...perspectives...

Thursday, January 23, 2003

Ruling shields AOL on 'hostile code' presents an interesting example of how safe harbor (CDA Section 230) for ISPs is enforced, and how it applies not only to the sending of actionable words, but also of hostile code. Basically the ruling further clarifies "information" under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to include not only communication of "knowledge or intelligence," but also the sending of an electronic "signal". It specifically excludes intellectual property though.

wo 12:53 PM - [Link] - Comments ()
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Monday, January 13, 2003

Kazaa strikes back at Hollywood, labels

wo 1:00 AM - [Link] - Comments ()
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Tuesday, January 07, 2003

Bush's tax plan is a gamble on economics and on politics and depends on Disappearing Dividends.

wo 9:41 PM - [Link] - Comments ()
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Feds mull broadband market shake-up - Tech News - CNET.com
Copper wire based Internet services over any reasonable distance will be problematic for many in the US until the local phone companies finally deliver "fiber to the curb" or cable companies beat them to it with cable Internet (which apears to be happening). Remember that plan? Local phone companies charged us a premium to fund their infrastructure upgrade for this, but it never happened, and never will. A senior service technician for my rather large local phone company says it never will because it is just too expensive. I live 5 miles from the fiber trunk, I am also about 5 miles from one of the original Internet network hubs, the John Von Neuman Supercomputer Center in Princeton.

How do we keep healthy competition while preventing monopoly abuse? But why should we allow local phone companies monopoly control of new infrastructure (fiber to the curb should already be in place)? They should instead open up cable companies to more competition for Internet services. Many locations only have one cable company (like here), and when service is bad, you run out of choices rather quickly. Where is the company's incentive to provide better service?

Maybe we should link up WiFi Internet cells across local regions ourselves into a WiFiNet! Has anyone tried this out? What are the regulatory and legal roadblocks to such a public wireless Internet?

wo 8:28 AM - [Link] - Comments ()
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