sent from eddan.com
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Chris Riley <mchris(a)mozilla.com>
> Date: January 15, 2014 at 9:38:59 AM PST
> To: Netpolicy <Netpolicy(a)mozilla.org>
> Subject: Fwd: Net neutrality decision is "alarming for all Internet users" - Summary
>
> Here's my longer writeup on the net neutrality decision and surrounding posture and opportunities.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> - - -
>
> On Tuesday, January 14th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the core of the Federal Communications Commission's 2010 Open Internet order. The FCC's order, while not nearly as complete as Mozilla and other net neutrality advocates had sought, included fundamental protections against blocking and discrimination in modern broadband services that are now no longer effective. The result is significant risk of severe harm to innovation and user choice on the Internet. Over the coming months, expect to see many efforts to push the FCC to respond. Mozilla's public policy team intends to play a major role in these efforts.
>
> The history of this decision goes back many years. The core of the D.C. Circuit's decision rests on three FCC orders from the early-mid 2000's that categorized cable modem, DSL, and wireless data services as "information services" (the same broad regulatory category, for FCC purposes, as, say, email and search engines), and distinctly not "telecommunications services" (such as traditional phone services). The court upheld the FCC's authority to adopt open Internet rules despite this classification decision, but said that authority ends if the FCC imposes "common carrier" rules on the information services, as is the case with the 2010 Open Internet order.
>
> On the good side, the D.C. Circuit blatantly upheld the FCC's policy justification for its rules. In no uncertain terms, the court said that net neutrality is important for broadband development and the Internet ecosystem, and that the FCC has general authority to oversee Internet access services. On the (much bigger) bad side, the court held essentially that any rule proscribing neutral treatment for network traffic - including any rule that prohibits blocking - was barred as a common carrier protection. More subtly, but also concerning, the opinion declares unequivocally that broadband providers have cognizable relationships with all edge providers - regardless of whether they interconnect with them. This assumes that the Internet is, in fact, a two-sided market, with potential repercussions for a range of future pricing and interconnection practices.
>
> As many have noted (see, e.g., GigaOm), the biggest losers are individual Internet users, because consumer choice of Internet websites and services will be greatly affected by future behind-the-scenes deals for prioritization (or even blocking). The second category of losers in the wake of this decision are startups and investors. Innovators and new entrants in the Internet applications and services market will face an uphill battle if incumbents have established deals for preferential treatment. But big tech will almost certainly find itself far worse off as the political power balance shifts, as broadband providers will be able to give their vertically-integrated competing offerings every advantage.
>
> In the worst-case scenario, "Internet" to consumers means access to only a few chosen partner sites, in the vein of this well-known graphic. In a more likely outcome, ISPs sell or give prioritized routing to some service providers, placing a huge thumb on the competitive scale in favor of a select few - a major factor when some studies have shown that 1 second of delay can lower traffic by 11%. Perversely, the value of priority deals increases along with congestion, creating disincentives for future investment in broadband capacity, making it seem likely the United States will fall even further than its current rank of 16th in global rankings of broadband services. To some extent, this is a competition policy problem, but its severity rises to the level of an innovation and user choice problem, for which there is no adequate competition law remedy.
>
> The options for next steps to advance net neutrality are many, but none are easy. En banc D.C. Circuit review is possible, but unlikely; the same is true of Congressional action to adopt net neutrality law or grant FCC clear authority. The FCC may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, which would take quite some time and presents uncertain prospects. The two most likely outcomes are that the FCC may reclassify broadband services as telecommunications services, undoing the orders of the early 2000s and allowing for the adoption and enforcement of common carrier protections, or the FCC may do nothing for now, and take future case-by-case actions to curtail specific bad practices and slowly build precedents, a tactic that has failed in the past but may work in theory going forward, if in each individual case the FCC can argue that the practice is harmful to broadband service deployment generally.
>
> Net neutrality has often been a hugely divisive political issue, but the principles of openness, innovation, and user choice on the Internet are very widely endorsed. Both the FCC Chairman and President Obama released quick statements of support for the open Internet after the court's decision. And the legal context is fairly straightforward, for a change - the D.C. Circuit was reasonably clear what arguments would need to be made successfully to uphold case-by-case actions, and signaled strongly that a reclassification order would be upheld in court review.
