Comments on: Members of Congress Call for iPhone Freedom http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/ Tracking the battle over Network Neutrality Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:27:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: The Apple Phone Show » The $1500 iPhone - Apple Phone Show http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64447 The Apple Phone Show » The $1500 iPhone - Apple Phone Show Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:12:10 +0000 http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64447 [...] In a recent post on the Save the Internet blog, we see numerous quotes, all representative of the complete lack of understanding of the business these people actually have. Let’s take one and examine it. [...] […] In a recent post on the Save the Internet blog, we see numerous quotes, all representative of the complete lack of understanding of the business these people actually have. Let’s take one and examine it. […]

]]> By: dcjoy23 http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64402 dcjoy23 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:32:11 +0000 http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64402 I do believe that the internet should remaiin free. The fact of the matter is that we are still tax payers, and it is our money that goes into the internet. So shouldn't we have the choice to view and purchase what we want? I don't see any good coming from having gatekeepers over the internet and wireless devices. It is in our history that we do not take well to limits. By having a gatekeeper over the internet and wireless devices you are limiting our choice, and that it not why people come to this country to have their choie- thier freedom to expand- taken away from them. If anything, this will set us back decades. We were progressing so well as a nation. I do believe that the internet should remaiin free. The fact of the matter is that we are still tax payers, and it is our money that goes into the internet. So shouldn’t we have the choice to view and purchase what we want? I don’t see any good coming from having gatekeepers over the internet and wireless devices. It is in our history that we do not take well to limits. By having a gatekeeper over the internet and wireless devices you are limiting our choice, and that it not why people come to this country to have their choie- thier freedom to expand- taken away from them. If anything, this will set us back decades. We were progressing so well as a nation.

]]> By: RandomCitizen http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64239 RandomCitizen Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:48:52 +0000 http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64239 I am all in favor of a free and fair internet, but this particular hearing was patently ridiculous and another example of Rep. Markey seizing on the latest hot topic to act as the House's deisgnated gadfly. A couple of weeks ago Rep. Markey was assaulting PHRMA reps with questions about specific drugs that they could not not possibly have answers to then berating them when they didn't have the answers and now he's complaining about the iPhone. It would not surprise me if Rep. Markey hauled in the Chinese ambassador next week to ask him a bunch of pointless rhetorical questions about product safety next week since that's what's been in the news this week. The fact of the matter is that there are more than just access issues at stake here. The design of the iPhone and the implementation specifically of the voicemail system made it necessary for the phone company that ended up with the iPhone to change the implementation of their voicemail system. Also, Apple was able to get a much better internet access deal for consumers than the rates AT&T was giving customers pre iPhone. I wouldn't have any problem with Rep. Markey taking advantage of items in the news if he were elevating the discussion on these topics and not just spewing invective every time a newsworthy topic comes up on the committee floor. In this particular instance, he seems to be arguing against consumers' rights to flat fee internet access and arguing in favor of companies that charge the higher rates. If Rep Markey really wants to help out consumers on the internet access front, perhaps he could bring in some of the broadband proivders and find out why it is that we pay much higher rates for much slower broadband internet access than any other industrialized country. Maybe instead of whining about perfectly legitimate business deals between service providers and suppliers, he could hold up the Apple-AT&T deal as an example of how the rest of the wireless industry should be treating consumers. That is to say: create better devices and charge a flat rate for internet access. Rep. Markey needs to leave the muckraking and fear mongering to Rush Limbaugh and the folks at Fox "News" and start acting like a responsible represenatative of the people in his district and in this country. Spend less time trying to get on TV and spend more time trying to figure out how to get us a decent healthcare system and bring about an honorable end to the war in Iraq that leaves it at least a little better than we found it, and ensure that consumers are getting a fair deal when it comes to internet access. I am all in favor of a free and fair internet, but this particular hearing was patently ridiculous and another example of Rep. Markey seizing on the latest hot topic to act as the House’s deisgnated gadfly. A couple of weeks ago Rep. Markey was assaulting PHRMA reps with questions about specific drugs that they could not not possibly have answers to then berating them when they didn’t have the answers and now he’s complaining about the iPhone. It would not surprise me if Rep. Markey hauled in the Chinese ambassador next week to ask him a bunch of pointless rhetorical questions about product safety next week since that’s what’s been in the news this week.
The fact of the matter is that there are more than just access issues at stake here. The design of the iPhone and the implementation specifically of the voicemail system made it necessary for the phone company that ended up with the iPhone to change the implementation of their voicemail system. Also, Apple was able to get a much better internet access deal for consumers than the rates AT&T was giving customers pre iPhone.
I wouldn’t have any problem with Rep. Markey taking advantage of items in the news if he were elevating the discussion on these topics and not just spewing invective every time a newsworthy topic comes up on the committee floor. In this particular instance, he seems to be arguing against consumers’ rights to flat fee internet access and arguing in favor of companies that charge the higher rates.
If Rep Markey really wants to help out consumers on the internet access front, perhaps he could bring in some of the broadband proivders and find out why it is that we pay much higher rates for much slower broadband internet access than any other industrialized country. Maybe instead of whining about perfectly legitimate business deals between service providers and suppliers, he could hold up the Apple-AT&T deal as an example of how the rest of the wireless industry should be treating consumers. That is to say: create better devices and charge a flat rate for internet access.
Rep. Markey needs to leave the muckraking and fear mongering to Rush Limbaugh and the folks at Fox “News” and start acting like a responsible represenatative of the people in his district and in this country. Spend less time trying to get on TV and spend more time trying to figure out how to get us a decent healthcare system and bring about an honorable end to the war in Iraq that leaves it at least a little better than we found it, and ensure that consumers are getting a fair deal when it comes to internet access.

