“Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of our language.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein The words we use to describe telecoms networks often contain hidden metaphors and meanings that lead us into wrong thinking. Here are three examples.

Over the last few years I have come to appreciate how broadband networks are not widely understood, despite their ubiquity and importance. In particular, the relationship between a network’s basic operation and the resulting user experience is commonly misrepresented.

There is a media and regulatory battle on between T-Mobile USA and ‘net neutrality’ campaigners over the new Binge On service for video. In the absence of a market price mechanism for resources, there must be rationing. Binge On is merely an improved form of rationing compared to the status quo.

A British perspective on a very American process As a new member of the the “Tech Elders”, I was invited to join yesterday’s hearing [PDF] in Washington, DC on the reclassification of broadband Internet access services. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decreed that Internet access should switch from from being lightly regulated as an ‘information service’ […]

The ISP industry has been selling the public (and government) on the benefits of ‘superfast’ broadband. This was a good approach, as historically more quantity did mean better quality. That relationship is now breaking down. A lot of capital is being squandered on delivering substandard experiences.

I have some good news to share. The European Parliament voted to reject the ‘net neutrality’ fundamentalist amendments to the already flawed proposals they had helped to create. The bad news is that the law that we now have is merely ludicrous, rather than insane. Furthermore, it doesn’t properly protect end users, hold ISP feet to the […]

My attention was drawn last night to the article Europe Is About to Adopt Bad Net Neutrality Rules. Here’s How to Fix Them by Barbara van Schewick from Stanford Law School.