The Bell Canada Non-Net-Neutral Throttle fight: Comments to the CRTC – ACT NOW
The deadline for non-cartel non-money-backed non-propaganda non-politically backed people (that’s you and me) to submit comments to the CRTC on why the net needs to be protocol neutral and not throttled in Canada is June 22nd. Today its P2P protocols. Tomorrow it will be streaming video. The day after P2Pnet will have to pay Bell Canada to allow DSL customers access to this site. Don’t just read and whine, you have a voice. Use it.
1) Go to: http://support.crtc.gc.ca/crtcsubmissionmu/forms/Telecom.aspx?lang=e
2) Select “Part VII / PN ” from the drop down list and then click “Next”
3) In box entitled “Subject” line, insert “CRTC File #: 8662-P8-200907727
4) In the box entitled “Description / Comments / Questions”, insert any comments that you may have on the review and vary application.
5) If you would like to attach a document, select “yes” and follow the instructions for attaching a file.
[Comment: For help writing comments to submit to the CRTC or to discuss this topic, please visit: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22538730-RV-comments-on-throttling-case-allowed-until-June-22nd I believe this CRTC proceeding can be followed here: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2009/8662/v42_200907826.htm]

[Net Neutrality Role Reversal] Cable group turns net neutrality around over ISP access fees Ars Technica
Small cable operators say they worried about content providers charging ISPs “discriminatory” access fees, which they say Disney does with ESPN360.com. They want the FCC to stop the practice before it spreads, turning the arguments about net neutrality in the other direction… “Media giants are in the early stages of becoming Internet gatekeepers by requiring broadband providers to pay for their Web-based content and services and include them as part of basic Internet access for all subscribers,” an ACA press release on the issue warns. “These content providers are also preventing subscribers who are interested in the content from independently accessing it on broadband networks of providers that have refused to pay.” …It’s interesting to see the tables turned here, though—ISPs charging programmers with violating the spirit of net neutrality, rather than the other way around. “Immediate attention should be given to this matter by the FCC and others that support open networks, like Free Press, to prevent Web-content providers from hijacking the Internet,” declared ACA’s Matthew Polka in a press release.[Found via BoingBoing, http://www.boingboing.net/2009/06/11/network-neutrality-a-1.html]

Free Anonymous BitTorrent Becomes Reality With BitBlinder Torrent Freak
There can be little doubt that the provision of an effective and free service for BitTorrent anonymity would prove hugely popular. Today we bring you a detailed report on BitBlinder – a brand new open source project which promises to cloak your torrents, hide your browsing and get round many obstructive filters.

YouTube stunt ends with teen in coma The Star
A Burlington 16-year-old is comatose and in critical condition with severe head injuries after a video stunt gone terribly wrong. He was badly injured in a secluded church lot near his high school Tuesday while car-boarding a dangerous YouTube stunt in which teens film themselves being towed behind vehicles on skateboards and sleds.

The DMCA is endangering American security Betanews
The cybersecurity review says we need to improve academic and industry collaboration on cybersecurity and other technology issues. It also states we should “expand university curricula; and set the conditions to create a competent workforce for the digital age.” What the cybersecurity review should have said is, “We are raising a nation of timid technophobes who mistake using MyTwitFace for being a geek. Meanwhile, we have comprehensively, at every educational level, stripped away useful teaching tools and criminalized modes of research and inquiry in the name of copyright and liability laws, and sooner rather than later we are going to reap the whirlwind.”… The DMCA is deeply dishonest legislation, and — as it continues to undermine security research — deeply dangerous to our future.

AT&T Unveils New Privacy Policy No, Really Wired
AT&T has a new privacy policy, and this time it means it. Even the New York Times` Saul Hansell says it seems earnest, despite all that messiness with helping the National Security Agency warrantlessly wiretap the internet for years. Here`s the summary of AT&T`s new company-wide policy. * We will protect your privacy and keep your personal information safe. We use powerful encryption and other security safeguards to protect customer data. * We will not sell your personal information to anyone, for any purpose. Period. * We will fully disclose our privacy policies in plain language, and make our policies easily accessible to you. * We will notify you of any revisions to our privacy policy, in advance. No surprises. * You have choices about how AT&T uses your information for marketing purposes. Customers are in control. * We`re listening. You can send us questions or feedback on any of our privacy policies. [Comment: LOL]

