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November 28, 2005
Saving the Internet
Just started to read this incredibly eye and mind opening article by Doc Searls. In it he outlines the problems that the future of the Internet will face - not the usual geekery such as running out of IP numbers or accomodating extended character sets or handling micropayments etc. Worse than that. You know all that copper and optic fibre that the Internet runs through? You know the Telco's who own all that copper and fibre? Well, soon they will (yes, will) essentially start charging tolls to whoever wants to use their wires.
Think about it. Who would they charge first? Your service provider. You think they are going to soak up the costs? You will get charged.
That is only the common man, people who surf the net, send emails to one another and maybe even blog or share some photos. In other words non-commercial use.
Imagine your business was online. oh boy, the Telcos are drooling at this stage.
read the article - I'm only a fraction of the way through and it has already scared the pants off me.
Doc Searls - Saving the Internet
Comments
Doc Searls
I'll be curious to hear how you react to the last section, which is about how we think and talk about the Net. Because I believe the first battles we need to win are in our own minds. What is it, exactly, that we're trying to save?
That's the deepest question. And the hardest to answer.
The telcos and cablecos know their answer already: a system of pipes, which they own. And they have the legislators in their pockets arlready.
Mark
What is it, exactly, that we're trying to save?
Good question. Good question.
One of the main problems with humanitarians and liberals (is that still a drity word?) is that they have no set agenda and as such are constantly reactive where other interested and - for want of a better description - more partisan individuals have a very clear idea of what they want, who is standing in their way, what problems will arise and how far they will go to deal with them.
The same goes for the web. No user has a clear idea of what it is they expect from the web, if you asked them they would probably just reply - "I don't know email/instant messaging and stuff".
For me its definitely a nascent worldwide community of some kind. Hopefully.
This one needs some deep thought.
Posted by dottie at November 28, 2005 11:19 AM
Comments
I'll be curious to hear how you react to the last section, which is about how we think and talk about the Net. Because I believe the first battles we need to win are in our own minds. What is it, exactly, that we're trying to save?
That's the deepest question. And the hardest to answer.
The telcos and cablecos know their answer already: a system of pipes, which they own. And they have the legislators in their pockets arlready.
Posted by: Doc Searls at November 28, 2005 6:10 PM
What is it, exactly, that we're trying to save?
Good question. Good question.
One of the main problems with humanitarians and liberals (is that still a drity word?) is that they have no set agenda and as such are constantly reactive where other interested and - for want of a better description - more partisan individuals have a very clear idea of what they want, who is standing in their way, what problems will arise and how far they will go to deal with them.
The same goes for the web. No user has a clear idea of what it is they expect from the web, if you asked them they would probably just reply - "I don't know email/instant messaging and stuff".
For me its definitely a nascent worldwide community of some kind. Hopefully.
This one needs some deep thought.
Posted by: Mark at November 29, 2005 11:34 AM