Darknet

Susan Crawford on threats to the Internet

At Supernova, Nick Douglas interviews IP big thinker Susan Crawford about global threats to the Internet. She points out that Sept. 22 is the third annual One Web Day.

The e-Book test: Do electronic versions deter piracy?

David Pogue in the NY Times: The e-Book Test: Do Electronic Versions Deter Piracy?

Related: John Caddell at FutureLab: Must We Give away Digital Creative Works?

8 months until analog TV sets stop working

San Francisco Chronicle: Cultural divide needs bridging as TV goes digital.

The cable and consumer electronics industry is spending more than $1 billion to make sure that TV-watching Americans know they have until February to prepare their sets to receive a digital signal. It's a public information campaign so pervasive that every American will be exposed to an estimated 642 messages - on TV, radio, online and elsewhere - reminding them that if they don't take the appropriate action they will live the darkest of American nightmares:

Their [analog] TVs will stop working on Feb. 17, 2009. ...

Charging by the byte to curb Internet traffic

NY Times: Charging by the Byte to Curb Internet Traffic. Excerpt:

Some people use the Internet simply to check e-mail and look up phone numbers. Others are online all day, downloading big video and music files.

For years, both kinds of Web surfers have paid the same price for access. But now three of the country’s largest Internet service providers are threatening to clamp down on their most active subscribers by placing monthly limits on their online activity. ...

What an absolutely atrocious idea, to penalize the most creative, connected, productive people in the nation.

New iPhone won't be unlocked easily

Associated Press: New iPhone's business model is tough on unlockers.

Heavy Internet users targeted

Washington Post: Heavy Internet Users Targeted.

Cable service operators Comcast and Time Warner Cable said yesterday that they would begin testing new approaches that would slow Internet access for heavy users and charge more to those who want additional speed.

The tests come as the Federal Communications Commission wraps up an investigation on complaints that Comcast blocked certain users from sharing video, music and other files. The complaints fueled a larger debate, with hearings in Congress and by the FCC, on how much control Internet service providers should have over the flow of data.

"The cable companies see a hammer hovering above their heads and are scrambling to find ways to reduce the appearance of wrongdoing," said Ben Scott, head of policy for the public interest group Free Press, which advocates for better oversight of cable operators. He called the plans "Band-Aids" on the bigger problem of network capacity, which he said can be solved only by larger investments in the cable companies' networks. ...