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February 27, 2007
Net Neutrality: What's the Problem?
SAN JOSE, CA - So, I'm at the Tech Policy Summit at the Hayes Mansion and Declan McCullagh of CNET is leading a panel entitled "The Future of the Internet: The End of the Web as We Know It?" On the panel is Andrew McLaughlin, Head of Global Public Policy and Senior Counsel at Google; Lauren Gelman, Associate Director of Stanford's Center for Internet and Society; and Jim Dempsey, Policy Director for the Center for Democracy and Technology. The topic of the panel has moved to Net Neutrality and I must admit that I'm as confused as ever...nothing new here, but nothing has cleared up for me on "the other side's position."
Andrew McLaughlin said that he is "a big fan of evidence based policy making" yet Google will "absolutely" support net neutrality legislation this session of Congress even though the "details of the legislation are still being worked on." Hence, my confusion.
Further, Lauren Gelman says that people should have the same access to her blog as they would to a Britney Spears video released by a major corporation. Um...my confusion quotient is getting higher. I'm pretty sure I can access both of these now. I've even linked to them to use the "evidence based" way of looking at things.
Which brings me back to "I'm a big fan of evidence based policy." What is the evidence that there is a problem? Sure, there may be one or two anecdotes, but no evidence. Seriously, what's the problem?
One bit of logic (imho) was when McLaughlin echoed the recent sentiments of his CEO, Eric Schmidt, when he said he thinks the net neutrality issue will ultimately be solved by competition. Yep, the marketplace. That I understand.
UPDATE: I guess I wasn't the only one confused. Please read Scott Cleland's blog entry here which includes reporting from Communications Daily on this panel.
Posted by John Earnhardt at 11:59 AM Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
February 23, 2007
DVR Alert: Cisco CEO to Address U.S. Governors
DVR Alert!!!!! Tomorrow, John Chambers will address U.S. Governors at their annual meeting in Washington, DC. His topic will be on innovation and competitiveness and 45 of the 50 governors are expected to be in attendance. He will be introduced by National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona. His speech will be broadcast nationwide LIVE on C-SPAN on Saturday, February 24th at 1:00PM ET.
This year, Governor Napolitano’s issue of focus, the so-called “Chair’s Initiative,” is innovation. The opportunity to address this gathering is an honor and Chambers will attempt to help frame and define the issue of innovation for the assembled Governors. John also addressed the NGA in 2002 in Boise, Idaho.
(Cisco Chairman and CEO, John Chambers, addressing U.S. Governors at NGA Conference in Washington, DC - February 24, 2007 - NGA Photo)
To view John addressing the Governors, please tune in and hear him talk about what government can do to support and nurture innovation as well as what they can do to preserve the U.S. as a home of cutting-edge technologies while creating high-wage jobs. He will speak about what he views as the four Key Drivers of Competitiveness, namely, Education, Infrastructure (Broadband), Productivity, and a Supportive Government that allows all of these drivers to flourish. After Chambers address, he will join with former U.S. Treasury Secretary and current Chairman of the Executive Committee of Citigroup Robert Rubin in a Q&A with Governor Napolitano. For more on the NGA meeting, please visit www.nga.org.
Please set your DVR’s or tune in live to C-SPAN on Saturday at 1PM ET and hear our CEO’s messages to the chief executives of the states.
Posted by John Earnhardt at 03:10 PM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
February 20, 2007
Second Life Meets Real Life: The future of conferences?
I’ve seen more and more talk about the unconference – how conferences are moving from just structured schedules to a free-flow of ideas. Now, the Santa Fe Institute – with Cisco’s co-hosting and help – is holding a Real Life / Second Life event on Synthetic Environments and the Enterprise on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
What does this mean? Cisco is hosting the event at both Techmart and in Second Life – at two amphitheaters, here and here. This event is a marriage of how the real world is being influenced by online, virtual worlds and how the economies of both are influencing decisions.
Entertainment has always driven technology and technology adoption, particularly for new media, but the two disparate groups are melding into one. Think about it. In the past, YouTube and video podcasts would have just been online videos, but now there are stars being made online, such as Amanda Congdon on ABC, and Ze Frank.
Well, this stardom and media adoption extends into the online worlds – there are people that are famous in Second Life and World of Warcraft that live their ‘real life’ lives separate from their online, second life. And, businesses are learning how to work in both environments, working the human network in both the real world and second lives.
It’s an all-day event – starting at 8.00 AM PST/SLT and ending at 5.00 PM PST/SLT – and some of the speakers will be speaking from Second Life to the real life audience. Come join us – virtually or in real life – to hear people from the Santa Fe Institute, Stanford Media X, Sloan MIT, Eli Lilly and Cisco, among others, speak about the influence of economies on real life and second life.
Posted by David Barry at 08:00 AM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
February 15, 2007
Update on Cisco, Apple Discussions
Apple has asked Cisco for another extension on the deadline for them to respond to our lawsuit. Cisco has agreed to give Apple an extension until Wednesday, February 21. Cisco is fully committed to using the extra time to reach a mutually beneficial resolution.
Posted by John Earnhardt at 08:04 PM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
February 07, 2007
Notes on Cisco’s Second Quarter Earnings Report
The Wall Street Journal’s Marketbeat, commenting on the earnings report, noted “for Cisco Systems, it must look like the old days.” The WSJ.com blog also noted that Cisco’s stock has managed to gallop nearly 60% since hitting a low on July 21, “as investors jumped back into technology stocks with a vengeance.”
The Tech Trader Daily also weighed in with good words for the earnings report, noting that “revenue of $8.4 billion beat the consensus of $8.28 billion; pro forma EPS of 33 cents a share was two cents ahead of the Street.”
For those wanting the blow-by-blow coverage of the earnings conference call with analysts, check out AOL’s bloggingstocks.
Posted by David Barry at 10:05 AM Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
