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North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical Re: NYT on Thing.net (fwd)
On Tue, 14 Jan 2003, Paul Wouters wrote: > > This is exactly why ISP's should not be allowed to have these "we will > > disconnect you at our sole discretion" clauses. > > You can't forbid them. Private enterprises have (and should have) every > right to manage their own business as they want. Just as it would be both That's not true at all - private enterprises are subject to a myriad of laws and regulations. This is why ISPs should be treated as common carriers - just like telcos. The primary characteristic of common carriers is that they HAVE TO serve all customers except under very tightly controlled circumstance, like a court order against on obscene caller. Everyone is protected - the telcos can't tell you who you can and can't call or what you can say on a phone conversation, and at the same time the telcos are not liable for what you say. Common carrier status is typically associated with heavy regulation, but it need not be. ************************************************************************** The Center for Civic Networking PO Box 600618 Miles R. Fidelman, President & Newtonville, MA 02460-0006 Director, Municipal Telecommunications Strategies Program 617-558-3698 fax: 617-630-8946 [email protected] http://civic.net/ccn.html Information Infrastructure: Public Spaces for the 21st Century Let's Start With: Internet Wall-Plugs Everywhere Say It Often, Say It Loud: "I Want My Internet!" **************************************************************************
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