Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
@seangon.bsky.social
Community Broadband Evangelist at ILSR (co-parent of this baby here www.communitynets.org) • Internet Scribe • Telecom Infrastructure & Policy Plug • Monopoly Board Flipper • Books/Movies/Music Connoisseur • #BlackSky Walker
👨🏾💻📚
👨🏾💻📚
My ILSR colleagues @ronmknox.bsky.social and BLP host Danny Caine welcomed Cory Doctorow as a podcast guest on Ron’s Who Shall Rule Substack for a wide-ranging talk about Doctorow’s new book on Enshittification
Dope convo about the problems of the platform economy & some possible solutions
Dope convo about the problems of the platform economy & some possible solutions
Enshittification and How To Fight It: A Conversation with Cory Doctorow
We have a new cool podcast, hooray!
www.whoshallrule.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:01 AM
My ILSR colleagues @ronmknox.bsky.social and BLP host Danny Caine welcomed Cory Doctorow as a podcast guest on Ron’s Who Shall Rule Substack for a wide-ranging talk about Doctorow’s new book on Enshittification
Dope convo about the problems of the platform economy & some possible solutions
Dope convo about the problems of the platform economy & some possible solutions
Dem-Gov candidates in WI are pushing to legalize weed in order to fund broadband expansion
Call me high but I kinda like the idea, esp since the Trump admin is doing its damndest to undercut fed broadband initiatives
Call me high but I kinda like the idea, esp since the Trump admin is doing its damndest to undercut fed broadband initiatives
Legalize Marijuana To Fund Broadband Access Expansion, Wisconsin Democratic Candidates For Governor Say - Marijuana Moment
With a year to go until Wisconsin voters are set to elect their next governor, the majority of the current candidates are making clear that they will support efforts to legalize marijuana—in part to f...
www.marijuanamoment.net
November 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Dem-Gov candidates in WI are pushing to legalize weed in order to fund broadband expansion
Call me high but I kinda like the idea, esp since the Trump admin is doing its damndest to undercut fed broadband initiatives
Call me high but I kinda like the idea, esp since the Trump admin is doing its damndest to undercut fed broadband initiatives
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
More recently, Roth has been threatening to pull billions in already awarded broadband grants if states enforce net neutrality or engage in any meaningful oversight of this country's shitty telecom monopolies.
This, it should be said, is illegal. As my colleague @seangon.bsky.social explores here:
This, it should be said, is illegal. As my colleague @seangon.bsky.social explores here:
Experts: Withholding BEAD Funds Because of State Affordability Laws On Shaky Legal Ground | Welcome to Community Networks
Legal analysts are questioning the recent assertion by the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that the agency can legally withhold federal broadband deployme...
communitynets.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM
More recently, Roth has been threatening to pull billions in already awarded broadband grants if states enforce net neutrality or engage in any meaningful oversight of this country's shitty telecom monopolies.
This, it should be said, is illegal. As my colleague @seangon.bsky.social explores here:
This, it should be said, is illegal. As my colleague @seangon.bsky.social explores here:
I’ve lost track of how many laws this admin has either side-stepped or flat out ignored
But here’s another one I wrote about it
This time the assertion is they will withhold fed broadband $$ b/c of state efforts to address the monopoly driven affordability crisis in broken broadband markets
But here’s another one I wrote about it
This time the assertion is they will withhold fed broadband $$ b/c of state efforts to address the monopoly driven affordability crisis in broken broadband markets
NTIA admin Arielle Roth recently said her agency will withhold federal broadband deployment funds fr any state that enacts affordability laws
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Experts: Withholding BEAD Funds Because of State Affordability Laws On Shaky Legal Ground | Welcome to Community Networks
Legal analysts are questioning the recent assertion by the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that the agency can legally withhold federal broadband deployme...
communitynetworks.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:50 AM
I’ve lost track of how many laws this admin has either side-stepped or flat out ignored
But here’s another one I wrote about it
This time the assertion is they will withhold fed broadband $$ b/c of state efforts to address the monopoly driven affordability crisis in broken broadband markets
But here’s another one I wrote about it
This time the assertion is they will withhold fed broadband $$ b/c of state efforts to address the monopoly driven affordability crisis in broken broadband markets
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
Anyway, yet another reminder that "debate me bros" were always full of shit, and anyone who claims that they were actually about free speech or real discussion over ideas is lying or gullible.
www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t...
www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t...
