Internet: 3 countries: Venezuela titens, UK finesses porn on net, USA muddles 'net neutrality'

Five recent URLs pertinent to regulation of the internet in various countries:

Venezuela:   Chavez defends plan for Internet regulations [Dec19,2k10]

UK:   Broadband firms urged to block sex websites to protect children Government wants BT, Virgin and other internet providers to put access to pornography on 'opt-in' basis

USA:  The FCC's Threat to Internet Freedom:  Net neutrality' sounds nice, but the Web is working fine now. The new rules will inhibit investment, deter innovation and create a billable-hours bonanza for lawyers.

USA federal democrats: Democrats put heat on FCC commissioner on net neutrality vote

USA federal deomocrats on FCC:  EXCLUSIVE: FCC Dems narrowing net neutraility gaps

-- Politicarp, refWrite frontpage columnist

The foregoing blog-entry is cross-posted to refWrite refBlogger Insert.

Politics: Latin America: Bolivia and Ecuador join ultraleftist suppression of privately-owned news media begun by Cuba, Venezuela

Washington Times carries a story by Martin Arostegui, "Morales, Correa target TV foes" (May31,2k7):

>SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia -- The leaders of Bolivia and Ecuador are moving with Cuban encouragement and in concert with their mentor, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, to restrict press freedom in their countries.

Bolivian President Evo Morales and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa both announced steps to crack down on independent broadcasters within days of Mr. Chavez's closure on Sunday of Venezuela's main independent television station, RCTV.

My editor has asked me to develop analysis of the full report on refWrite refBlogger Insert, which he will post. I hope to add there some musings on the future role of blogging in these no-free-speech totalitarian countries.