http://freedom-to-connect.net/
"The need to communicate is primary, like the need to breathe, eat, sleep, reproduce, socialize and learn. Better connections make for better communication. Better connections drive economic growth through better access to suppliers, customers and ideas. Better connections provide for development and testing of ideas in science and the arts. Better connections improve the quality of everyday life. Better connections build stronger democracies. Strong democracies build strong networks.
Freedom to Connect belongs with Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Assembly. Each of these freedoms is related to the others and depends on the others, but stands distinct. Freedom to Connect, too, depends on the other four but carries its own meaning. Unlike the others, it does not yet have a body of law and practice surrounding it. There is no Digital Bill of Rights. Freedom to Connect is the place to start.
Too often the discussion of telecommunications policy turns on phrases like "overregulation," and "investment incentives." These are critical issues, to be sure, but like the term "last mile," such phrases frame the issues in network-centric terms. As more and more intelligence migrates to the edge of the network, users of the network need to be part of the policy debate. Let's put the user back into the picture. Freedom to Connect provides the frame."
As a 'person' this is an area that I have been involved in for many years now (primarily in the UK). The moving of the debate from one of 'telecomms issues' to one of 'basic human freedoms and rights' is something that I welcome and agree with. However as a Cypriot this talking of 'freedom to connect' can seem a little, how shall I say it, 'airy fairy' given that we are still arguing about much older and more basic freedoms here in Cyprus. Anyway I though I would post the conference link up in case anyone else here is interested. To plagerise from Gill Scott Heron - The revolution will not be televised - it will be webcast
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