[P2P-F] Fwd: [opennetcoalition] Voting For a Free and Open Wireless Internet

Wed Apr 6 14:19:21 CEST 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 12:10 AM
Subject: [opennetcoalition] Voting For a Free and Open Wireless Internet
To: opennetcoalition at laquadrature.net

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/voting-for-a-free-and-open-wireless-internet

Voting For a Free and Open Wireless Internet

*** Next Tuesday, April 12th, the EU Parliament Committee on Industry,
Research and Energy (ITRE) will hold a major vote for the future of wireless
communications in the European Union. By amending the radio spectrum policy
programme proposed by the European Commission, Members of the Parliament
have an opportunity to boost wireless Internet access. By encouraging shared
and unlicensed uses of the spectrum, they can create the next generation of
WiFi networks that will improve access to the Internet in urban as well as
rural communities, and launch the next wave of innovation in mobile
communications. But the risk is for Europe to give in to media or telecoms
corporations who would like to control the airwaves – a public resource. La
Quadrature calls on EU citizens and NGOs to step into this important debate
on the future of our communications system, which forms the structure of our
democratic societies. ***

In Europe, the debate on Net neutrality is still unsettled, but
policy-makers are already considering a legislative proposal that could have
far-reaching consequences. A few months ago, the Commission proposed the
first European radio spectrum policy programme. The goal is to adopt a
EU-wide framework to decide how airwaves should be used in our increasingly
digital world.

Spectrum (the whole range of radio-electric frequencies available for
wireless communications) is a resource that digital technology has rendered
relatively abundant. Yet, some interest groups would like to keep it
artificially scarce, by reserving it for the broadcasters' few-to-many [1]
approach or the inefficient but controlled mobile telecommunications
networks [2]. At this point, EU lawmakers are keen on expanding uses for
electronic communications operated by telcos (3G and 4G mobile networks),
while allowing media broadcasters (TV and radio channels) to sell their
licenses to use airwaves. For now, public debate has been shaped by the
positions of telecoms operators and broadcasters. The voice of the public
interest must be heard.

A third way must be encouraged. In order to push for the development of very
fast and decentralized Internet wireless networks, more spectrum must be
shared among all users so as to create a free and open wireless Internet, as
opposed to airwaves managed by one entity, be it a media broadcaster or a
telecoms operator. Such unlicensed uses could lead to city or village-wide
public networks, allowing any citizen or business to communicate through the
Internet in order to send and receive the content, applications and services
of their choice, without risking being slowed down or blocked by any
operator. Such deployments would be key to connecting remote or rural areas
and bridging the “digital divide”.

To boost access to inclusive communications and foster innovation, the EU
must expand new shared and unlicensed uses of the spectrum. La Quadrature
has started analyzing the amendments tabled on the proposals by the Members
of the ITRE committee. Some are very good [3], encouraging the use of
so-called “white spaces”, that is to say frequencies attributed to
broadcasters but that are left unused and can be used to build super-WiFi
networks (amendments 233, 251).
This is particularly important for EU competitiveness: as the United-States
moves towards opening white-spaces to unlicensed uses to create a new
generation of wireless networks4, Europe runs the risk of lagging behind if
it does not follow the same path. Other amendments call on exploring smart
wireless technologies, which also allows for the construction of highly
decentralized meshed networks, thus giving Internet access to citizens and
businesses in rural or remote areas, that are often neglected – if not
abandoned – by telecoms operators (amendments 33, 271, 395) .

Help us analyze the amendements and step in the debate by getting in touch
with representatives in the ITRE committee! Help them understand the
benefits of free airwaves for democracy and innovation.

For more background on this new form of spectrum management, see: Yochai
Benkler, 2002, “Some Economics of Wireless Communications”, Harvard Journal
of Law & Technology, vol. 16. Address:
http://www.benkler.org/Pub.html#Spectrum.

* Références *

1. As opposed to a "many-to-many" communications system, such as the
Internet

2. Note that most mobile operators' current "“wireless Internet access”
offers patently violate the principle of Net neutralityNote that most mobile
operators' current "“wireless Internet access” offers patently violate the
principle of Net neutrality

3. The best amendments are the following:
 Amendment 33:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_33_.2B.2B
 Amendment 75:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_75_.2B.2B
 Amendment 122:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_122_.2B.2B
 Amendment 233:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_233_.2B.2B.2B
 Amendment 245:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_245_.2B.2B.2B
 Amendment 251:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_233_.2B.2B.2B
 Amendment 254:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_254_.2B.2B.2B
 Amendment 256:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_256_.2B.2B
 Amendment 271:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_271_.2B.2B
 Amendment 341 and 342:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_341_.2B.2B
 Amendment 357:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_357_.2B.2B
 Amendment 373:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_373_.2B.2B
 Amendment 395:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Spectrum_Policy_Programme_Amendments#Amendment_395_.2B.2B

** About la Quadrature du Net **

La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for
the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding
principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and
pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage
citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the
digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international NGOs
including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society Institute and
Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-net

** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz at laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room

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