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A project of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program
The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy stated in its report, Informing Communities, that a national commitment to an open Internet is an important element of ensuring that individuals and communities have the resources necessary to be fully informed in the digital age. In light of the Federal Communications Commission’s vote on [...]
Because broadband connections are the railroads of the 21st century—essential infrastructure required to transmit products (these days, in the form of information) from seller to buyer—our creaky Internet makes it harder for U.S. entrepreneurs to compete in global markets.
The Knight Commission released Informed Communities a year ago with an exhortation for both “dialogue” and “action.” Both are happening, and the Commission’s report has helped. There are at least two reasons why.
The first is that key people in local communities throughout the country are hungry for the Knight Commission’s message. Two weeks ago, I had [...]
Today, particularly on the Web, openness is supposed to be the watchword when it comes to communication. But, oddly enough, rules that govern much of our information currency are being written by regulatory agencies and lawmakers in closed private meetings, accountable to no one.
Last week FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski presented “The Third Way: A Narrowly Tailored Broadband Framework,” an approach that would reclassify broadband services in order to preserve the consensus on the FCC’s role in protecting Net Neutrality. In the wake of the Comcast ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the third way approach would distinguish broadband transmissions from broadband “computing functionality”, and tailor Title II’s requirements to “the internet age”.
Like all large-scale communications networks, the Internet does not work without governance. The battle of China versus Google tells us not that existing institutions have failed, but rather that new issues require new consideration of appropriate ways to assure the freedoms of the Internet.
Josh Stearns at SavetheNews.org has posted a helpful guide to Ten Policy Debates Shaping Journalism Right Now listing 10 legislative proposals, policy proceedings and inquiries taking place in Washington that could have a significant impact on the future of journalism in the United States. Here’s the list of 10 (go to SavetheNews.org for descriptions and [...]
The traditional culture and ethics of professional journalism encourage journalists to hold themselves aloof from the communities they cover; to maintain objectivity through distance. Generally this means not voicing personal opinions on politics or controversial issues, and not engaging directly in civic processes. Sometimes even voting, campaign contributions, or speaking up at civic meetings are [...]
UPDATED 4/9/10: Both the Knight Commission report and the National Broadband Plan call for setting ambitious standards for broadband availability and a strong commitment to open networks. (The FCC cited the Knight Commission report in the Plan.) So we join the legions of others assessing the impact of the federal appeals court’s decision in the [...]
The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy has called for policymakers to “maintain the national commitment to open networks as a core objective of Internet policy” (recommendation 9). Finding a way to honor this commitment is one challenge facing the Federal Communications Commission and other policymakers as they chart a course for [...]
In Cecelia Kang’s Tech Post column today, Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf asks the Federal Communications Commission how it plans to use spectrum for mobile broadband and assure fairness and open access to networks for all. Cerf noted his concern that monopoly and quasi-monopoly systems of control historically have provided unequal access to network [...]
Finally, it’s here – the National Broadband Plan. Released yesterday by the Federal Communications Commission, the National Broadband Plan mandated in last year’s stimulus legislation lays out a broad, aspirational and ultimately attainable vision for achieving universal broadband service across the United States. With the release of the Plan, the national conversation on the information needs of Americans [...]
Join the Federal Communications Commission and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation at America’s Digital Inclusion Summit on Tuesday morning, March 9th, for a sneak preview of the National Broadband Plan that the FCC will deliver to Congress on March 17th. The Digital Inclusion Summit is an opportunity to highlight solutions that will [...]
Charlie Firestone, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program, responds to Patrick Maines’ recent attack piece published in Huffington Post. As the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute program that oversaw the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, and it’s report, Informing Communities, www.knightcomm.org, I have watched with interest Mr. Maines’ persistent attacks
The Federal Communications Commission has launched an examination into the Future of Media and Information Needs of Communities in a Digital Age with a public notice that calls for public input through March 8, 2010 May 7, 2010 (new date announced 2/22/10). In its announcement, the FCC cited the report of the Knight Commission on [...]
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