[Chapter-delegates] Why is ISOC is doing almost nothing to bring affordable Internet to America

Fri Dec 21 09:57:59 PST 2012

In India airtel offers 16 mbps with a 30 GB limit, after which the
connection will be on at 512 kbps for $28 per month. 2 mbps with a 3 gb
limit is for $ 12 per month. Other phone companies offer even lower
'broadband' plans for as low as $5 per month with some more limitation.

Prices for 3g plans for mobile Internet are comparable, 4 GB, 3 mbps is
available at $18 per month, for average smart phone users $ 5 per month
prepaid data plan gets a good enough bandwidth and download limit. Pocket
Internet prepaid, good for limited use  so is available for less than 20
cents.

Sivasubramanian M
On Dec 21, 2012 11:07 PM, "Joly MacFie" <joly at punkcast.com> wrote:

> There are limitations to what any one organization can do.
>
> ISOC's  most important role, and original raison d'etre, is to be an
> organizational parent to the IETF and the IAB. From that grew roles in
> development and policy.The pillars were defined in the late 90s. In recent
> years the maintenance of Open InternetWorking the multistakeholder Internet
> model has become paramount.
>
> While at the Chapter level individuals gather together to get active on
> whatever is their passion. It is important that at the global and regional
> level that the Internet Society make a priority of high-level engagement of
> stakeholders to promote its principles.
>
> Universal access has always been one of those principles.
>
> j
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 21, 2012 at 12:01 PM, David Solomonoff <president at isoc-ny.org>wrote:
>
>>  This is a great discussion and I'd just like to add a couple of small
>> points:
>>
>> Based on my experience lobbying for a large labor union here in the US
>> (United University Professions) I would say that to effectively advocate
>> both at the regional and national level, ISOC NA must:
>>
>>    1. Develop a larger pool of active members
>>    2. Probably have additional paid staff whose single task is community
>>    organizing. How this is funded and whether these people would be employees
>>    of the global organization or local Chapters is open to discussion.
>>     3. Have a consistent policy position and up-to-the-second talking
>>    points about all related issues
>>    4. Share contact info regarding legislators and news media
>>    5. Share info regarding relationships, conversations, etc. so that
>>    people don't tread on each others toes
>>    6. Have a strategy involving getting the active members contacting
>>    legislators and media IMMEDIATELY whenever an issue comes up with a
>>    consistent position using consistent language and talking points
>>
>> This is how all effective advocacy groups work - I don't  think there are
>> any shortcuts.
>>
>> On the technical side we can work with other groups (like NYCWireless in
>> NYC) to promote community networks and open source DIY solutions. As I've
>> said before I don't think we should bet the farm on any particular
>> "perfect" one-size-fits-all technology - rather act as an educational
>> resource for all solutions.
>>
>> A lot of other open source groups here in NYC organize hackfests where
>> they help people install Linux on their PC's. ISOC Chapters could certainly
>> do the same for wifi mesh routers and the like.
>>
>> Also, perhaps ISOC could also look into IXP's in rural, underserved areas
>> in the US like upstate New York?
>>
>>
>> On 12/21/2012 06:05 AM, JOHN MORE wrote:
>>
>> Norbert
>>
>>  I think you make a very good point. I would note there are many local
>> efforts in the US to increase access (reduce costs) from neighborhood
>> networks. Gene Gaines, a member of the Greater Washington DC Chapter, has
>> created a program of providing used laptops to all students from poorer
>> families in his county on Virginia coupled with significantly lower
>> internet rate from Comcast.  The North American Bureau could take a lead in
>> focusing on the issue of universal (=affordable) access.
>>
>>  John More
>> Washington DC
>>
>>  On Dec 21, 2012, at 5:58 AM, Norbert Klein <nhklein at gmx.net> wrote:
>>
>>  On 12/21/2012 4:32 AM, Paul Brigner wrote:
>>
>> I don't think many would suggest ISOC-NA is not serving as "a focal point
>> for cooperative efforts to promote the Internet as a positive tool to
>> benefit all people throughout the world."  Of course, there is always more
>> to do and more issues to cover.
>>
>>  Best regards,
>> Paul Brigner
>>
>> Regional Bureau Director, North America
>> Internet Society
>>
>> "The Internet is for Everyone"
>>
>>
>> Interesting discussion. “...there is always more to do and more issues to
>> cover” - sure, but that does not pick up the core of the question: What is
>> the plan of the North American ISOC Regional Bureau to achieve this in the
>> USA?
>>
>> This reminds me of a period of long and intensive discussion twenty or so
>> years ago in Germany related to “international development,” where some
>> wanted to limit this discourse to “international development aid abroad” as
>> "a really important issue" - while others insisted that a discussion of the
>> complex problem of international economic imbalance has to include a
>> discussion of the internal powers at play at home.
>>
>> Is it possible to understand - and act - on international dynamics
>> without tackling similar scenarios and challenges and conflicts also at
>> home?
>>
>> Norbert Klein
>> Cambodia
>>  _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> David Solomonoff, President
>> Internet Society of New Yorkpresident at isoc-ny.orgisoc-ny.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org
>>
>
>
>
> --
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Joly MacFie  218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast
> WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com
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>  VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - http://isoc-ny.org
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>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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