>
> Mozilla is uniquely positioned to be a leader in the push to restore net neutrality and protect the open Internet, through advocacy and coalition building. Mozilla can work alongside civil society groups engaged in grassroots organizing, while simultaneously recruiting technology companies, investors, and others from the private sector to join the fight. Without a unified front of public and corporate support, net neutrality may indeed be dead. But the FCC's new Chairman Wheeler has indicated a willingness to preserve the open Internet, and if we on the outside can provide ample political pressure (and cover), victory is ultimately within reach.
>
> Additional, select reference articles:
>
> GigaOm overview: http://gigaom.com/2014/01/14/breaking-court-strikes-down-fccs-net-neutralit…
> GigaOm wrapup of commentary: http://gigaom.com/2014/01/14/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-court-decision…
> Ars Technica: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/01/how-the-fcc-screwed-up-its-chanc…
> Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/court-creates-new-game-fo…
> CNET: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57617199-38/appeals-court-strikes-down-fc…
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Netpolicy mailing list
> Netpolicy(a)mozilla.org
> https://mail.mozilla.org/listinfo/netpolicy
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "Creative Commons" <donate(a)creativecommons.org>
> Subject: Access to knowledge: a basic human right
> Date: January 7, 2014 10:21:25 AM PST
> To: <eddank(a)aya.yale.edu>
> Reply-To: "Creative Commons" <donate(a)creativecommons.org>
>
>
> Join the fight for open science.
> Support Creative Commons.
>
> At the age of 15, Jack Andraka developed a new method for detecting a rare type of pancreatic cancer. Like all scientific discoveries, Jack’s research built on the work of other researchers. Unlike those researchers, however, he lacked access to the expensive scholarly databases usually paid for by their universities. Fortunately, open access databases carrying a Creative Commons license gave him the tools he needed.
>
> “Access to knowledge is, you know, a basic human right,” Jack says. “Knowledge should not be commoditized; it wants to be free.”
>
> There’s been a lot of talk about open access to science research over the past year. In February, the U.S. White House issued a directive requiring that most publicly funded research be available to the public. It was a step in the right direction, but the fight is far from over.
>
> For example, not all of the papers Jack needed were free. He spent nearly a thousand dollars paying to read the research he needed that wasn’t open. He’s the first to admit that he was lucky: for most young scientists around the world, those expenses aren’t an option. “We need the best and most recent research to be available to everyone.”
>
> If you think that everyone should have access to the most current scientific knowledge, then stand with Jack and thousands of other scientists who believe in open by making a gift to Creative Commons.
>
> *The Brin Wojcicki Foundation has agreed to match every donation that Creative Commons receives in January 2014.
>
>
>
> (To opt-out of any future mailings such as these from Creative Commons, simply visit this URL: https://donate.creativecommons.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=1168&…)
>
>
> 444 Castro Street, Suite 916
> Mountain View, CA
> 94303
> United States
>
sent from eddan.com
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Adam Weissman <adam(a)tradejustice.net>
> Date: January 1, 2014 at 4:44:14 PM PST
> To: tradejustice-news(a)lists.riseup.net, wetlands-activism(a)lists.riseup.net, nyprotest(a)lists.riseup.net, ows-environmental-solidarity(a)googlegroups.com, loc-talk(a)googlegroups.com, labor-outreach-committee(a)googlegroups.com, dan(a)lists.riseup.net, NYPROTEST(a)LISTS.RISEUP.NET, s17-discussion(a)lists.occupy.net, actiongreens(a)yahoogroups.com, westharlem_ows_peopleofcolorcommittee(a)googlegroups.com, ows-trade(a)tradejustice.net, owshealthcarealerts(a)googlegroups.com, owshealthcarealerts(a)googlegroups.com
> Subject: [wetlands-activism] TPP Twitterstorm Tonight + 5 More Actions/Events vs. TPP
> Reply-To: Adam Weissman <adam(a)tradejustice.net>
>
> Six Critical Actions & Events vs. TPP
>
> The Fast Track vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement could take place in the first few weeks of January. Senator Baucus and House Ways and Means Chair Camp will file their Fast Track bill as soon as Congress re-convenes in January (around Jan. 8). 151 House Democrats and 23 Republicans have pledged to oppose the bill but more votes are needed. To stop Fast Track at least another 40 Representatives must vote NO - that's 180 Democrats and 50 Republicans total. THIS IS NOW A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK!
> TONIGHT @ 7PM! NEW YEAR'S DAY HASHTAG STORM!
