Here at On My Watch, the fact the President would like legislation to enable him to have an internet kill switch is well-known [see this post]. You’ve see how well it works in Egypt. Coming to a hot spot near you, a dead connection if there is social upheaval.
For so many ways, if you can afford it, keep your land line. When the power goes out, it may work via its own lines. And when the internet is knocked out for any reason, it will be there for you and phone and fax machine.
If you have a global business, there is a real need to keep up and running and with a land line, there is a greater chance of it. We love our computers and androids but face it, they aren’t fun when, for whatever reason, the internet is down.
arlenearmy
January 28, 2011
I wonder how would we get Internet via regular phone? Would that mean we have to find a way to get dial up ?
samhenry
January 28, 2011
Well, internet comes through a phone line from your phone company – DSL, but the internet can be cut off before even getting there. That’s what a kill switch does. It must go to the main servers. It’s like jamming radio signals or it is jamming radio signals. We can hope some tekkie stops by and lets us know LOL. I find it rare that the Obama Administration just Tweeted that Mubarak should re institute the social networks and internet that he is acting like a dictator. So why did he want a kill switch?
DarcsFalcon
January 29, 2011
One of these days we’re going to have to get a landline. A lot of people have given them up and rely solely on the cell. If the cell towers ever go down, we’re in trouble.
samhenry
January 29, 2011
Landlines are the only secure form of communication. However, watch, the government will find a way to turn them off, too. However, even now, if there is a power outage, you may have forgot to charge the cell phone and if you have a cable phone you are out of luck, too.
arlenearmy
January 29, 2011
If they turn off our Internet, folks won’t be able to pay there bills. Most businesses no longer send your bills thru snail mail. And Amazon would bite the dust.
What govt might do is flip kill switch on YouTube, twitter & facebook. Regarding the blogs, they may impose rules such as making blog hosts like you & I register for FCC license to keep our blog if its covering politics; & they’ll make us pay a hefty fee to operate that blog.
samhenry
January 29, 2011
Hi Arlene. I think there will be fees for sure. And I’ll tell you, I just learned that we now have to pay for our askinet key to keep spam controlled. I didn’t get a notice from WordPress about that. I just went to my global profile page which I rarely hit.
You are correct about the net for bill paying. My life would be down the tubes. Think of the people in Egypt whose payments will be late!
You really think things through Arlene. A wonderful talent to have. I look forward to your comments for that reason – well one of them actually.
arlenearmy
January 29, 2011
You are the one who thinks things thru b/c you posted this crucial post.
I’ve heard lots if folks online who are getting landline put back in the house. Some, including myself are also getting the hand-crank solar radio that also charges cell phones. Also getting a 2-way radio like a cb. If you decide to get these survivalist items, try to get one that’s better than Eton.
samhenry
January 29, 2011
People are really getting land lines again and talking about it on-line? Great! I have a hand-crank solar radio but I need to get one that charges cell phones – thanks for the tip. I used to have a 2-way radio (a CB actually) and loved it and I think I’ll get another. Truck drivers used to help me get past traffic in the NY area, etc. I used to love it to hear their lingo. One would warn another about a cop on a bridge “Watch out – Bear in the Balcony.” Pure Americana. They are the last cowboys. Arlene – I think you should do a post about this equipment and where to get it. Thanks for your kind comment about the usefulness of this post. I guess an old 69 year old can still help out. By the way, I had a 19 year old boy go ape over my VW Jetta. Imagine 2 people happy over the same car 50 years apart! I didn’t tell him how cool I really was – with my DroidX of course LOL.