And a post that we don't see here, as we have dividing walls in the #Fediverse.
Full copy and attribution below.
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uspol, internet shutdown, $BIGCORP
I think that we're probably going to see the federal government order the shutdown of the internet and cell network in specific places.
Which means a few $BIGCORPs (namely Google, Amazon, Verizon, AT&T, Xfinity) are going to have to to decide if their dedicated backhaul networks and dedicated edge networks will comply with these orders.
The telcos have mostly all proven how much they love the taste of boot leather, so they'll fold. But this won't actually shut off Google and Amazon services and hosted properties in some places due to how this all is architected.
That's where the really wild legal battle will explode, I suspect. Because the current DOJ has given these companies 0 reason to cooperate, and if these companies wanted they could deploy free wifi for their products and it'd be a MASSIVE and actually most legal PR play that would further ingratiate their notion reliability with the US and global consumer.
Both Google and Amazon both want to ingratiate themselves with the EU going forward for GDPR exceptions. Defying the American government in court if it means holding to EU-stated values (hypocritical as this is) has material value for them.
So this is about to get VERY spicy.
And a second post, made just now, by @endomain
Not seen here at Qoto, so a RT to spread the message.
OP : https://hackers.town/@endomain/104263819176703485
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Hello everyone.
There is a non-zero possibility that major US cities are about to get their civilian communications infrastructure turned off or significantly restricted. If this idea scares you too much to contemplate, please move on. I can't think of how to CW this appropriately, so my apologies for your anxiety, but this is important to my social circle, so I'll continue.
If you're worried about COVID-19 but you still want to make a positive impact, you can help to prepare for this eventuality.
The best way I can think to fight against comms being shut down is to use Dual Power Structure thinking: let's make our own network. This is not as unrealistic as it sounds. HAM Radio folks are already doing it. The software is open source, and runs on a massive number of surplus hardware.
Check out the AREDEN Compatibility Matrix: https://www.arednmesh.org/content/supported-platform-matrix
If you work your local network and make a few fast Amazon orders, I bet you'd have several square miles of coverage ready to go in an instant, and ready to backhaul internet to people who need it to protest.
You might say, "But Endomain, I'm not a licensed ham operator!"
I am not telling you what to do, but a lot of folks are breaking a lot of laws just by protesting. Folks are rightfully afraid of COVID-19 and that's fair, but you know what's socially distant? Rooftops of boarded up or looted buildings that are empty but still have electricity. Maybe this is a risk folks, licensed or not, are willing to take to take to keep comms up for protesters.