The Catalina 22 is gone. A sad day.
We had a wonderful trip over labor day — Oak Harbor to La Connor and Hope Island. After three days with a family of five on that little boat, I decided to sell. It was just too small.
As the House of Representatives debated net neutrality, I weighed in with Rep. Rick Larsen. He went on to vote against regulating to protect internet freedom–he feels that since consumers are not being harmed today, Congress should not step in to regulate.
Email thread:
—–Original Message—–
From: Evan Callahan [mailto:evanc@npowerseattle.org]
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 10:52 PM
To: Larsen, Rick
Subject: RE: please protect net neutrality
Rick,
I don’t have an example of content being blocked or tiered — as I understand it, the FCC doesn’t allow it now, but will allow it once the telecom law is passed.
It would be nice if “open competition” were the goal of the telecom companies, but I think that is really naïve. They are highly monopolistic and always fighting for the right to consolidate and grow their markets. I am glad you support a free internet, because I expect that we will see the need for “net neutrality” legislation soon. Otherwise, the internet will be
like TV — individuals and non-profit groups won’t be able to afford to get their message out.
Regulation has gotten a bad name in recent years, and public officials have in my view sold our public resources to the highest bidder. The Internet is not just a “delivery platform” for the free market, it is a public good.
Warm Regards,
Evan Callahan
—–Original Message—–
From: Larsen, Rick [mailto:Rick.Larsen@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 7:26 PM
To: Evan Callahan
Subject: RE: please protect net neutrality
Thanks very much for the e-mail concerning my vote on the Markey Amendment. We don’t disagree that the internet should maintain is open best efforts delivery platform. A question for you: Do you have an existing example of an Internet Service Provider “blocking” or “tiering” a content provider from you? The internet has been amazingly democratic and empowering to non traditional businesses and individuals. It has also been left mostly free from government regulation and as a result the free market has driven internet development and use. I want an open internet just like you but I am concerned that there is not a consunmer protection problem that would require a new government regulated set of rules at this time. What are your thoughts?
Best,
Rick
—–Original Message—–
From: Evan Callahan [mailto:evanc@npowerseattle.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 8:12 AM
To: Larsen, Rick
Subject: please protect net neutrality
Dear Congressman,
I’m a constituent in Clinton. I depend on the public Internet to support my family. I strongly urge you to support net neutrality in the current legislation being considered.
Specifically, please support Rep. Ed Markey’s Net Neutrality amendment to the COPE telecom law. If that bill doesn’t protect net neutrality, please vote No.
Warm Regards,
Evan Callahan
3540 Quade Rd
Clinton, WA 98236
It may not be the most important issue of our age (think global warming), but I have been following the recent debate over Net Neutrality. Today, no matter who provides your internet service, data to and from anywhere on the web flows at the same speed, and unless you live someplace like China or Singapore where they censor and filter data, you can send or receive data to and from anywhere on the web. If Verizon and AT&T have their way, this won’t be the case for long: they want to charge content providers to be in the internet “fast lane.”
Next thing you know, corporate web sites will be rock solid, while personal blogs and non-profit sites will be dogs. That stinks, IMO.
Congress is currently debating whether the gov’t should regulate internet providers so that they can’t charge for preferential treatment or block content they don’t like. The House voted last week not to protect net neutrality.
More info at www.savetheinternet.com and TechSoup.
I believe that the internet is a public resource that should be available to all. Telecom monopolies shouldn’t be allowed to sell preferential treatment to big business. Let’s hope the Senate does the right thing.
I was in Washington DC a couple weeks back. My buddy Gil gave me a copy of Siddartha by Hermann Hesse. He has a whole stack of them, I guess he gives them out to everyone who seems worthy. I read it on the plane on the way home. The stewardess said, “Oh god, I had to read that in high school. Why would you read that?!”
It is a short philosophical piece about what kind of life is a good life. Very quick read, very worthwhile. Makes you want to slow down and smell the roses, or go fishing or something.
Just finished reading Bob Dylan’s autobiography Chronicles. Good read, great characterizations.
I learned that Bob is a sailor, had a huge sailboat in the Caribbean for 10 years. Learned that his biggest influence other than Woody Guthrie was Robert Johnson.
Check it out.
“I’m not much of a blogger,” said Evan.
I have long resisted blogging. However, I have been inspired recently by Steve at One/NW, who blogs tirelessly. I’ve met several people who look there for his great ideas about using Salesforce.com at non-profit organizations.
Anyway, I now want to be a blogger. My hope is that my weblog will allow me to share information about work and family without sending a bunch of broadcast email. Please add comments, I would like to hear from you.