US Attorneys Fishing For Tons Of Info On Anonymous Commenters TechDirt
Michael Scott points us to the fact that US Attorneys have requested data on anonymous commenters who commented on an article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. From the description, it sounds like the feds are fishing for a lot more than they should be allowed to get. The subpoena requested: “full name, date of birth, physical address, gender, ZIP code, password prompts, security questions, telephone numbers and other identifiers … the IP address,” of everyone who commented…

Canada’s Michael Geist Joins the EFF Advisory Board Michael Geist
I’m delighted to announce that I’ve been named to the Electronic Frontier Foundation Advisory Board http://www.eff.org/about/advisoryboard. EFF does incredible work and it’s great to have the chance to lend a hand. [Comment: copy/pasted in whole]

[AU] ACCC says structural separation of Telstra the only way to go IT Wire
The ACCC has come out unequivocally in support of structurally separating Telstra into wholesale and retail companies as the only solution to the problems that have bedevilled its attempts to provides regulated access to Telstra’s monopoly services for the past decade. In its submission to the government’s discussion paper on regulatory reform needed for the National Broadband Network the ACCC says: “The ACCC considers that structural separation is the only regulatory arrangement that will in practical terms address Telstra’s incentives and ability to discriminate against its competitors and thereby ensure equivalence… the ACCC’s view is that ensuring equivalence in access can only be achieved by a non-integrated or a fully structurally separated network operator.” [Comment: And in Canada the monopolies are protected. Additional news on this story can be found here, http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Telstra-calls-for-Telstra-funded-telco-judge/0,130061791,339296908,00.htm]

[US] Tax man’s target: Mobile phones Total Tele
Employees’ mobile phone expenses would be a taxable benefit under new IRS proposals. The use of company-issued mobile phones could trigger new federal income taxes on millions of Americans as a “fringe benefit.” The Internal Revenue Service proposed employers assign 25% of an employee’s annual phone expenses as a taxable benefit. Under that scenario, a worker in the 28% tax bracket, whose wireless device costs the company $1,500 a year, could see $105 in additional federal income tax.

[Canadian] Wireless carriers urge Ottawa to slash fees The Star
But there’s little indication savings would trickle down to cell giants’ subscribers – Canada’s biggest wireless companies are calling on Ottawa to slash the licensing fees they pay to access public airwaves, but there’s little indication that any savings will be passed along to subscribers particularly when it comes to the controversial “system access” fees that show up on wireless customers’ monthly bills. In documents filed with Industry Canada, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association argues that the nearly $130 million in spectrum licensing fees handed over to the federal government each year far exceeds the estimated $3.8 million it costs Ottawa to manage the public resource, putting the Canadian wireless sector at a competitive disadvantage. Bell Canada Inc. went a step further in its submission and requested a “spectrum fee holiday.” Rogers Communications Inc. disclosed that it pays $50 million annually in licensing fees, adding that higher fees translate into higher prices for customers. Telus Corp., meanwhile, said any savings would likely be put toward network investments… But there was no word yesterday on whether any of the carriers would consider scaling back the system access fees they charge to subscribers, which range from $6.95 to $8.95 per month and have been previously justified, in part, by the need to offset the licensing fees collected by Ottawa… “It’s a misleading charge,” said John Lawford, a lawyer with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, noting that such add-on fees allow cellphone companies to advertise lower prices. Bell spokeswoman Julie Smithers said it was too early to say what impact a change in government policy would have on Bell’s customers, but noted there hasn’t been a direct link between the company’s $8.95 wireless system access fee and federal spectrum licensing fees for years. Officials at Telus and Rogers declined to comment.

Berners-Lee hired as gov internet adviser The Register
The prime minister has appointed the inventor of the world wide web as the government’s adviser on information delivery. Sir Tim Berners-Lee will lead a panel of experts to advise the relevant Cabinet Office minister on how government can best use the internet to make non-personal public data as widely available as possible. He will oversee work to create a single online point of access for government held public data and develop proposals to extend access to data from the wider public sector, including selecting and implementing common standards. In addition, he will help drive the use of the internet to improve government consultation processes.

Opera says Microsoft EU browser offer “not enough” Reuters
Norwegian browser maker Opera ASA said on Friday that Microsoft’s plan to ship its Windows operating system in Europe without its Internet Explorer web browser was not enough to restore competition.

