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 […]
Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern are dead. But Freedom2Connect did have David Weinberger and Doc Searls . They staged a colloquy, a dialogue of their own, before the assembled crowd. And the crowd joined in. A Q represents a statement or question from someone in the audience. Searls: A few days ago I realized there were several […]
At Monday’s Freedom2Connect conference Jonathan Askin also put together a discussion of Voice over the Network (VON), commonly called VOIP. It consisted of two talks. The first was by Jim Kohlenberger, now Executive Director, of the VON Coalition. But when that group launched he was a staffer in the Clinton White House, working on telecommunications […]
At the Freedom2Connect conference on Monday Pulver.com general counsel Jonathan Askin (right) put together a panel of House and Senate staffers to discuss the prospects for network neutrality legislation this year. The panelists were: Dana Lichtenberg, legislative assistant to Rep. Bart Gordon, Tennessee DemocratJames Assey, minority counsel, Senate Commerce CommitteeMike O’Reilly, legislative assistant to Sen. […]
