[IP] Re: G Vint Cerf ponders nationalizing the Internet

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

and many states are trying to privatize the super-highways -- like the nj turnpike etc djf
________________________________________
From: Dave Crocker [dcrocker@bbiw.net]
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:30 AM
To: David Farber
Cc: ip; Vint Cerf
Subject: Re: [IP] DEBUNKING Vint Cerf ponders nationalizing the Internet

David Farber wrote:
>     What I was speculating about in
> the Personal Democracy Forum was whether incentives could be provided
> that would render the Internet more like the public road system which
> is open to everyone. Manufacturers are free to invent and sell
> vehicles suitable for use on the road system. Builders are free to
> construct buildings, homes, offices, manufacturing plants that use the
> road system. But the road system itself is not owned by the private
> sector and its use is essentially open to all. The question is whether
> incentives can be found that would produce a similar effect for
> broadband Internet provision."


To the extent that we can find an equivalent, established service to model, to
apply to the Net, that would help things enormously.  Finding a working model to
invoke can save debate about theory.

The road system does seem appealing that way.  But the real-world model is a bit
more complex than Vint suggests.  Whether that retains its appropriateness is
not clear to me, but the differences are worth noting.  They make the model a
bit more nuanced and, I think, a bit more interesting:

1. There are differential licensing fees for different types of vehicles.
Semi-trailers do not pay the same as 4-wheelers.

2. There are differential rules of use for different vehicles. In California,
semi-trailers are not allowed in the fast lanes of a freeway. In some cities
around the world, there are restrictions on access based on who is driving, in
order to reduce private passenger-car use, whereas taxis are allowed.

3. There are private roads with restricted access; there are private roads that
charge tolls.


d/

--

   Dave Crocker
   Brandenburg InternetWorking
   bbiw.net



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