Will OurCyberSpace be affected by the policy decisions that might be made this year by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)? Will Petaluma-OurCyberPlace be impacted? Although this blog was created to focus upon local ICT concerns, we cannot avoid keeping up to speed on Telecommunication and Technology issues being discussed at the Federal level.
The current debate over the impact of Telco and Cable monopolies upon municipalities is too complex for this blogger to explore in great detail in a single column; however, we as citizens need to take the time necessary to become acquainted with the various points of view being expressed in this debate. It is a concern that has been on the public’s radar screen for some time and may or may not be decided this year by the Congress.
One way for Our Cyberplace readers can become more knowledgeable is to make use of the very technology we’ve been promoting. There’s “tons” of information online and the use of search engines will bring up these sites for our readers to review.. For example, the BENTON COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2006, included the following titles:
INTERNET/BROADBAND/TELECOM
- Telcos to Suffer $36B VoIP Revenue Hit by 2010
- Stevens “Hopes” for Telecom Bill By July
- The Broadband War of 2006
- Verizon Says Deregulation Ruling Won’t Unravel MCI Concessions
- Martin Gives Public Interest Safeguards a “Pocket Veto”
- Another view of “net neutrality”
- Nuts and Bolts of Net Discrimination: Encryption
- Freeing Cities From Telco and Cable Monopolies
Two other sites with recent information, include:
SLASHDOT – News for Nerds: The Broadband Wars
NATIONAL JOURNAL’S INSIDER UPDATE: The Telecom Act
The next several months will be filled with Cyber developments from all over the world. However, how will they impact Our Cyberplace-Petaluma? Stay tuned.