Sunday, January 08, 2006
ISSUE: Network neutrality -- will control of the "pipes" end journalism as we know it?
There's an old saying, "Freedom of the press belongs to those who own the presses."
So what happens when there are only two virtual presses in the United States?
That's where regulation and business competition may be leading, some say. The cable and telecom companies in the United States are moving to assert control over the content which they carry on their broadband networks. If they consolidate that control, how long will it before before well placed pressure from the White House -- or some judicial or police authority -- only needs to pressure the executives of two companies to stop information from reaching your home.
Selected URLS:
NETWORK NEUTRALITY: Washington Post story details lobbying by "pipe" owners to restrict content
NETWORK NEUTRALITY: WSJ says BellSouth seeking broadband toll
http://journalism-issues.blogspot.com/2005/10/first-amendment-business-dispute-shuts.html
MEDIA FUTURE: Al Gore on TV and the threat to American Democracy
FREE SPEECH: China closes popular online forum site
So what happens when there are only two virtual presses in the United States?
That's where regulation and business competition may be leading, some say. The cable and telecom companies in the United States are moving to assert control over the content which they carry on their broadband networks. If they consolidate that control, how long will it before before well placed pressure from the White House -- or some judicial or police authority -- only needs to pressure the executives of two companies to stop information from reaching your home.
Selected URLS:
NETWORK NEUTRALITY: Washington Post story details lobbying by "pipe" owners to restrict content
NETWORK NEUTRALITY: WSJ says BellSouth seeking broadband toll
http://journalism-issues.blogspot.com/2005/10/first-amendment-business-dispute-shuts.html
MEDIA FUTURE: Al Gore on TV and the threat to American Democracy
FREE SPEECH: China closes popular online forum site
