DSL Prime: If You Care, Show It

Small businesses across the nation must act now to stand up for their rights. Activism is easy! You can do it all online. Call this 21st century citizenship clicktivism.

by Dave Burstein DSL Prime [August 20, 2004]

Editorial: If You Care, Show Up and Make a Difference
Richard Stallman writes "can you help me help in any way to prevent application of the broadcast flag to software?" Stallman is the legend who built GNU operating system and the Free Software Foundation. It made my day just to have a note from him, which came after I made some of the comments below privately. I forwarded his note, and also asked for some comments about how a technologist without political experience can have an impact.

Jeff Carlisle, newly appointed head of the FCC Wireline Bureau, welcomes thoughtful comment. "The most effective way to speak with the Commission is to tell us, in your own words, the kind of issues you have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. If something we're considering would have a significant impact on how you conduct your business or roll out a new technology, tell us. You can do this in a lot of ways. Many people file comments and these are taken seriously and reviewed. But you can also arrange for ex parte presentations with Bureau staff and with the Commissioners' advisors, and this does not have to be in person—if you can't make it out to D.C. everyone who works here is happy to have a conference call."

Ken Ferree, who leads the Broadcast Bureau, is even more forceful. "This is the 21st century. Modern communications technologies make it easier than ever for citizens to be active participants in government policy-making. You don't have to physically come to the Commission to make your views known, you don't have to wait for a 19th century whistle-stop tour to meet with government officials, you don't even have to arrange for conference calls or hope to catch the appropriate decision maker at his or her desk when you call. The Internet and e-mail allow people not only to air their thoughts and otherwise participate in their government on their own terms and time, but also provide near total transparency to government activities: everything we do as an official government agency is posted on our web site and available for public scrutiny. And we welcome and encourage public input. I have posted on my office door a few lines from a 19th century poet, Walt Whitman: 'Failing to fetch me at first, keep encouraged; missing me one place, search another; I stop somewhere waiting for you.' Today you can use the Internet to fetch me—I'm waiting to hear from you. "

Harold Feld, one of the half dozen badly outnumbered D.C. advocates without major corporate support, writes, "I cannot stress enough how important it is that the people who understand technology make themselves heard in the political process. So many things that people find wrong with what the FCC does are a result of staffers or decision makers never getting exposed to points of view outside Washington D.C. I just had a meeting with FCC folks about wireless access ... they stressed they needed to hear from the technical people as well, not just me. You may not get what you want, but you definitely will not like what you get if you don't show up."Off the record, nearly everyone at the FCC is sick and tired of hearing from the usual lobbyists. When someone well informed seeks them out, they often have impact. If you go:

• Have smart, interesting things to say related to an issue they are considering. Right now, hot issues include line sharing, IBOC radio, UNE-L pricing systems, BPL, opening wireless spectrum, and how fast is broadband.
• Go along with the way they work. Request ex parte meetings on pending matters, approach both the FCC staff and each commissioner's specialist in your area, and be flexible in when you request meetings or calls. Every lesson you learned in life about being polite and gracious will help you here.
• Recognize these are all busy, hardworking folk, generally well informed. Go to the heart of the issue, speak and present clearly, and show respect—especially when they disagree.

I have no illusion you or I have the impact of a bell lobbyist with millions to spend on Congressmen. If you have realistic expectations, you may be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Copyright 2004 Dave Burstein.
The DSL Prime Newsletter is reprinted with permission.

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