For this weeks blog I'm going to concentrate on one specific group that has spoken out against the issue of Net Neutrality.
The Tea Party group has recently taken a strong stance against this issue. The Tea Party organization feels that if this policy is passed it would increase government regulation and power, and be a direct assault on individual liberties.
The group is so against this proposal that 35 of their Tea Party groups sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging them not to increase their authority over the broadband providers.
The Tea Party group uses an argument of direction in order to let the FCC know what can happen if they support this issue.
The purpose of the argument of direction is to raise the fear that an action will force us into a process where the out come is not desirable.
The Tea Party lays out the argument that American currently enjoy a free and open Internet however if this regulatory proposal is put into effect would stifle broadband expansion, create congestion, slow internet speeds, jeopardize job retention and growth, and lead to higher prices for consumers. The end their argument by stating that the Internet has never been a regulated utility and they urge the FCC to keep things the way they are.
The Tea Party ends their argument by re-enforcing the main point which is that if the FCC regulates the Internet it will be a total affront to "Free Speech and Free Markets".
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Online Eavesdropping Proposal
The Obama admistration is currently working on legislation that will make it easier for the United States to "wiretap the Internet". In reading numerous articles found on this issue the strategy that is used to present this to the audience is through an argument that is attempting to establish the structure of reality. As we learned in class this past week this argument falls basically into two broad types: (1) argumentation by example, illustration, and model; and (2) argumentation by analogy. These arguments use metaphor, analogy, and hypothetical situations to establish the order of reality and to persuade the audience to accept that order.
The perceived audience would be a "universal audience" which is considered to be the largest possible audience which has the need to hear or agree with the rhetor's message.
The proposed bill that will very likely come before the Congress next year is a bill that would require all Internet based communication services to comply with a federal wiretap order. This would also include being able to Intercept and unscramble encrypted type messages from Social networking sites like Facebook, and peer to peer messaging like Skype. The government is seeking control over Internet wiretapping because extremists or terrorists are more likely to chat online than use telephones because there is nothing currently in place to wiretap their encrypted type messages.
The privacy concerns for those that promote the rights and interests of the online community say that this new legislation "would give away the digital keys to our consumer data kingdom". The governmental agencies however feel that "law enforcement is being left in the dark by technology". The groups that are against this legislation believe that the government has alot of ways to investigate crimes and terrorist threats. The concern is that by providing a "back door" into the online community network it will then make those networks insecure which would enable hackers to expolit those insecurities. An example, is given that in Greece in 2005, hackers were able to eavsesdrop on phone calls made by the prime minister and other officials in Greece.
Many opponents feel that this opens the door to "Big Brother" surveillance and will put all internet users, and companies at an increased risk of identity theft, corporate theft, and spying.
As you can see by the various types of analogies/metaphors that were used in the communication it painted a picture which lead the audience to the path and mindset of the rhetor. By using this type of strategy in their communication to the audience the rhetor can say fewer words and allow the audience to think about the analogy/metaphor and come to their own conclusion which hopefully is the same as that of the rhetor.
In the words of Aristole;
he greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It is the one thing that cannot be learned from others; it is also a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies an eye for resemblance.
-Aristotle, De Poetica, 322 B.C.
The perceived audience would be a "universal audience" which is considered to be the largest possible audience which has the need to hear or agree with the rhetor's message.
The proposed bill that will very likely come before the Congress next year is a bill that would require all Internet based communication services to comply with a federal wiretap order. This would also include being able to Intercept and unscramble encrypted type messages from Social networking sites like Facebook, and peer to peer messaging like Skype. The government is seeking control over Internet wiretapping because extremists or terrorists are more likely to chat online than use telephones because there is nothing currently in place to wiretap their encrypted type messages.
The privacy concerns for those that promote the rights and interests of the online community say that this new legislation "would give away the digital keys to our consumer data kingdom". The governmental agencies however feel that "law enforcement is being left in the dark by technology". The groups that are against this legislation believe that the government has alot of ways to investigate crimes and terrorist threats. The concern is that by providing a "back door" into the online community network it will then make those networks insecure which would enable hackers to expolit those insecurities. An example, is given that in Greece in 2005, hackers were able to eavsesdrop on phone calls made by the prime minister and other officials in Greece.
Many opponents feel that this opens the door to "Big Brother" surveillance and will put all internet users, and companies at an increased risk of identity theft, corporate theft, and spying.
As you can see by the various types of analogies/metaphors that were used in the communication it painted a picture which lead the audience to the path and mindset of the rhetor. By using this type of strategy in their communication to the audience the rhetor can say fewer words and allow the audience to think about the analogy/metaphor and come to their own conclusion which hopefully is the same as that of the rhetor.
In the words of Aristole;
he greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It is the one thing that cannot be learned from others; it is also a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies an eye for resemblance. -Aristotle, De Poetica, 322 B.C.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Effects of Internet Government Regulation
The debate continues regarding Government regulation of the Internet. This week I though I would focus on the probable effects if the Internet becomes regulated.
Currently you have numerous Internet Service Providers (ISP's) that have been investing millions of dollars in both upgrading their networks and moving forward to provide consumers with the latest technology. Hardly a week goes by without hearing about some new innovation that is either in the development stages or is just getting ready to be released.
We had the IPhone frenzy and now the IPAD. Smartphones, laptops and netbooks are now everywhere. Everyone who has one of these devices wants to be connected to the internet. Demand has increased and that is why the ISP's are doing what they can to build out the broadband network. WIFI spots are popping up all over.
Currently the incentive for the ISP's to build out networks and provide consumers with the latest and greatest technology has been to increase the revenue for their company. So what happens if the Government steps in and now wants to regulate this? This no longer becomes a free market.
The probable effects of this regulation would be:
Less investment by the ISP's because the new regulation would reduce their revenue opportunities. If there is less investment then there will be job losses in the telecom and other related industries.
Regulation would also increase business risks for the ISP's. The new regulations that these companies would face will increase their costs to do business. These costs will then get passed on to the consumers.
The Government would like broadband usage to be universal and available to anyone who would like it. However with it being regulated the probable result will actually be reducing broadband growth.
Currently you have numerous Internet Service Providers (ISP's) that have been investing millions of dollars in both upgrading their networks and moving forward to provide consumers with the latest technology. Hardly a week goes by without hearing about some new innovation that is either in the development stages or is just getting ready to be released.
We had the IPhone frenzy and now the IPAD. Smartphones, laptops and netbooks are now everywhere. Everyone who has one of these devices wants to be connected to the internet. Demand has increased and that is why the ISP's are doing what they can to build out the broadband network. WIFI spots are popping up all over.
Currently the incentive for the ISP's to build out networks and provide consumers with the latest and greatest technology has been to increase the revenue for their company. So what happens if the Government steps in and now wants to regulate this? This no longer becomes a free market.
The probable effects of this regulation would be:
Less investment by the ISP's because the new regulation would reduce their revenue opportunities. If there is less investment then there will be job losses in the telecom and other related industries.
Regulation would also increase business risks for the ISP's. The new regulations that these companies would face will increase their costs to do business. These costs will then get passed on to the consumers.
The Government would like broadband usage to be universal and available to anyone who would like it. However with it being regulated the probable result will actually be reducing broadband growth.
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