FCC's Martin Praises Self For Non-Existent Network Openness Gives self pat on back for job not done... Friday Nov 21 2008 08:59 EDT According to comments this week by FCC boss Kevin Martin, network "openness" is becoming the norm, in no small part because of his "light regulatory touch" at the FCC. That would be great, were it actually true. So far, network openness is simply being paid lip service by carriers that are absolutely terrified of being "dumb pipe" providers. As such, wireless carriers in particular are taking their sweet time in actually opening up their networks, and Martin has done little to speed up the process. Verizon's much ballyhooed (and media hyped) promise of a truly open 3G data network is really an effort to simply make network freedom and application choice a luxury option. Verizon will continue to make crippled handsets with restricted features their primary cash cow, but plan to be gracious enough to allow you to access the real Internet -- if you're willing to sign on for a metered billing model and pay a heavy premium. Of course, none of that matters anyway, since the project appears stuck in neutral. Martin also takes time to praise his own inclusion of open-access conditions in the recent 700Mhz spectrum. However, the vast majority of that spectrum, which could have gone toward a new competitive alternative, was won by Verizon or AT&T. In reality, legal experts (among them Susan Crawford, tagged to help pick the next FCC boss) note that the conditions Martin added to the auction contain plenty of loopholes for Verizon and AT&T lawyers to wiggle over and around. The conditions are, unfortunately, for show. Still, to Martin, high from his vantage point over a sea of crippled phones, high prices, low caps, walled gardens, restrictive carrier TOS's and prohibited applications, it's mission accomplished. "I think I was able to craft a compromise that did respect the ability of consumers to be able to go where they wanted to on the Internet and have it more open to applications and devices, and at the same time, have it shy away from the regulations that could inhibit investment in networks," says the outgoing FCC boss. |
knightmbEverybody Lies join:2003-12-01 Franklin, TN |
A big surprise?Like we expected him to punish himself in comments about how bad of a job he has been doing? | |
| drslash (banned)Goya Asma join:2002-02-18 Marion, IA |
drslash (banned)
Member
2008-Nov-21 9:27 am
Another op edKarl, You forgot the op ed tag on this story. | |
| | Matt3All noise, no signal. Premium Member join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC |
Matt3
Premium Member
2008-Nov-21 10:53 am
Re: Another op edsaid by drslash:Karl, You forgot the op ed tag on this story. It's there unless he added it after the fact. And if he did, you really should IM article corrections to Karl. Posting them in public makes you look like a "F1rst Post0rz FTW!!1!11" idiot. | |
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packetscan Premium Member join:2004-10-19 Bridgeport, CT |
Lie cheat and stealIt's the Bush way.. | |
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1 recommendation |
Re: Lie cheat and stealdon't forget incompetence, cluelessness and arrogance. | |
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koitsu MVM join:2002-07-16 Mountain View, CA Humax BGW320-500
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koitsu
MVM
2008-Nov-21 10:31 am
Inhibiting investments"... regulations that could inhibit investment in networks"
Does anyone have even a remote idea what he means by this, or what he's referring to?
I cease to see how neutral access rules could inhibit someone from investing (think: stock) in any of the big players, or equally investing in transport providers (fibre, etc.)
I just don't get it. I'm sure someone else out there does, so please help me understand what he means by this. | |
| | Sammer join:2005-12-22 Canonsburg, PA |
Sammer
Member
2008-Nov-21 1:54 pm
Re: Inhibiting investmentsInhibiting investments in improving networks and increasing internet access is exactly what has happened during Kevin Martin's time as Chairman of the FCC. Reducing competition for AT&T has not and will not increase such investment. | |
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TransmasterDon't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus join:2001-06-20 Cheyenne, WY |
Revenge of the Nerds | |
| | djrobx Premium Member join:2000-05-31 Reno, NV |
djrobx
Premium Member
2008-Nov-21 3:54 pm
Re: Revenge of the NerdsI fear that Lamar's limp-wristed management style may make him a poor choice. My vote is for Dudley Dawson. | |
| | | TransmasterDon't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus join:2001-06-20 Cheyenne, WY |
Re: Revenge of the Nerdssaid by djrobx:My vote is for Dudley Dawson. That's Booger As Snotty (James Hong)in Revenge of the Nerds II stated "Remember when hacking a loogie it comes not so much from the lungs but from the soul". | |
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morboComplete Your Transaction join:2002-01-22 00000 1 edit |
morbo
Member
2008-Nov-21 10:50 am
whatever company Martin ends up at after this...whatever company Martin ends up at after this should be heavily investigated (passed over for contracts, the works!), if only for punishing them for employing such a complete waste that has led us in the wrong direction.
fingers crossed... | |
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mobs and lyingLie at the top of your lungs and it will become the truth...if not steal someones lungs and repeat. | |
| pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium Member join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD |
pnh102
Premium Member
2008-Nov-21 12:14 pm
How It Not Open ?How exactly are networks not "open" these days?
It is still illegal for an ISP to block access to a given content provider. | |
| | wentlancYou Can't Fix Dumb.. join:2003-07-30 Maineville, OH
1 recommendation |
Re: How It Not Open ?No but you can throttle and or cap a service into uselessness.
Maybe that's what's being discussed here....
cw | |
| | | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium Member join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD |
pnh102
Premium Member
2008-Nov-21 1:31 pm
Re: How It Not Open ?said by wentlanc:No but you can throttle and or cap a service into uselessness. But you can still purchase uncapped, unthrottled service if you are willing to pay for it. Perhaps dedicated and guaranteed Internet service, like a T1, might be more appropriate for people who would not like to have capped or throttled Internet. | |
| | | | wentlancYou Can't Fix Dumb.. join:2003-07-30 Maineville, OH |
Re: How It Not Open ?said by pnh102:But you can still purchase uncapped, unthrottled service if you are willing to pay for it. Perhaps dedicated and guaranteed Internet service, like a T1, might be more appropriate for people who would not like to have capped or throttled Internet. Once again, it's all about the money. Falsely elevating the prices of services to hinder growth of that service is bad enough. Like everyone has said numerous times, this is to stifle their own need to invest and compete. Proven by the move by Time Warner to open a video store, and not count it against their cap. cw | |
| | | | | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium Member join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD |
pnh102
Premium Member
2008-Nov-21 1:45 pm
Re: How It Not Open ?said by wentlanc:Once again, it's all about the money. Falsely elevating the prices of services to hinder growth of that service is bad enough. Like everyone has said numerous times, this is to stifle their own need to invest and compete. I agree with you that insanely low caps are ridiculous, and I practiced what I preached when I dropped AT&T's internet service for my phone when they introduced a 5 MB cap on my data plan. But as I pointed out, other options are out there if you are willing to pay the money. If things were that bad, then even these options would not exist. | |
| | | | | | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little Guy Premium Member join:2000-01-17 Tulsa, OK Netgear WNDR3700v2 Zoom 5341J
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KrK
Premium Member
2008-Nov-21 6:13 pm
Re: How It Not Open ?said by pnh102:If things were that bad, then even these options would not exist. Yes, it's that bad, and as for other options... they're working on fixing that. | |
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kamm join:2001-02-14 Brooklyn, NY 1 edit |
kamm
Member
2008-Nov-23 12:08 pm
Martin is a CRIMINAL, he should be TRIED......as anyone in this country would be for multiple counts of felonies (corruption, lying to Congress, deceiving legislative and executive bodies to cover up corruption cases he's personally involved etc.)
Cheney's former ball-licking little closet boy should be tried and jailed. | |
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