[liberationtech] Cuba: 5% Internet penetration

[J.M. Porup]

As a journalist who's spent a long time covering (and living in) Latin
America, I observe that American culture--that is, *information*--is a
major tool in maintaining regional hegemony.

In other words, Hollywood and Google both belong to the Defense Department.

If I were Cuba, why would I want to make it easy for the jackbooted (if
red white and blue) thug next door to stomp all over me and re-install
the next Batista?

JMP

--
J.M. Porup
www.JMPorup.com

PGP fingerprint:

1442 C867 3E9D 14A1 58FC
2266 6AC3 56C1 D73A 6884

On 01/05/15 15:59, Myself wrote:
> Under the new measures announced by the Obama administration in December
> 2014, Cuban exiles can buy and send to the island satellite Internet
> equipment, Wi-Fi routers, repeaters and pay for this service for their
> relatives in Cuba. American companies such as HughesNet provide Internet
> service with plans starting at $40 a month for a 5 megabits plan. Cuba
> is in the coverage area, already some Cubans illegally connect to the
> internet this way. This wouldn't require any infrastructure costs from
> the Cuban government, in fact, small neighborhood service providers via
> Wi-Fi could be legalized and the government could collect taxes from
> them in a similar way they are taxing "cuentapropistas" (small business
> owners) now.
> 
> In a matter of months most neighborhoods in Cuba could be connected.
> Cuban exiles have the economic means and desire to communicate with
> their families over the Internet. The only thing standing in the way are
> Cuban custom's regulations and the Cuban government's willingness to
> allow Internet access in a massive scale. The Cuban government should
> stop blaming the embargo for the lack of Internet access and start
> moving forward, it's time to put some pressure on them too.
> 
> More info (Spanish):
> 
> 
>         Exiliados cubanos podrían costear acceso a Internet:
>         http://www.cubanet.org/tecnologia-2/exiliados-cubanos-podrian-costear-acceso-a-internet/
> 
> regards,
> Rafael
> www.lasingularidad.com <http://www.lasingularidad.com>
> PGP <http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xA5BA76902CB232E3>
> 
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 4:17 PM, Myself <falcocom25 at gmail.com
> <mailto:falcocom25 at gmail.com>> wrote:
> 
>     Hold your horses, the Cuban government's restrictions haven't
>     changed a bit. This new deal has so far been one sided and
>     overhyped. Satellite, Wi-Fi equipment is still banned at cuban
>     customs and just last week a Cuban was sentenced to three years for
>     providing satellite service. Raids on the barrio offline Wi-Fi
>     networks have been rampant this year.
>     It's too early to tell if the new measures will mean more openness
>     or more wariness on the cuban side. Proceed with caution and without
>     jeopardizing american citizens in the process.
> 
>     http://www.cubanet.org/noticias/desmantela-etecsa-red-clandestina-de-wi-fi-en-vibora-park/
> 
>     http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/Article/Index/548e5be53a682e084cff2ad0#.VJNBmXuWmQc
> 
>     regards,
>     Rafael
>     www.lasingularidad.com <http://www.lasingularidad.com>
> 
>     PGP
>     <http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xA5BA76902CB232E3>
> 
>     On Wed, Dec 17, 2014 at 2:55 PM, Yosem Companys
>     <companys at stanford.edu <mailto:companys at stanford.edu>> wrote:
> 
>         From: Claro Noda <noda at complexperiments.net
>         <mailto:noda at complexperiments.net>>
> 
>         Initiating new efforts to increase Cubans’ access to communications
>         and their ability to communicate freely-
> 
>         Cuba has an internet penetration of about five percent—one of the
>         lowest rates in the world.  The cost of telecommunications in
>         Cuba is
>         exorbitantly high, while the services offered are extremely limited.
> 
>         The commercial export of certain items that will contribute to the
>         ability of the Cuban people to communicate with people in the United
>         States and the rest of the world will be authorized.  This will
>         include the commercial sale of certain consumer communications
>         devices, related software, applications, hardware, and services, and
>         items for the establishment and update of communications-related
>         systems.
> 
>         Telecommunications providers will be allowed to establish the
>         necessary mechanisms, including infrastructure, in Cuba to provide
>         commercial telecommunications and internet services, which will
>         improve telecommunications between the United States and Cuba.
> 
>         http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/12/17/white-house-fact-sheet-on-cuba-whats-changing/
> 
>         this might be relevant to the list.
> 
>         regards,
>         Claro.
>         --
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> 
> 
>