Immigration is an issue that cuts both parties in half. As such, it may be the first to demand a consensus solution, and a new kind of politics. To see this in action this week you had to visit the blogosphere. Bloggers write as they feel, and most aren’t strategic. They are the grassroots of […]

We must get in line with the international consensus. We must proceed based on our own consensus, and an assumption of goodwill. There are too few of us to afford any more them. The whole idea of a them, in fact, is obsolete.

The final speaker at Freedom2Connect was Chris Sacca. Sacca is the head of special initiatives for Google. GoogleChris SaccaHead of Special Initiatives NOTE: Right after Sacca spoke, Google and its partner Earthlink won their bid to build a WiFi network covering San Francisco. Google has bucket trucks? What can we do to get ore access […]

A highlight of Freedom2Connect’s final afternoon was an appearance by Reed Hundt. Hundt was chairman of the FCC from 1993-1997, when the Web was first being spun. Under Hundt the 1997 Telecommunications Act was passed, the e-rate was passed, and All You Can Eat (AYCE) Internet service became the norm, because Hundt’s FCC refused to […]

The last afternoon of Freedom2Connect opened with a political panel featuring Ray Gifford, who heads the Progress & Freedom Foundation, a conservative tech think tank, and Gigi Sohn, who runs Public Knowledge, a liberal advocacy group covering the same subjects. They were interviewed by David Isenberg, who apologized because, due to health reasons, scheduled interview […]

One of the most interesting panels at Freedom2Connect was the municipal panel. There were three speakers: Jim Baller of Baller.com Esme Vos of Muniwireless.com Jim Salter of Atlantic Engineering Each speaker gave a brief talk, which was followed by a group Q&A. A few questions were asked after Baller and Vos had spoken — both […]

At Freedom2Connect, it was clear that attendees preferred the idea of competition from WiFi and open spectrum to any legislation as a solution to threats against the Internet’s net neutrality. This made Ron Sege, CEO of Tropos Networks, a conference sponsor, a very popular fellow. He spoke to the group on the second day of […]

Rick Boucher, a Democratic Congressman from Virginia, has become one of the more knowledgeable Democrats on tech issues over the last several years. He was introduced to Freedom2Connect by Jonathan Askin. Askin  – I need some serious solutions about getting our message to Congress. Who was at the House hearing on the Barton bill? You […]

Dave Hughes is an Internet legend. A career military man from Colorado Springs, he got involved in Internet issues over 20 years ago, starting with his Old Colorado City BBS. Later, he got involved in wireless, and he’s still involved in wireless. He was introduced by Gordon Cook, Editor of The Cook Report. Gordon Cook […]

Former FCC chairman Michael Powell was one of the featured speakers at this year’s Freedom2Connect conference. Powell was FCC chair until last year. It was on his watch that the cable-phone duopoly was formed, although he was quick to note he did not vote in favor of either decision. He was interviewed by Jonathan Krim  […]