If Henry George Were a If Henry George Were a 2121stst Century Cyber-Citizen Century Cyber-CitizenAssociation for Good Government28 November 2010

What is a Cyber Citizen?What is a Cyber Citizen?Do you have a social networking

(e.g., facebook /twitter/myspace/friendster) account?

Have you bought or sold anything online?

Do you blog?Do you have a website or

responsible for one?Do you have an e-mail address?Do you have a mobile?

Cyber Citizen/NetizenCyber Citizen/NetizenNetizen = portmanteau of internet

& citizenA person actively involved in

online communitiesResponsibility to make certain

that the internet community is improved in its development while encouraging free speech & open access

(from wikipedia)

What is the InternetWhat is the InternetTerm coined in 1974 when

ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency) started

Blueprints:◦1960s: ARPANET = UCLA, Stanford

RI, UCSB, Utah Uni carried out by BBN of Cambridge MA then expanded to MIT, Harvard ... RAND Carnegie Mellon ... (crashed at the 1st go)

◦ (www.waithowe.com)

First Generation First Generation NetworkingNetworkingMainframes – TerminalsHighly Selective: Military –

AcademeSpace Race: “Sputnik/Gagarin

Threat”Share Databases & DocumentsRemote “Think-Tanking”Copper WiresBy Invitation Only

11stst Generation: An Enclosed Generation: An Enclosed SocietySocietyConnected Mainframes +

TransportableAlumni, Consultants, Field

PersonnelCold WarSecurity + MobilityMilitary IntelligenceTelegraphBy Invitation Only/Hierarchies

Second Generation Second Generation NetworkingNetworkingPortable & Mobile Mini-

MainframesStaff & Field PersonnelCounter-IntelligenceData Banking & Data SharingRapid Assessment & Decision

MakingRadioHighly Secure

22ndnd Generation: A Feudal Generation: A Feudal SocietySocietyNetwork-to-Network ConnectionsAirline Ticketing + BankingCommercial FacilityDemographic/Economic

IntelligenceService EnhancementTelephone & TelegraphSelect Institutional Clientele

Third Generation Third Generation NetworkingNetworkingPersonal Computers: DesktopsAutonomous/Collaborative UseCorrespondence & CommunicationE-Mail & Electronic Bulletin BoardsInformation & Knowledge

EnhancementTelephone & TelegraphInstitutional Links/Technical

Proficiency: Languages

3rd Generation: Invitational 3rd Generation: Invitational SocietySocietyPersonal Computers: LaptopsMobile Professional UseBroadcast MediaElectronic Bulletin BoardsInformation & Knowledge

TimelinessTelephone & TelegraphInstitutional Links & Technical

Proficiency: Programs

Fourth Generation Fourth Generation NetworkingNetworkingNotebooksPersonal UseRealtime InteractionWebsitesMultimedia EntertainmentFibre-Optic, Electric LinesOperating Systems &

Subscription

44thth Generation: Mobile Generation: Mobile SocietySocietyPersonal Digital Assistants/MobilesRelationship & Community BuildingProactive ParticipationOn-line CommunitiesInteractive SitesMicrowave & Low-Earth Orbit

SatellitesOperating Systems & Open Access

Participation LevelsParticipation LevelsClosed Systems with

Gatekeepers◦Programming Language-Oriented◦By Invitation Only◦You must buy your way in

Open Systems◦Applications Oriented◦You are free, it’s free◦It is your right

An Educated GuessAn Educated GuessHenry George would have

embraced the internet as one of mankind’s crowning achievements with its vast possibilities

Finland: Internet Access as a Human Right◦Livelihood, Connectivity

Open Access = Enhanced Human Freedoms

When Economic Rents When Economic Rents AriseAriseNobody & Everybody Owns the

Internet, HOWEVER ...People Must Pay for the Advantages

of Enclosure & Compensate Others for the Disadvantages

Cyber-Squatters:◦Bandwidth Monopolies◦Website & Domains

“On the Shelf” Operating Systemss

Where Economic Rents Where Economic Rents AriseArisePhysical Site: Access CountsBandwidth Allocation: Speed (

http://ercim-news.ercim.eu/en79/special/econets-economic-and-energy-efficient-bandwidth-allocation-in-future-networks)

Gatekeepers: Users Add Value◦Infrastructure: Telephone Cos./ISPs◦Operating System Developers◦Domains & Uniform Resource

Locator

Internet as a “Civilization”Internet as a “Civilization”Internet as a Living Analogy

◦From Community to Civilization (in half a century) from five institutions to >250 MM (2010) approaching 1 Billion in EO2012

Continuing Improvement◦Of, for & by the people (!)

Power & Wealth◦Possibilities for the landless

Justice = Happiness = Human Equality◦A global consciousness/awareness

Henry George Would Henry George Would Support ...Support ...Cooperative Cyber Enterprises

◦Telecom co-ops for infrastructureSupport for free, open source systems

◦Break monopolistic graspsTaxation

◦No taxation in the cyber economy transaction & production

◦Collect monopoly rent based on market forces

A cyber citizen’s dividend of free access

Render Unto the Cyber Space Render Unto the Cyber Space What Belongs to the Cyber What Belongs to the Cyber Space butSpace butRender Unto the People What Render Unto the People What Belongs to the PeopleBelongs to the People