Database rescue at hand for children Australian IT
Australian police are to revolutionise the international hunt for victims of child pornography with a proposed nationwide database and specially designed technology to identify images and films on the internet of children still being abused. An Australian National Victim Image Library is being planned using technology designed over the past four years by Microsoft, with the help of Queensland police. Queensland and Canadian police are about to begin trialling the technology for an expected rollout by law-enforcement agencies across the world.

ISPs Distance Themselves From British Telecom DSLReports
As we mentioned yesterday, British Telecom has decided to take a page from the Ed “Pipes” Whitacre telecom playbook and whine about people actually using their broadband connections — all while doing as little as possible to prepare for the Internet video future. While BT decided to regurgitate the tired logic that content companies use ISP “pipes for free,” fellow UK ISPs were smart enough to distance themselves from the talking points, which didn’t make sense in 2005 when they surfaced, and don’t make any more sense four years later.

Racial hate groups erupt on Facebook Network World
Racist Facebook groups have sprung up in the wake of ethnic violence in Sydney’s West… Electronic Frontiers Australia chair Geordie Guy said people joining the groups should be aware of racial hatred and discrimination laws which can apply to online content.

Michael Savage Threatening Sites That Connect Him To Rockstar Energy Drinks? TechDirt
Controversial “shock jock” DJ Michael Savage (real name: Michael Weiner) last year made some news for threatening critics with copyright infringement for posting a segment of his radio show and providing commentary on it (while also suggesting his advertisers drop their sponsorship). A court eventually explained fair use to Savage, though it didn’t stop his representatives from continuing to threaten others over nearly identical situations

Cambridge researcher Richard Clayton’s slides on the Internet Watch Foundation May 2009 WikiLeaks
University of Cambridge researcher Richard Clayton’s May 2009 powerpoint slides, in part concerning the UK “Internet Watch Foundation” (IWF) internet censorship blacklist. Slide #11 contains enough information for a technically astute person in the UK with access to the ISC passive hostnames list to duplicate Clayton’s work, producing a list of hostnames corresponding to URLs on the IWF blacklist.
Slide #12 contains a selection of hostnames which can be used for verification of the results.

iiNet requests AFACT letters in copyright case Australian IT
Perth-based ISP iiNet has asked a group of copyright holders to hand over a wide range of documents including those revealing any action they have taken against other internet providers to combat online piracy. iiNet made the request yesterday during the lead phases up to its landmark legal battle against the group which has alleged it breached their intellectual property rights in the NSW Federal Court. The documents are expected to reveal details of letters of demand sent to other ISPs – both within Australia and in other jurisdictions – and large amounts of anti-piracy policy information retained by the copyright holders. Lawyers representing the group of copyright holders, which has coordinated its legal action behind the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), said that the request was nothing more than an attempt to gain political mileage. The group of 34 copyright holders behind AFACT includes Warner Bros. Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Disney Enterprises, Roadshow Films, Columbia Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Seven Network Limited….

MySpace prepares for “massive” layoffs: report Montreal Gazette
News Corp’s MySpace refused to comment on Thursday on a report the previous day that said the online social network will fire a “massive” number of employees. The online social network is preparing to lay off as many as 500 of its 1,600 workers, the TechCrunch blog reported on Wednesday, as it cuts costs while trying to stay ahead of growing competition from rival Facebook. MySpace is part of Fox Interactive Media, which houses some of News Corp’s online properties. News Corp last month ousted co-founder and Chief Executive Chris DeWolfe and has shaken up management elsewhere in its digital operations. [Refer to TechCrunch story here: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/10/massive-layoffs-coming-to-myspace-%E2%80%94-25-or-more-may-be-cut/]

No IE onboard Windows 7 in Europe BBC
European buyers of Windows 7 will have to download and install a web browser for themselves. Bowing to European competition rules, Microsoft Windows 7 will ship without Internet Explorer.

Comcast Sued Again Over Forced Equipment Leases DSLReports
Over the past few years, a growing number of lawsuits have surfaced against cable operators for forcing consumers to rent cable boxes from the company. While consumers could get CableCARDs and a TiVO — the basis of the lawsuits is that consumers should be able to buy Comcast’s own cable boxes from Comcast or retail outlets. This week finds another such lawsuit filed in Mobile, Alabama, with lawyers claiming Comcast is violating the Sherman Antitrust Act with the forced rentals.

Follow p2pnet on Twitter.

June, 2009