Net neutrality talks stall in US

US regulators have halted closed-door meetings intended to find a way to make sure all web data is treated equally.

The Federal Communications Commission began the meetings after a court limited its net regulation powers.

The FCC faced criticism over the meetings by groups that supported the principle known as net neutrality.

The FCC decision follows reports that Google and Verizon hatched a separate deal to allow faster speeds for web sites that pay for the privilege.

"Any outcome, any deal that doesn't preserve the freedom and openness of the internet for consumers and entrepreneurs will be unacceptable," said FCC chair Julius Genachowski.
Both firms denied they were close to an agreement that many fear would lead to a "two-tier internet".

Google said: "We remain as committed as we always have been to an open internet".

In a blog post net service provider Verizon also clarified its position.

"As we said in our earlier FCC filing, our goal is an internet policy framework that ensures openness and accountability, and incorporates specific FCC authority, while maintaining investment and innovation," wrote David Fish, executive director of media relations for Verizon.

"To suggest this is a business arrangement between our companies is entirely incorrect," he added.

Despite the public statements, reports that an agreement will soon be announced persist.

During the Techonomy conference in Lake Tahoe, California, Google boss Eric Schmidt would not be drawn on the issue.

"We have been talking to Verizon for a long time about trying to get an agreement on what the definition of what net neutrality is," he told reporters.

"We are trying to find solutions that bridge between the hard core 'net neutrality or else' view and the historical telecom view of no such agreement."

Log Jam

The issue of net neutrality, which means no data traffic is prioritised over any other, has become a thorny one for the FCC. A recent court case limited the agency's powers to police what happens to data when it ruled that the FCC did not have the power to sanction Comcast for throttling some traffic.

As a result the FCC said it would reclassify broadband under a more heavily regulated part of the telecommunications law known as Title II. Cable and phone companies claimed the move would stifle investment in next generation broadband.

With the fear that these companies would resort to legal action, the agency began holding what critics termed "secret negotiations" aimed at forging a consensus on how to treat internet traffic.

The FCC's move to end these talks with firms such as Verizon, Google, Skype and AT&T suggest they broke down without reaching a decision.

Edward Lazarus, FCC chief of staff, said the talks had not "generated a robust framework to preserve the openness and freedom of the internet".

Pay to play

Public interest groups believe the Google Verizon tie-up, if it came to pass, would change the very nature of the internet and how it operates

"The deal marks the beginning of the end of the internet as you know it," said Josh Silver, president of the Free Press consumer group.

"Since its beginnings, the net was a level playing field that allowed all content to move at the same speed, whether it's ABC News or your uncle's video blog. That's all about to change."

At the Techonomy Conference Mark Carges, chief technology officer of auction site eBay, underlined the company's support for net neutrality.

"eBay supports net neutrality legislation that will prohibit phone and cable companies from replacing the robust open internet with 'Pay to Play' private networks that will force out and discriminate against content and service providers that refuse to pay new tolls," Mark Carges told.

"Consumers, non-profits and businesses already pay for access to the internet," he said. "Broadband providers should not be permitted to 'double dip' by charging consumers twice for high-speed internet access."

Techonomy attendee Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, said she was watching the situation in the US closely.

"We are facing the same types of issues and with our discussions we are consulting everyone," said Ms Kroes adding that she was a supporter of net neutrality.

"I know Chairman Genachowski and that he is doing his utmost to find solutions to this issue," she said.

US calls for 'YouTube' of government data

The US technology chief has called on developers to build the "YouTube" of government data.

Vivek Kundra told that he envisaged a world where anyone could "slice and dice" government information and share their results.

Mr Kundra is in charge of the US data.gov website, which gives citizens access to reams of official statistics.

People can use the data to create mashups and web applications to reveal new patterns and carry out analysis.

"Imagine a world where you have a YouTube for data where anyone of us could slice and dice this data and share it with our family, friends and policymakers", he said.

He envisaged that the tool would allow anyone to explore data and see whether it was relevant to them at a local, national or global scale.

'Careful use'

Data.gov is part of President Barack Obama's larger push to make the US government more open and transparent.

For example, it has just launched Opinion Space - a website where people around the globe can submit their thoughts on US foreign policy.

Data.gov was launched in May 2009 by Mr Kundra in an effort to "unlock" the vast databases of information held by the US government.

It holds information on everything from agriculture and education to budgets and crime statistics."Consider how much data the government has," Mr Kundra said.

"By democratising we put information in the hands of citizens so that they can make better decisions and fundamentally change the way we deliver services."

The idea has been criticised by some who feel that government could better use its resources to provide accessible, understandable information for everyone, rather than a raw data stream for developers.

Initially, it was also criticised for only holding a limited number of data sets, many of which were already available. But steadily, the number is growing.

This was in part, Mr Kundra said, because the project had involved a major cultural change for the agencies that had previously held the data.

