Tag Archives: Derek Slater

FCC Promoted American Broadband Competition And Net Neutrality

In late 2014- early 2015, the FCC stood up for more competition and more choice in local broadband. This is a critical step in making faster, cheaper Internet available for all Americans.

You may have heard that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just put in place rules to protect ‘net neutrality.’ That’s big news. But there was another important decision today to help keep the Internet competitive and open — and while it’s getting less attention, it may be just as important. As part of its agenda to encourage meaningful competition in high speed broadband for Americans, the FCC supported allowing cities to make their own decisions about investing in new broadband networks. More needs to be done to drive innovation in bigger, faster broadband, but this was a good step.
Canadian ISP client

While the FCC’s net neutrality rules can help prevent Internet access providers from relegating some applications to a “slow lane,” this move alone won’t lead to a world where every consumer has an ultra fast connection to the entire Internet. That’s going to take more competition and innovation in new broadband networks.

It’s been nearly five years since we offered to build a fiber-optic network in one U.S. city as an experiment — and as we’ve expanded Google Fiber into a business, we’ve seen firsthand how faster speeds can improve lives and give cities new platforms for economic development. Google is not the only one innovating in this area. Along with investments by other private providers, cities like Lafayette, LA and Chattanooga, TN have been investing in their own networks and developing public-private partnerships to that end.

The FCC decided that it’s important for users to be able to control their own Internet connections and for communities to make their own choices to suit their local needs for broadband. While it may not make sense for most governments to operate broadband networks themselves, we think faster, better broadband for all Americans is too important to remove an option for deployment.

Thank Chairman Wheeler and the FCC for supporting local choice and competition in broadband networks: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/thank-the-fcc     For the Silo, Derek Slater Google Inc.

P.S. If you want to learn more about the ingenuity of cities supporting broadband investment and competition, check out Next Century Cities.

Supplemental- Test if your Internet Service Provider is “throttling down” your internet connection speed. (requires Java plug-in installed)

How competitive is the Canadian Residential Broadband Market?  ( Essay from 2009- has anything improved since?)

 

The Web Just Turned 25 This Week

Okay we know...technically the web has been around since the 1960's (Arpanet) and even we've been browsing the online world via BBS services since 1989 on an 'old' Atari 1020ST and land line phone access. (ahem) But for most of us the world wide web as we know it- complete with browsers and search engines turned 25 years old this week. CP
Okay we know…technically the web has been around since the 1960’s (Arpanet) and we’ve been browsing the online world via BBS services since 1989 on an ‘old’ Atari 1020ST and land line, but for most of us the world wide web as we know it- complete with browsers and search engines turned 25 years old this week. CP

Mountain View, CA  Some of us remember what the world was like before the web and have seen how much it’s changed things. Many younger people today have never known a world without the web.

Which are you? Choose the statement below that applies to you — then share it along with your memories of how the web has affected your life.

I remember the world before the web:

Google+: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/Older-GooglePlus
Facebook: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/Older-FB
Twitter: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/Older-Twitter

I’ve never known the world without the web:

Google+: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/Younger-GooglePlus
Facebook: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/Younger-FB
Twitter: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/Younger-Twitter

There’s no better way to celebrate the web’s 25th birthday than by sharing on the web how much it’s meant to all of our lives. More coming soon. For the Silo, Derek Slater /Google.

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Google Asks Us To Share Concerns Re Government Requests For Users Private Data Up 106%

Google Transparency Alert Google regularly receives requests from governments and courts around the world to hand over our users’ data. When we receive government requests for users’ personal information, we follow a strict process to help protect against unnecessary intrusion.

Since 2010, we have regularly updated the Google Transparency Report with details about these requests. As the first company to release the numbers, as well as details of how we respond, we’ve been working hard for more transparency.

The latest update to the Google Transparency Report is out today, showing that requests from governments around the world for user information have increased 106% since we launched the report.

"Requests from governments around the world for user information have increased 106% since we launched the report. It's a startling fact that everyone who uses the Internet should know about." Derek Slater for Google Inc.
“Requests from governments around the world for user information have increased 106% since we launched the report. It’s a startling fact that everyone who uses the Internet should know about.” Derek Slater for Google Inc.

 

It’s a startling fact that everyone who uses the Internet should know about:  We deserve the same protection online and offline.

It’s important for law enforcement agencies to pursue illegal activity and keep the public safe. We’re a law-abiding company, and we don’t want our services to be used in harmful ways.

But laws that control government access to user information should also protect you against overly broad requests for your personal information.

Share the Google Transparency Report, and help the Internet community stay empowered and informed.

Share on Facebook: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/fb-global

Share on Google+: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/google-plus-global

Share on Twitter: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/tweet-global

Sincerely,

Derek Slater

Google Inc.