Should P2PU/SOO file a public comment in support of net neutrality?

Archive School of Open
#1

See https://www.fcc.gov/document/protecting-and-promoting-open-internet-nprm

Lila, a copyright lawyer and P2PU/SOO, is willing to draft something pro bono for P2PU/SOO to submit if so. What do you guys think?

I for one think it’s very relevant to P2PU and SOO, given that we use so many third party tools. For example, if our access to Google hangout was slowed down, we couldn’t have community calls, etc. Others will be more articulate about this as well.

Deadline is July 15 so we have to act soon! I can start a thread with Lila and the relevant P2PU folks here since we’d have to submit as an org.

#2

I think it may be a good idea, but honestly I don’t really understand exactly what the document linked above is or what it means to file a public comment in support. Perhaps with more information on that I could give a better educated answer! That might help too, for folks not from or in the US, perhaps.

#3

Good question! Here is some context on this article by the NYTimes:

Here is the process for rule-making in the FCC - it describes the process
of public comment: https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/rulemaking-process-fcc

Generally for agencies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rulemaking

Does that help?

1 Like
#4

Yes, absolutely. I’m pleased it was suggested.

Open content & nonprofit providers are exactly the kinds of entities that need net neutrality, since they are unlikely to thrive in a pay-to-play environment.

#5

I agree - I think it’s important for P2PU & SOO to take a stance on this.

And, to switch hats for a moment, probably a good idea for the Open Coalition to make a statement too…

#6

Great! I’m going to send Lila to look at this thread but in order to make it official I need to connect her to someone at P2PU via email. Bekka, can that be you? Then of course we can do drafting/collab in public.

#7

Never mind, connected Bekka, Delia, and Carl to Lila on an email thread to make it official. Then we can resume drafting here and using https://p2pu.hackpad.com/

#8

Definitely, 100% behind P2PU / SOO doing this.

#9

Lila has a question for us to begin thinking about. Let’s throw our thoughts up here!

“…you all might want to think about how having to pay for access to the “fast” part of the Internet (think of high bandwidth services like video streaming, VOIP and other ways we all currently use to collaborate online) would be detrimental to open education and the people who rely on it. We will want to tell a compelling story about the real people who will be impacted by these rules - this is not just big companies battling each other.”

Delia has suggested, "I would refer to other countries approach to net neutruality –http://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawoollacott/2014/04/03/europe-votes-for-net-neutrality-in-no-uncertain-terms/ - and point out how the proposed rules will disadvantage the US re innovation and education- "

Others thoughts?

#10

Good timing - Webmaker Training is sprinting on 2 mini modules for Webmaker Training on the topics of Net Neutrality and DRM. These issues are popping up left and right, and we’re working to raise awareness. Whatever SoO and P2PU put together, I’d love to include it in the new content (at least via links, or as a call to action if there is something you want people to do).

I was off last week, so still have to catch up, but we are trying to get the modules launched around the 21st of July (tentative!)

And I’ve been collecting some articles too:

http://urbantimes.co/2014/06/why-the-death-of-the-internet-may-have-already-begun/

Let me know if I can do something to help (will definitely share in progress Net Neutrality resources ASAP).

#11

@laura - that’s great! i guess lila is looking for arguments for net neutrality in the context of open education. so if there’s something relevant to context of webmaker that applies to p2pu/soo as well, we should include that argument.

i think at this point we are trying to brainstorm arguments, and lila will help frame into a draft comment.

#12

Some potential arguments:

It’s more likely that entertainment companies can afford the “fast lane” than educational content providers because all six of the six companies that own 90% of US media are arguably entertainment companies. They might have some educational properties, but I’d guess it’s a very low percentage of their overall assets.

Another argument that’s pretty strong in the context of education is the fact that accessibility to the Internet is already an issue in low-income school districts. Making barely accessible services even less accessible means that organizations serving underprivileged populations will have an even harder time using digital media in the classroom. It’s just logic, really, but I feel like we should think about the implications in these types of populations to better understand how detrimental policy against net neutrality can be.

This article has even more (and is great).

#13

I’m not sure about the process from here, but I’ve chucked up a google doc (oh, the irony) where we can start drafting, if we want…

#14

fyi: http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/11-university-and-library-groups-release-net-neutrality-principles

#15

Hi @bekka @Carl @lquilter – would love your thoughts/edits/additions to the very rough draft I have up at https://docs.google.com/a/creativecommons.org/document/d/1uDIv2zfEH4J6z_FE0BWnKaybgCUQ0k5K9_MnFbqVUPc/edit

#16

Hey folks! So Lila, Bekka and I submitted this the other day.

It should be up soon but here’s the version we submitted:

http://schoolofopen.p2pu.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/P2PUSchoolofOpenNNReplyComments.pdf