FYI: This came from the Computer Law Section of the Oregon State Bar. Begin forwarded message: > From: xxxx@private > Date: Fri Jul 19, 2002 05:23:04 PM US/Pacific > To: "Computer Law Section" <xxxxx> > Subject: [computerlaw] ACLU and the Internet > Reply-To: xxxxx@private > > Local efforts are essential to protecting open access and content > diversity on our broadband communication systems. > > Please join us for an informational and strategic planning session. > > WHAT: Community meeting to discuss open access and the > future of the broadband Internet > > WHEN: Tuesday, July 30th, 7:00 - 8:45 p.m. > > WHERE: Multnomah Co. Library-Central Branch > U.S. Bank Meeting Room > 801 SW 10th Ave. > Portland, OR > > WHO: > * Barry Steinhardt, Director of the > American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Technology and Liberty Program > * Dr. Andrew Afflerbach, Principal > Engineer and report author, Columbia Telecommunications Corporation > (CTC) > * Sue Diciple, Chair, Mt Hood Cable > Regulatory Commission > * Jeffrey Chester, Executive Director, > Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) > > The future of the Internet - the medium that the Supreme Court called > "the > most participatory form of mass speech yet developed" -- is at risk. > The > threat: monopolization of Internet access service by cable network > owners. > By excluding competing Internet service providers (ISPs) from broadband > networks, cable owners are extending the local monopolies they hold over > cable television to the high-speed Internet. > > It is essential that local voices -- those who depend upon the Internet > to > provide space for a diversity of uses and viewpoints -- take a lead > role in > making sure that values of openness and nondiscrimination remain built > into > the broadband networks that serve their communities. > > The ACLU, collaborating with CDD, recently released a report describing > the > threats posed by the monopolization of broadband Internet access and > offering alternative, open access models that would preserve the > freedom of > this vital medium. Using the Portland, Oregon and Tacoma, Washington > cable > broadband systems as case studies, the study describes how local > networks > are being structured and operated to centralize control in the hands > of a > single network operator -- and conclusively demonstrates that > alternative > architectures which preserve the Internet's openness are possible. > > The findings of this report, prepared by the CTC, will be presented at > this > meeting, accompanied by updates from local leaders on the open access > issue. > More importantly, the meeting will provide the opportunity for a > discussion > about how the Portland community has been working to preserve the open > characteristics of the Internet, and what strategies ought to be > pursued in > the future. Please join us! > > CONTACT: David Fidanque, ACLU of Oregon, 503-227-3186 or > Mark Wahl, CDD, 202-452-9009 > > FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE, SEE: > <http://www.aclu.org/issues/cyber/broadband.html>, and > <http://www.aclu.org/news/2002/n071002a.html> > > > --- > T. Kenji Sugahara Chief Operating Officer counterclaim Phone: 541-484-9235 Fax: 541-484-9193
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jul 19 2002 - 18:42:43 PDT