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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2017 Internet $25,000 ĞĂƌ&ƌŝĞŶĚƐŝŶtĞƐƚĞƌŶ>ĂŶĞŽƵŶƚLJ͕ Dear Friends in Western Lane County, We have just topped $17,000 in our local Red Kettle Campaign. This is a wonderful opportunity to help others locally this Christmas! Our Goal is $25,000 – please help! Join us as volunteers or donors! It’s both fun and rewarding! SOME GREAT NEWS!!! We have an anonymous donor who has pledged to match the amount we raise this year – up to $25,000*! DOUBLE YOUR CONTRIBUTION! Mail a check to our P.O. Box 1041 in Florence or make your kettle donation BEFORE DECEMBER 24TH! Will you please help us reach our goal? We need your generous donations and precious time now – so thank you and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS! $17,149 Thank You Florence Area Volunteers WůĞĂƐĞƐĞŶĚLJ Please send your generous donation today to: SALVATION ARMY—(Memo WLC) P.O. Box 1041, Florence, OR 97439 *Th e matching amount will be for Th e Salvation Army-Western Lane County Endowment Fund хфхфхфхфхфх Th e Salvation Army of Western Lane County sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ Ăůů:ĂŶ Volunteer for the local Red Kettle Campaign Call Sam Spayd 541-991-6139 Sam Spayd, 2017 Volunteer Kettle Coordinator with Janet Snow, 2015 & ‘16 Volunteer Coordinator from 9A Wright points out there can be several network connections between the ISP and a content provider like Netflix. “If we were so inclined, we could get a connection directly to Netflix,” he said. “However, this comes at a price, both in mone- tary terms and in time and com- plexity.” While bigger companies may decide to make that investment, smaller ISPs must carefully weigh the cost and benefit. “In reality, the difference in these two scenarios is only sin- gle-digit milliseconds, so the performance gain isn’t great,” he said. Giving consumers a choice among their providers can empower individuals to vote with their wallets and choose the ISPs that provide the best experi- ence, but Wright doesn’t believe classifying ISPs as a public utili- ty will help with this. “If you want the proverbial ‘dumb pipe’ and one choice of internet providers, then yes, being regulated as a public utili- ty would work,” he said. “If you want ISPs to push the limits of the technology, dramatically increase speed and performance and help push technology for- ward, then no.” The biggest mobile network providers to Florence — AT&T and Verizon — have echoed large cable company sentiments in their simultaneous support for open internet and little regula- tion. Mobile provider AT&T on its website plainly states, “We sup- port an open internet,” but direct- ly underneath rejects the 2015 FCC order as an “80-year-old statute.” However, proprietary content on mobile devices adds another layer of concern. AT&T agitated net neutrality groups in 2012 when it limited the use of iPhone’s pre-installed service FaceTime on its cellular networks. FaceTime, which pro- vides free video chatting among iPhone users, was restricted to customers who joined AT&T’s “Mobile Share” data plan or could find WiFi — a move iPhone users considered akin to holding FaceTime hostage. As one commenter lamented on technology website Ars Technica, “I should be able to use any app that isn’t illegal and use my bandwidth with any app.” While AT&T denied this vio- lated net neutrality rules, it even- tually acquiesced to demands in 2013 and removed the limita- tions. This event was cited in the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order, and it remains to be discovered whether other voice or texting apps will suffer similar discrimi- nation if they compete with a carrier’s options. Brandon O’Connor, Store Manager at AT&T’s Florence Branch, admits some uncertainty as to what the FCC vote will bring for mobile users. “There’s too much unknown at this point, especially with my company,” he said. “It’s really hard to say what they’re gonna do based on the [FCC] decision.” Verizon, meanwhile, also claims support for an open inter- net and said it welcomes the repeal of its Title II designation. For Verizon, though, the fact that the current FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai, is a former Verizon legal counsel led to storefront protests and online activism. Adding to suspicions was Verizon’s 2012 agreement to pay $1.25 million to end an FCC investigation into its attempts to block users from accessing “tethering” apps, which allow users to link their internet connection to other devices and thus avoid extra data fees. It’s well-remembered among net neutrality advocates, too, that Verizon’s lawsuit against the FCC in 2014 set into motion the reclassification of all ISPs to common carriers in the first place. Ultimately, guarantees as to the state of the internet ecosys- tem going forward are sparse, and if past misbehavior by cor- porations is any indication of what is to come, there may be something to net neutrality pro- ponents’ misgivings. Consumers of Android phones, for example, may remember that Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile shut out Google Wallet from their devices until 2015, in large part due to their co-investment in a competing payment app. Prioritization of this sort is an extra hurdle for start-ups and content providers that want to enter the market, and it falls short of expectations for consumers who demand access to a variety of content. It remains to be seen if problems like this will become par for the course. While consumer choice for broadband service in Florence is hardly the victim of monopoly, this is little comfort to those who expect a higher standard of options. “The internet is increasingly important in almost every aspect of personal life,” said Dawson. “The way to maximize our abili- ty to use this tool is to make sure the information isn’t throttled.” Internet heavyweights such as Amazon and Facebook have established themselves as front- liners in the battle to protect con- sumer and content provider access to the internet. Online movements such as battle- forthenet.com offer outlets and resources for those wanting to get involved. With so many play- ers in the game, it’s no wonder many people hold an outlook that is, at best, murky. “All these rules can change,” said Rogato. “Today the powers that are in office can do this, that, change rules. Four years later, they could turn the other way.” Wright entertains two possi- bilities moving forward: “A flash in the pan that everyone moves on from quickly, or someone in Congress proposes a bill that overrules the FCC,” he said. “That will be an even greater fight on both sides.” The uncertainty of how this three-dimensional game of chess will play out propels some to man the ramparts of internet freedom while leaving others disimpassioned enough to let the pieces fall where they may. Whatever the case, it remains clear the debate is far from over. “The public will have to be perpetually vigilant on this, I think,” said Dawson. Denyse Lalitha Melissa Vanessa Keep the numbers of these locally owned businesses on hand for all of your service and shopping needs. 541-997-3160 • 351 LAUREL STREET 541-266-1641 $100 off purchase of 1 syringe of Restylane or Juvederm Offer valid through 1/31/2018 NBMC, 1900 Woodland Dr., Coos Bay, 1 st Floor www.markelovmd.com Will you join us in making a difference? Design and Printing We design to your desire Customize t-shirts, hoodies and other apparel for business, parties, reunions and more! Create your own tye-dye shirts, wigs and jewelry All donations are used for food purchases. Open weekdays at 11:00 am-6 pm Mail your donations to: Food Backpack for Kids PO Box 3347 Florence. OR.97439 Call for more information 541-997-3533 M AGOOLA ’ S Family Treasures 541-991-2760 Heceta Beach Shopping Center 87768 Highway 101 N, Florence 97439 ǡ͕͕͜ Florence Tech Solutions • Smart TV Setup • Virus Malware • Cloud/iCloud • Email Setup • Tutoring • iPad, iPhone, MAC • Universal TV Remote • Sound Bar Setup • Smart Phone | Tablet • Monthly Computer Tune-Up • Streaming Setup (Roku, Firestick) • Printer Scanner • Social Media Eduation • Website Design 541-991-3705 Owner | Technician info@Florencetechsolutions.com Mon-Fri 9am-4pm • Closed Sat & Sun • 1431 Bay Street (Old Town) SOFT TOUCH HAIR DESIGN I will be closed the month of January, 2018. Please call to schedule your future appointments now! Wishing You Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year! Ginger Cole, Owner 968 Nopal Street • 541-997-9123 541-991-3405 CCB#212734 11 A
