A hitherto quasi-anonymous part of the U.N. (that is, nevertheless, almost 150 years old) is attempting to redraw a quarter century-old communications treaty that opponents say will mark the end of the free Internet. The two-week conference in Dubai is led by the I.T.U., and will see telco regulators representing 193 different countries sit down and discuss the thorny subject of Internet regulation.
Google has already nailed its colors to the mast with a Free Internet blogpost and petition, with its chief internet evangelist Vint Cerf adding to the clamor. Both the U.S. and EU are against the ITU's proposals, with EU digital commissioner Neelie Kroes tweeting "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Some of the ITU's members, however, feel differently, and would prefer their own governments to control their own Internet domains, rather than the U.S.-based ICANN. ITU head Dr. Hamadan Toure is not in favor of this, but does believe that cyber security, child safety online and anti-spam regulations can only be managed by the ITU.
In 2010, Finland became the first country in the world to make broadband Internet access a legal right for all citizens. That's right: every one of the country's 5.3 million people will have guaranteed access to a high-speed Internet connection. Meanwhile, in the United States, about 19 million people have no access to high-speed Internet where they live. Finland isn't stopping there. It plans to make lightning fast 100-megabit broadband service a legal right by the end of 2015.
Sweden
Swedish broadband is twice as fast and costs one-third the price of broadband in the U.S., according to a study by the New America Foundation. In 2007, a 75-year-old woman from central Sweden made headlines when she was given the world's fastest internet connection. She could download a full high-definition DVD in just two seconds.
Japan
Japan has some of the cheapest Internet connections in the world, according to the OECD. Japan's government has offered companies generous tax incentives to invest in fiber-optic cables. "The Japanese think long-term," a technology consultant told The New York Times in 2007. "If they think they will benefit in 100 years, they will invest for their grandkids. There's a bit of national pride we don't see in the West."
France
"Consumer broadband prices in France are now among the most affordable in the world," according to a study by Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society. The study attributed the low prices to regulations that allow rival Internet providers to share access to broadband infrastructure. France is also one of several countries that have declared Internet access "a basic human right."
Affluent Americans may want to double-check how much of their bank deposits are protected by government-backed insurance. The rules governing trust accounts just changed.
Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at the age of 33. He played for five teams during his four NBA seasons. Morris played college basketball at Michigan.
It’s key to note that we’re not saying the “best team” or “best roster.” Instead, we’re talking about the best confluence of factors that can outline a path for survival and then success.
Teams have made their big splashes in free agency and made their draft picks, it's time for you to do the same. It's fantasy football mock draft time. Some call this time of year best ball season, others know it's an opportunity to get a leg up on your competition for when you have to draft in August. The staff at Yahoo Fantasy did their first mock draft of the 2024 season to help you with the latter. Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens are here to break it all down by each round and crush some staff members in the process.
Budgeting apps can help you keep track of your finances, stick to a spending plan and reach your money goals. These are the best budget-tracking apps available right now.
With free agency and the draft behind us, what 32 teams look like today will likely be what they look like Week 1 and beyond for the 2024 season. Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski reveal the post-draft fantasy power rankings. The duo break down the rankings in six tiers: Elite offensive ecosystems, teams on the cusp of being complete mixed bag ecosystems, offensive ecosystems with something to prove, offenses that could go either way, and offenses that are best to stay away from in fantasy.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate edged back toward 7% this week but remains elevated, prompting housing experts to revise their forecasts for the rest of 2024.