]]> By: u235sentinel http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64203 u235sentinel Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:25:52 +0000 http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2007/07/11/members-of-congress-call-for-iphone-freedom/#comment-64203 I am strongly urging people to spend a few minutes and let the FCC know that the Internet must remain free. Companies are seeking to control it which is VERY inappropriate IMO. The only way it can stay free is if we fight for it. My experience is like many throughout the country. Comcast was my ISP for nearly 4 years. They arbitrarily decide who stays and who is terminated for 12 months. What am I talking about? With an unlimited use residential account, I understood I could download without a problem and without limit. Sure it sounds like it's too good to be true. And it was. You get a phone call then you are gone for a year. Even after upgrading to a business account they said they couldn't turn the Internet back on. We had to wait a year then we could apply again. Right. What does this have to do with Net Neutrality? Well... from the outside nothing. But think a little here. If a company can make a decision to terminate someone's account and not provide any guidelines for what IS acceptable use, what is to stop them from stating google or msn.com is unacceptable use of their service? They can make decisions for you and you have no recourse. There is nothing to prevent them from making these kind of decisions. You don't like it? Go slower wireless or dial up (yeah right). These companies must be stopped or the Internet is gone. http://comcastissue.blogspot.com I am strongly urging people to spend a few minutes and let the FCC know that the Internet must remain free. Companies are seeking to control it which is VERY inappropriate IMO. The only way it can stay free is if we fight for it.

My experience is like many throughout the country. Comcast was my ISP for nearly 4 years. They arbitrarily decide who stays and who is terminated for 12 months. What am I talking about? With an unlimited use residential account, I understood I could download without a problem and without limit. Sure it sounds like it’s too good to be true. And it was.

You get a phone call then you are gone for a year. Even after upgrading to a business account they said they couldn’t turn the Internet back on. We had to wait a year then we could apply again. Right.

What does this have to do with Net Neutrality? Well… from the outside nothing. But think a little here. If a company can make a decision to terminate someone’s account and not provide any guidelines for what IS acceptable use, what is to stop them from stating google or msn.com is unacceptable use of their service? They can make decisions for you and you have no recourse. There is nothing to prevent them from making these kind of decisions. You don’t like it? Go slower wireless or dial up (yeah right).

These companies must be stopped or the Internet is gone.

http://comcastissue.blogspot.com

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