Events today should make it clear that the internet has an "off" switch and that, under certain circumstances, those in power will use it. This makes it all the more important that we understand the need for an open and distributed internet, one that can't simply be switched off. Unfortunately, we are going in exactly the opposite direction. Bill St. Arnaud writes, " we need a National Public Internet (NPI) that is dedicated to the concept that the 'Internet is for everyone' and not a small number of multi-billion dollar content companies or service providers." What we don't need are the 'special deals' internet providers are setting up with sites like Facebook. Contrary to St. Arnaud, I think we do need to discourage, and perhaps even legislate against, such special deals. The time is short, and events in Egypt make it clear what are the stakes.
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