which organization are competing to bring consumers --- all over the allege high-speed broadband internet. 

But is it high-speed for everyone?

Since cable and telephone companies are not designed to compete with one other. Cable markets are typically oligopolies - a small number of providers in de facto collusion - with similar pricing structures financied by the same funding entities. The common business model is to maximize shareholder value by making service scarce and expensive, delivering a rich menu of choices to dense, high-income, high profit areas first, while offering limited or no service at later dates and higher rates to poorer urban, suburban and rural areas (i.e. cherry picking and redlining, respectively)

United States Out-of-Control Internet - finally under control!

On Tuesday, December 21, 2010, President Obama strategically used the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to impose some government control over the “out-of-control” United States’ portion of the Internet. Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman implemented the long awaited and much needed “net neutrality" regulation.

The Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives was not enough to stop this process. In fact, after the remarks of Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker at the December 9, 2010 28th Annual Institute on Telecommunications Policy & Regulation, I was concerned that the lobbyist supporting Republican’s free market rhetoric had recruited an FCC inside supporter.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: No more out-of-control U.S. portion of the Internet - Washington DC Urban Technology | Examiner.com

Digital Redlining: In DC?

Do you live in a digitally redlined part of DC? If you don’t know, you’re not alone. President Obama pledged the extension of low-cost broadband would be a high priority of his administration. The telecommunication and cable industry leaders (i.e. Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, Sprint, Qwest, etc.) run the risk of losing their privatization advantage if the broadband mapping process is included in the transparency pledge outlined at http://www.recovery.gov/.

President Obama promised to end the digital redlining of poor and minority communities by ensuring the availability of cheap, fast, broadband internet to rural, small town, and big city neighborhoods inhabited by minorities and the poor


Continue reading on Examiner.com: Digital Redlining: Still occurring even with President Obama in town? - Washington DC Urban Technology | Examiner.com