Archive for the ‘Access’ Category

Ofcom issues draft 3 strikes code for ISP’s

Monday, May 31st, 2010

On the ISOC-NY Notice Board, Joly writes:

UK regulator Ofcom has issued a consultation paper on the draft Initial Obligations Code, under which the ‘3 strikes’ rules for copyright infringement will be implemented.

This article by Andrew Cormack of UK educational ISP ja.net details some of the problems in the rules.

* Institutions and businesses may be classified as subscribers and thus over-vulnerable, leading to restrictive practices.

* Community services and libraries may be compelled to log proof of id of all users.

Cormack notes that these provisions are in direct conflict with the UK Government’s digital inclusion policies.

Read the post here.

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Posted in Access, Inellectual Property, News, Policy | No Comments »

Internet Freedom Under Pressure in Denmark

Monday, May 31st, 2010

On Global Voices Advocacy, Jacob McHangama writes:

On 27 May the Danish Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision which obliges internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to websites that may contain – or link to other sites which contain – material which infringes copyrights (the Pirate Bay in this instance).

The decision has rightly been criticized as a setback for internet freedom in Denmark. The decision attaches undue weight to the interests of copyright holders while ignoring obvious dangers of abuse, restrictions on internet freedom and access to information and the lack of any due process. The decision may lead to the blocking of websites that mainly includes content that does not infringe copyright and thus restrict the free flow of information. Moreover, by forcing ISP’s to police the Internet without due process the decision marks a dangerous precedent that is likely to include other “illegal” or “offensive” material in the future.

Read the whole post here.

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Posted in Access, Censorship, Inellectual Property, Networks, News, Policy | No Comments »

Outlook for broadband policy and net neutrality grim

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

At the Mercury News, Chris O’Brien writes:

As if the U.S. is not already dangerously behind the rest of the world when it comes to high-speed Internet access, the outlook for a possible remedy has gotten grimmer. This is particularly bitter following a burst of optimism during the first year of the Obama administration.

Widespread adoption of broadband connections 20 times faster than what most users have today. Programs to promote broadband use to improve health care and the environment. And new regulations to guarantee open and fair access to broadband for all companies and consumers.

All of these and more were on the plate after years of neglect. All were critical to promoting innovation and boosting the competitiveness of the U.S. economy.

And now, all stuck in neutral.

Read the whole post here.

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Posted in Access, NetNeutrality, Policy | No Comments »

The InfoLadies of Bangladesh, Armed With Bicycle and Netbook

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Kyle VanHemert writes at Gizmodo:

Many people living in Bangladesh’s impoverished villages haven’t yet been reached by technology. But a determined band of InfoLadies—young women equipped with netbooks, phones, and medical equipment—are delivering technology’s benefits to those people, one village at a time.

Read the whole article here.

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