Canadian Music Resource Blog

Rebecca, Adam, and Chrys have updated the URL for their project, which can now be found here: Canadian Music Resource Blog. You can also check out the video they made on Youtube below:

Rebecca: Egypt Bans VoIP Services like Skype

Late last week there was article on the BBC News website titled Egypt bans (VoIP) services from operators such as Skype. Skype and other operators offering VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services bypass telephone networks in favour of offering free calls via the net. In opposition to free services such as Skype, The National Telecom Regulatory Authority issued a decision to stop VoIP and they officially stopped it on Saturday. This means that as of this past Saturday, Egyptian law states that all international calls must pass through state-owned Egypt Telecom. The article states that Egypt is not the first country to ban such services. Earlier in the month the United Arab Emirates said it would not give VoIP licenses to international companies such as Skype. The article also quotes Skype representatives reaction to laws that ban VoIP services: “In general, we believe it should be up to consumers, not regulatory authorities, to choose the winners and losers in the communications space.”

In relation to class material, this article discusses state and national regulations over the Internet and as well as free services over the Internet. Specifically, this article can be related to the reading Who Controls The Internet, Beyond the Obstinacy or Obsolescence of the State. This article deals with the role of the state (Egyptian Law) and the control they have over the Internet. The information from this article proves that the The Egyptian National Telecom Regulatory had authority over the internet, specifically what services were allowed to bypass their networks. Also study significant is the notion of telecommunications: “Telecommunications, unlike a lighthouse or a road, is not a public good in the classic sense: users can be excluded and charges can be assessed, breaching the major condition for a public good.” In this case the free access of voice over Internet communication is no longer available, thus people will be charged if they breach this law.

Turner, Mark. “Egypt bans VoIP services from operators such as Skype.” Story from BBC News. Published March 24th, 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8585998.stm.

Beth: CRTC Aims to Prepare Canadians for Switch to Digital TV

Despite warnings from consumer advocates and networks that Canada is not ready for such a change, Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement expressed his desires to push the transition form analog to digital television forwards. This motion means that the switch would occur in August of 2011, and although that is over a year from now, analysts do not believe Canada is ready for the change because a surprisingly large amount of Canadians (approx. 900,000) are still as far behind the curve as to rely on antennas. The CRTC’s solution is to warn those consumers who would need to upgrade their systems through a public awareness campaign. This campaign would merely help to inform, but would not subsidize the change.

In relation to the course, the CRTC’s decision to make a transition from analog to digital television is itself an enclosing mechanism. Cable television programming, which can be ascertained through the use of television antennas, is a commons resource. Making the transition to digital works to exclude members of the Canadian community in that it is a change that requires monetary action on the part of the public. Merely informing the public of the CRTC’s decision to make this transition does not break down the enclosing mechanism, but gives foresight into the problems which lay ahead for those who still rely on analog television and must invest in much more expensive equipment.

680News Staff. “CRTC, Federal Industry Minister wish to prepare Canadians for switch to digital television” 680News. Published April 7, 2010. http://www.680news.com/news/national/article/43007–crtc-federal-industry-minister-wish-to-prepare-canadians-for-switch-to-digital-television

A Student’s Guide to McGill Media

Mara, Beth, and Samantha have been working on a website for their final project: A Student’s Guide to McGill Media. Go check it out!

Stephanie: Government v. Google

Stephanie shared this article:

This article provides an update on the censorship issues occurring in Australia whereby the government wants to introduce legislation which would force all ISPs to block a blacklist of websites for all Australians. In this latest instalment of the story, communications minister Stephen Conroy has attacked Google in response to their campaign against the government filtering policy.

Moreover, the Obama administration has raised complaints over the policy.

While Conroy said that Google are only involved because they are only concerned about money, Google has said that “this is a debate about freedom of access to information for all Australians, an issue of national importance.” The U.S. State Department are also advocating for the free flow of information which they see as “vital to economic prosperity and preserving open societies globally.”

Senator Conroy, argues that he is only attempting to apply the same restrictions places on the distribution of books, magazines, DVDs and other content to the internet.

This article is interesting as it relates to the idea of internet governance. To what extent should the government intervene? Conroy’s rebuttal ties in with the idea of whether parallel content across different mediums should have similar restrictions placed on them or whether this issue is more about utilities than goods. Finally it is an issue of free speech and human rights as discussed throughout the course and who has authority over these rights (whether the court or humanity, natural law, positive law etc).

Moses, Asher. “Government goes to war with Google over net censorship”, The Age, March 30, 2010.

Kira: The FBI Gone Web

Kira shared this article:

This article describes a recent initiative by the FBI, the website BanditTrackerNorthEast, which features images of outstanding robbers so that users can call the FBI to provide information. The site also includes physical information about the suspects – height, race, body type, etc. It was created for free by Spectrum Management, a private technology company. The site focuses on crimes in NY and NJ, but other versions are available for other US cities.

This article raises the question of whether the Internet has expanded or decreased the state’s control over citizens, as discussed by Eriksson et al. in “Who Controls the Internet?” This website encourages citizens to participate in their own protection, but also raises some concerns. For example, what are the privacy implications of posting photos and information about mere suspects, who are supposed to be “innocent until proven guilty”? Why is a private company creating websites for free, and how will this impact which cities receive the service? (The first website was in Spectrum Management’s native Dallas, Texas.)

Hughes, C.J. “FBI’s Crime-Fighting Web Site Focuses on Bank Robbers.” N.Y./Region. The New York Times, 24 Mar. 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

Kira: And the Nobel Peace Prize goes to….the INTERNET??

Kira shared this article:

This article focuses on the recent nomination of “the Internet” to win a Nobel Peace prize. It explains the common criticism that most have raised to this nomination: the Internet is a tool, and its effects depend on how it is used. The author notes that the Internet can be used for good – by political dissidents in oppressive countries, or to loan money to entrepreneurs in the developing world – and for bad – to waste time, or publish anti-Semitic literature or child pornography. He notes that we should instead honor those who created the Internet or used it for peaceful ends.

This article echoes the arguments made in Dimaggio et al.’s “Social Implications of the Internet.” In this article, the authors note that the Internet did not live up to the utopian dreams or the dystopian fears that critics expected for it. Instead, its effects on inequality, society, politics, organizations, and culture largely depend on how it is used (which, the authors argue, sociologists should study more closely). Overall, these two articles remind us that our choices matter – that we can create policies that promote peace and prosperity through technology, or their opposite

Kopplin, Jason. “The Internet doesn’t deserve a Peace prize.” Editorial. The UWM Post, 29 Mar. 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2010.