/* LET THE FLAMES BEGIN */

No fatalities, minor damage. Work and play for some Internet users was interrupted or disrupted. A short inconvenience, but then normal life resumed.

I wonder what the author would have said if major medical facilities would have had casualties because of the Level3/Cogentco debacle. Say a surgeon speaking via VoIP to another doctor about some brain surgery and the patient flatlines. What about a daytrader about to click on a nice sized trade... Oops.

Two questions remain: Who owns the Internet? Is competition the best or only way to determine that ownership?

Personally I think competition the way it has been going will end up shooting itself in the foot and forcing governments to take a second look at intervention. Be it because of a natural catastrophe (FEMA article concerning the Internet http://news.com.com/U.S.+cybersecurity+due+for+FEMA-like+calamity/2100-7348_...) or some other incident it will only be a matter of time before government intervenes against companies not playing fair with each other.

An art gallery without walls, an archive without shelves, the planet's largest collection of sound and music.

Is it me that sees the amusement with organizations crying foul against music on the net then promoting it? Microsoft: "Sharing music is illegal and wrong..." Microsoft commercial "NOW YOU CAN SHARE ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL OF YOUR FAVORITE HITS!..."

That scope means that the Internet is far more important than mere media. Daily, local newspapers are disappearing in America, and almost nobody is noticing. If certain TV or radio programs were to disappear for a day or a month, we'd all find substitutes. But take away the Internet?

Many can do without it. All the net has done is created a couch potatoe culture who no longer visit libraries, art galleries, laundromats for dates instead opting for the easy way out. Can we all do without the Internet absolutely but why would anyone want to. I cannot find one instance of thinking whether or not it's detrimental to have the Internet outside of utter convenience. Even using my doctor scenario it's pretty much overhype. I can recall who knows how many ASP's, MSP's who promised to take your entire company online right now! Many now somewhere delisted or dumpster diving and/or selling spyware or something.

The Internet is a utility, without which our daily lives cannot be productive or interesting. Governments, companies and institutions now need it to function. So do you and I.

Nonsense.

We already have our highway system and our electricity. Time has come for our broadband. It's a utility. We now need broadband to live, work, recreate and even make a profit. Whether in Palo Alto, Calif., or Cavalier, N.D., we need our broadband. Many local areas of America are attacking the need for broadband ubiquity, but perhaps it's time for a national program.

My prior sentiment to a degree. I think there should be an interstate peering system. http://www.merit.edu/mail.archives/nanog/msg12312.html =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ J. Oquendo GPG Key ID 0x97B43D89 http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x97B43D89 "How a man plays the game shows something of his character - how he loses shows all" - Mr. Luckey