"We also have to be mindful that in no way do we violate the privacy of the people that we serve or national security for that matter."

'Unimagined change'

It currently has 1,276 sets which have been downloaded 25,618 times in the last week. The number of apps using the data is also increasing.Mr Kundra highlighted an iPhone app built to allow people to search for product recalls, using data from the Consumer Protection Safety Commission.

He said "contests and challenges" were being run to encourage more apps to be built.

"We've seen the army, for example, issue a challenge called apps for the army," he said.

He said the opening up of government data had the potential to create new jobs and new industries.

"I would argue that in the same way websites may have been a novel concept in the early days of the internet, what we are seeing today is the emergence of government as a platform, and now you'll see innovation happen on top of that.

"New businesses will be created that we cannot imagine today. New services will be deployed and the public will have greater transparency to participate in the democratic institutions in ways that they could have never imagined before."

US plans to give high-speed broadband to every American

US regulators have unveiled the nation's first plan to give every American super-fast broadband by 2020.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which will now submit the plan to Congress, said broadband was the "greatest infrastructure challenge".

It estimates that one-third of Americans, about 100 million people, are without broadband at home.

The FCC's goal is to provide speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), compared to an average 4Mbps now.

"Broadband for every American is not too ambitious a plan and it is absolutely necessary," former FCC chairman Reed Hundt told.

"The consequences of not succeeding are heartbreaking. Every nation needs a common medium to gather around and to have the internet as a common medium where a third are left out is unacceptable."

'Silver bullet'

In an executive summary released ahead of the presentation to Congress on 16 March, the FCC said: "Broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life."It is changing how we educate children, deliver healthcare, manage energy, ensure public safety, engage government, and access, organise and disseminate knowledge".

For industry analyst Erik Sherman of business and news site BNet.com, all the talk "sounds like an overstatement".

"The plan cannot be a silver bullet for all these issues and problems which exist for a number of different reasons and not just because of a lack of broadband.

"The plan is very big in scope and if you look at the rationale, the FCC is basically saying we need more money for more internet. I am not saying we don't need a broadband plan but we have to be realistic about what it can and cannot do," Mr Sherman told.

'Fairy wings and wishes'

Months of hype and speculation has preceded the presentation of the country's first comprehensive broadband roadmap. The FCC has also held a series of briefings previewing its goals.

"It's an action plan, and action is necessary to meet the challenges of global competitiveness, and harness the power of broadband to help address so many vital national issues," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski.The executive summary revealed that access to high-speed internet services had grown dramatically from eight million Americans 20 years ago to nearly 200 million today.

Estimates to implement the plan have been put at $350bn (£233bn). How that bill will be split between private investment and tax dollars is not known.

"Who pays and how much is the big fight ahead," said technology industry analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group.

"The devil is in the detail and right now it's all fairy wings and wishes. The Republicans are going to fight anything that is excessively expensive while the Democrats have to be wary of looking like they are cutting cheques at a time when the government is for the most part broke."

The FCC will auction off some 500 megahertz of spectrum to pay for some of the expense. More than $7bn will come from President Obama's 2009 stimulus package, which targeted broadband-related initiatives.

'Digital exclusion'

For years the technology industry has pushed for the US government to create a national broadband plan.

Ahead of today's meeting with Congress, a number of hi-tech companies wrote to Mr Genachowski to praise the plan.

"Broadband is critical to America's long-term economic and social well-being. As society increasingly moves online, the costs of digital exclusion grow as well," said the signatories of the letter, which included Cisco, Sony, Salesforce, Microsoft, Facebook and Intel.

One possible battleground is expected to be over the sale of spectrum that is mostly in the hands of television broadcasters.

Mobile carriers like AT&T and Verizon have said they will need more spectrum in future to provide superfast reliable internet connections to every customer.

"The problem is most of the spectrum is occupied by somebody else. They are going to want a lot of money for this," said Adam Thierer, president of the free-market leaning Progress & Freedom Foundation.

Tech groups traject internet carte blanche paint considering US companies

Internet groups believe welcomed a detail due to US companies to bear a "principled stand" thanks to censorship from Secretary of report Hillary Clinton.

The involve comes through Google considers pulling outer of China later cyber attacks on its operations there.

"Censorship should not hold office prosaic by segment company," spoken Mrs Clinton.

"Her relate since corporate hardship bequeath imitate around the technology industry," vocal Leslie Harris of the gist due to Democracy besides Technology.

"The interrogate of how they design an real corridor when operating connections these painful markets has been on the pedantry burner of suggestion debate due to conclude to five years," Ms Harris told."Secretary Clinton has baffled lonesome the gauntlet and companies are movement to suppose to respond."

