Here’s the video from the Arts + Labs event at George Washington U on Oct. 29th. There’s a lot of back-and-forth since this was a diverse panel. The second panel begins about halfway in. Enjoy.
New Media, New Networks Presented by Arts + Labs and GSPM’s Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet from GSPM on Vimeo.
Not a bad pair of panels, but unfortunately most of the panelists spoke in generalities. As I watched, I wished that I — as an ISP who faces the spectre of onerous and unnecessary regulation — could have spoken up and provided details.
For example, if I were present, I could have pointed out that the “network neutrality” regulations in the FCC’s current NPRM would actually outlaw some of the most economical service plans which I offer my customers. Were I (or one of my colleagues) on the panel, I could have actually quoted the prices and terms for those service plans and explained how much prices would have to go up — or capacities would have to go down — for me to remain solvent if the proposed regulations were passed.
After a panel, I always think of things that would have been nice to say, it goes with the territory.
I organized the panel at the Cannon Building myself (not this one, which was professionally done,) so I’d advise you to organize your own if you think a different group of speakers would be more interesting. It’s a free country, after all, and doing beats whining every time.
Well, because I am not in the business of lobbying Congress (I actually engage in productive work), I do not have the foggiest idea how to organize a lobbying luncheon in a Congressional office building. And I shouldn’t need to. Government should, as a matter of principle, listen to the people — those of us who are out there busting our knuckles to improve this country — and take anything they hear from the professional lobbyists with a ton or so of salt.
And, no, Richard, that’s not “whining.” It’s basic ethics.
Naw, that’s whining, especially that shot about “a lobbying luncheon.”
You need to make a choice, Brett: you can come inside the Beltway and engage in respectful dialog, or you can stay out there in Rogue Country being Mr. Maverick with the Scruffy Knuckles.
If you commit to the latter course, these Elite Lobbyist Mainstream Insider gap-fests will no longer be of any interest to you.
Sorry, Richard, but I see no reason to accept your binary choice (which is a lose/lose; I lose either my voice or my integrity).
This is a country of, by, and for the people. It is not of, by, or for corporations or greedy lawyers or lobbyists.
I’m going to come to DC, but not as a lobbyist. I will come as a citizen, and I will make a difference.
You’ll make a difference alright, no doubt about that.