Readings

The readings for Tuesday, March 29 are:

Network Neutrality

1. FCC Releases Open Internet Order

   • These are the FCC's full rules for protecting net neutrality

   • What is net neutrality and what does it mean for me?

   • An Introduction to Net Neutrality: What It Is, What It Means for You, and What You Can Do About It

   • FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: This is How We will Ensure Net Neutrality

2. EFF - Net Neutrality

   • Why the FCC Can't Actually Save Net Neutrality

   • Net Neutrality: What You Need to Know Now

   • Sam Altman - Net neutrality

   • A Guide to the Open Internet

3. Net Neutrality Is A Bad Idea Supported By Poor Analogies

   • Thoughts on Network Neutrality, the FCC, and the Future of Internet Governance

   • Why Net Neutrality Isn't Worth Celebrating

   • Net Neutrality Is a Bad Marriage of Government, Internet

   • Net Neutrality-and Obama's Scheme for the Internet - Are Lousy Ideas

4. Facebook's Free Basics plan: India academics see 'deep flaws'

   • A Week After India Banned It, Facebook's Free Basics Shuts Down in Egypt

   • Still Confused About The Free Basics? Read The Arguments In Favor & Against It

   • Can't give it away

H1-B / Outsourcing

1. America's Mixed Feelings About Immigrant Labor: Disney-Layoffs Edition

   • Study: Immigrants Founded 51% of U.S. Billion-Dollar Startups

   • Increasingly, U.S. IT workers are alleging discrimination

2. The Frenzy About High-Tech Talent

   • The Myth of America's Tech-Talent Shortage

   • There Is In Fact A Tech-Talent Shortage And There Always Will Be

   • The Bogus High-Tech Worker Shortage: How Guest Workers Lower US Wages

3. Large Companies Game H-1B Visa Program, Costing the U.S. Jobs

   • Why It's Time to Reform the H-1B Visa Program

   • How To Fix Tech's H-1B Problem

   • Silicon Valley's "Body Shop" Secret: Highly Educated Foreign Workers Treated Like Indentured Servants

4. Fury rises at Disney over use of foreign workers

   • Pink Slips at Disney. But First, Training Foreign Replacements.

   • Ex-Disney IT workers sue after being asked to train their own H-1B replacements

   • Trump gives displaced IT workers attention, and he's not alone

Questions

Please write a response to one of the following questions:

1. From the readings, what exactly is Net Neutrality? Explain in your own words the arguments for and against Net Neutrality. After examining the topic, where do you stand on the issues surrounding Net Neutrality?

   • If you are in favor of Net Neutrality, explain how you would implement or enforce it. How would you respond to concerns about possible over-regulation, burdening corporations, or preventing innovation?

   • If you are against Net Neutrality, explain why it is unnecessary or undesirable. How would you respond to concerns about providing level playing fields or preventing unfair discrimination by service provides?

   • In either case, discuss whether or not you consider that "the Internet is a public service and fair access should be a basic right".

2. From the readings, what is the controversy surrounding the H1-B Visa program? What are the arguments for and against the expansion of the program? After examining the topic, where do you stand on the issues surrounding the program?

   • If you are in favor of expanding the use of H1-B Visa guest workers, explain why it is beneficial for the United States. How would you respond to concerns about lowering of wages or loss of jobs for US citizens?

   • If you are agains the use of H1-B Visa guest workers, explain why it is is not necessary or potentially harmful to the United States. How would you respond to the idea that America is a nation of immigrants and that these guest workers are an effective means of tackling the problem of a tech talent shortage?

   • In either case, discuss whether or not you are concerned with competition due to foreign workers or possibly outsourcing. If you are non-US citizen, discuss how these issues impact you and your future plans as it relates to residency and employment in America.

Feedback

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the course, please provide your feedback at the end of your response.