> Anti-TPP Twitter Storm Wednesday 1/1/14 @ 7 pm EST, the whole world will tweet and post an ANTI-TPP hashtag #Awake2014 with posts about why people should stop the Trans Pacific Partnership. The goal of this" "hashtag storm" is to get this hashtag trending on both Twitter and Facebook, so we can inform the public about the dangers of the Trans Pacific Partnership and agitate people to ACT to stop the TPP. Join us and help expose the corporate coup known as the Trans Pacific Partnership.
> More info & RSVP (optional): http://tradejustice.net/hash1114
>
> SAT, JAN 4 @ 2 PM: RALLY: REP. RANGEL – VOTE NO ON FAST TRACK!
> Please make a New Year's Resolution to join 350.org in an EMERGENCY RALLY to tell Rep. Rangel
> Make it a Happy New Year - Vote NO on TPP! No on Fast Track!
> Location: Adam Clayton Powell State Office Bldg., 163 W. 125th St., just east of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. (7th Ave), Manhattan
> Directions: 2/3 (closest), a, b, c, or d to 125th st.
> More info & RSVP (optional): http://tradejustice.net/rangel1414
>
> WED, JAN 8th ALL DAY: FAST TRACK CALL STORM!
> Call your US House Representative when he/she returns to Congress as part of a national call-in day! Ask for your Rep's legislative assistant on trade and DEMAND that your rep vote NO on Fast Track Trade Promotion Authority! You can find your Rep's name and contact info by entering your address at http://tradejustice.net/leg.
> More info & RSVP (optional): http://tradejustice.net/call1814
>
> WED, JAN 8th @ 8PM: PRESENTATION: WHAT TPP WILL MEAN FOR WORKERS & THE ENVIRONMENT
> Attend a TPP presentation by TradeJustice New York Metro at the next meeting of the Three Parks Independent Democrats. You can read their resolution against TPP at http://www.threeparksdems.org/Positions/TPPresolution.pdf
> Location: Youth Hostel (ballroom), 891 Amsterdam Ave at 103rd Street, Manhattan.
> DIRECTIONS: 1 train to 103rd Street.
> MORE INFO: http://www.threeparksdems.org/contact.html
>
> FRI, JAN 10TH: FILM SCREENING: THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE
> This Is What Democracy Looks Like, a co-production of the Independent Media Center and Big Noise Films, weaves the footage of over 100 videographers into a gripping document of what really happened on Seattle’s streets. The film cuts through the confusion and tear gas to paint an intimate, passionate portrait of a week that changed the world. This Is What Democracy Looks Like was the first documentary to capture the raw energy of the WTO protests, while clarifying their global and historic significance. Watch the trailer at http://tradejustice.net/demfilm. Join us for a discussion where we'll connect the battle of the late nineties vs. WTO to the ongoing struggle against the WTO – and our current fight against TPP!
> Location: Park Slope Food Coop, 782 Union Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11231.
> Directions: R to Union St (at intersection of Union Street and 4th Avenue), 2 or 3 train to Grand Army Plaza station (at intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Plaza Street) or B, Q to 7th Ave (at intersection of Flatbush and 7th Avenues). Additional directions at http://tradejustice.net/coop.
> Contact: Ieva at (718) 369-4942 or yclarkeconstituents(a)tradejustice.net.
> More info & RSVP: http://tradejustice.net/call11014
>
> AND FINALLY...
>
> DONATE TO TRADEJUSTICE NEW YORK METRO!
> Please make a donation to support our work at this critical moment in the fight against TPP! You can make a one time or monthly recurring contribution at http://tradejustice.net/stoptppfund or a daily, weekly, or annual recurring contribution at http://tradejustice.net/recur.
>
> Donations will help us to:
>
> copy and deliver thousands of signed letters to elected officials;
> alert our supporters to urge their reps to vote against Fast Track by opening an online advocacy software account (see http://www.vocus.com/government-relations/online-advocacy-software/ for an example);
> help us open a new office to coordinate anti-TPP volunteer efforts;
> cover printing costs for leaflets, petitions, and other publications;
> purchase art supply costs for banners, signs, costumes, and props for demonstrations;
> allow us to pay for sound permits for rallies;
> cover web and email hosting costs for http://tradejustice.net;
> pay our phone bills;
> store our large collection of anti-TPP signs and banners.
> buy office supplies
> replace or repair aging technology - computers, printers, and photocopiers, etc.
>
> Please make a generous contribution today!
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to wetlands-activism-unsubscribe(a)lists.riseup.net.