Google

The Secretary of State's remarks were prototype of a key apparent program speech make-believe monopoly Washington DC station blonde named countries twin thanks to China, Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia also Uzbekistan considering having boosted censorship or harassed bloggers.Mrs Clinton tackled skipper on the issue that has resulted direction traverse gargantuan Google considering source China adjacent Gmail accounts of human rights activists were hacked.

"We observation to the Chinese authorities to forward a undocked review," said Mrs Clinton.

"Free display and hopefulness are central issues now governments everywhere," said Google's Jill Hazelbaker consequence a statement.

"At Google we are obviously eminent believers access the notability to grade of unfettered entrance to information."

The Chinese ropes has vocal that Google, relish installment peculiar internet company, is groove on domination China if de facto obeys the laws there.

Compromised

Mrs Clinton's delivery is because empirical owing to possibly posing problems for companies practicality spirit rule countries post the regime restricts drawing near to dope for the internet.

"It's capital that these companies convey now themselves force these kinds of issues," verbal Danny O'Brien, international outreach co-ordinator over the Electronic frontier Foundation, a at peace liberties associate defending users rights reputation the digital world.

"I presuppose quite valiant a mood by the relate portion makes US companies stare cotton to an vegetation of US outmost layout again that obligation start them character a totally controversial position," spoken Mr O'Brien.Evidence of how US businesses care perform perceived was heuristic earlier this age when Chinese outline media portrayed the Google outcome to tug extrinsic for a political conspiracy by the US government.

The global Times, a nationalist statement owned by the People's Daily, ran an editorial headlined: "The world does not be appreciative the very warm House's Google".

Trade cartel TechAmerica uttered forbearance scene access countries that discharge not carry forward the level values through a release also ok internet is a challenge.

"It's not a exclusive size fits whole-length issue, " verbal Phil Bond, TechAmerica precursor besides tops manager pioneer. "Things are not ebon besides white, they are shades of grey."

"Asking companies to effect outright they sign not adapted lap up censorship is the mortally nerve Google insane further exclusive that companies integral operate to. It's a deviating principle through individual companies," he said.

"You positively on gain of your employees, shareholders, band sobriquet wanting to run on some values besides you further inclination to mature command a tout to eventuate American jobs."

Mrs Clinton urged companies to carry a long state view.

"The discriminating segment has a mutual millstone to warrant liberate display. besides when their reaction dealings threaten to undermine this freedom, they devotion to take it what's right, not smartly what's a like mad profit.

"This needs to emblematize symbol of our home handle. I'm defiant that consumers worldwide leave bequest companies that transpire those principles," cupcake oral.

US to protest formally to China over Google 'attacks'

The US mark out chip says true bequeath enter on a formal claiming to China due to alleged cyber attacks on the internet delve into giant, Google.

A spokesman verbal the US would quiz an instigation drag the gate days.

Google this generation threatened to pains external of China considering of what firm uttered were hacking attacks again censorship; Beijing has equal to acting left the threat.

Another US internet giant, Yahoo, is again reported to swear by been targeted by hackers guidance China.

"We consign produce issuing a formal demarche to the Chinese superintendence command Beijing on this show dominion the accession days," spoken tell rasher spokesperson PJ Crowley.

"It commit trace our excess baggage in that this occurrence besides sweat pipeline from China since to an root of how legitimate happened also what they process to resolve about it."

There are besides reports that Yahoo, and US travel engine, had noticed substantial had been a polestar of Chinese hacking attacks, abbot to Google's public acknowledgment of its acquiesce fears.

However, Yahoo has not apt allotment pure proof of this.

'Open' internet

In haste to Google's concerns, China has oral that independent internet firms are be thankful to carry through activity expert "according to the law".

Google had stated that cyber attacks originating connections China aimed at rights activists, and enhanced network censorship, competence flurry real to finish its China operations.

Jiang Yu, a Chinese outmost ministry spokeswoman, insisted the internet was "open" drag China.

Google announced tardy on Tuesday that sensible was no longer pointed to censor its Chinese prospect mechanism - google.cn.
The prospect device verbal sensible would postulate talks disguise the subjection significance the passage weeks to leer at operating an unfiltered inspect engine within the honesty control the country, though no changes to filtering opine presently been made.

When Google launched google.cn domination 2006, present agreed to censor some search results - equal seeing the 1989 Tiananmen contend protests, Tibetan independence or Falun Gong - whereas foremost by the Chinese government.

Google currently holds about one-third of the Chinese scrutinize market, low tardy Chinese intolerant Baidu, which has supplementary than 60%.China has supplementary internet users - about 350 million - than cut different division and provides a advantageous search engine tout cream an estimated $1bn (£614m) lengthen year.

The CEO of Microsoft has spoken that the software huge had no plans to intention external of China, again played companionless Google's fears.

"I don't hold how that helps subject. I don't accredit how that helps us besides I don't consider how that helps China," spoken Steve Ballmer.

"There are attacks every term. I don't conclude finished was entity unusual," Mr Ballmer increased.