The “Debate Me Bro” Grift: How Trolls Weaponized The Marketplace Of Ideas
Among the attempts to create hagiographic eulogies of Charlie Kirk, I’ve seen more than a few people suggest that Kirk should be respected for being willing to talk to “those who disagree with him”…
www.techdirt.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Anyway, yet another reminder that "debate me bros" were always full of shit, and anyone who claims that they were actually about free speech or real discussion over ideas is lying or gullible.
www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t...
www.techdirt.com/2025/09/17/t...
Because of course they did
Another “victory” in the War Against The Poor
Another “victory” in the War Against The Poor
FCC Adopts Higher Rate Caps for Prison Phone Service
The agency also proposed satellite licensing changes.
broadbandbreakfast.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Because of course they did
Another “victory” in the War Against The Poor
Another “victory” in the War Against The Poor
Partaking in one of the few things that bring me a lil joy these days: watching Steph and my Warriors hoop
October 24, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Partaking in one of the few things that bring me a lil joy these days: watching Steph and my Warriors hoop
Happy to see Route 50 cite our work
And its especially nice to see the outlet highlight two Black communities we have a had the pleasure of supporting: Wave 7 in Enfield, NC and Delta Interfaith in East Carroll Parish Louisiana
And its especially nice to see the outlet highlight two Black communities we have a had the pleasure of supporting: Wave 7 in Enfield, NC and Delta Interfaith in East Carroll Parish Louisiana
Insightful story here by Route 50 that cites our own @sportshotchris.bsky.social on how federal policy failures and disinvestment keep Native and Black farmers offline but also includes examples of how community broadband is providing a way forward in solving the digital divide
Broadband’s broken promise: How federal failures and funding fights keep Native and Black farmers offline
Across the US, Indigenous and Black farmers face ‘digital redlining,’ a web of barriers to affordable broadband even as billions in federal dollars flow to internet providers. Rooted in high costs, po...
www.route-fifty.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Happy to see Route 50 cite our work
And its especially nice to see the outlet highlight two Black communities we have a had the pleasure of supporting: Wave 7 in Enfield, NC and Delta Interfaith in East Carroll Parish Louisiana
And its especially nice to see the outlet highlight two Black communities we have a had the pleasure of supporting: Wave 7 in Enfield, NC and Delta Interfaith in East Carroll Parish Louisiana
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
Anyone who has used the internet for 5 minutes could tell you this exact thing was guaranteed. That the company makes it possible is entirely intentional.
October 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Anyone who has used the internet for 5 minutes could tell you this exact thing was guaranteed. That the company makes it possible is entirely intentional.
Good to see NDIA join the fight to restore the Digital Equity Act
Our story - written by @karlbode.com - really shines a light on how epically idiotic this admin’s disregard for the law is, to say nothing of the damage it inflicts on its own base (rural communities, Veterans & older adults)
Our story - written by @karlbode.com - really shines a light on how epically idiotic this admin’s disregard for the law is, to say nothing of the damage it inflicts on its own base (rural communities, Veterans & older adults)
The Trump administration's illegal “termination” of the Digital Equity Act continues to have devastating real world impacts on everything from affordable broadband access to protecting Americans from skyrocketing online scams
Our story here on how the legal fight expands as the fallout increases 🌐💻
Our story here on how the legal fight expands as the fallout increases 🌐💻
A Constitutional Crisis in Broadband and The Fight to Restore Digital Equity Funding | Welcome to Community Networks
The Trump administration's illegal “termination” of the 2021 Digital Equity Act continues to have devastating real world impacts on everything from affordable broadband access to protecting Americans ...
communitynetworks.org
October 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Good to see NDIA join the fight to restore the Digital Equity Act
Our story - written by @karlbode.com - really shines a light on how epically idiotic this admin’s disregard for the law is, to say nothing of the damage it inflicts on its own base (rural communities, Veterans & older adults)
Our story - written by @karlbode.com - really shines a light on how epically idiotic this admin’s disregard for the law is, to say nothing of the damage it inflicts on its own base (rural communities, Veterans & older adults)
We should all be studying this book in the U.S. because something tells me we might be on the …
"Digital Authoritarianism in the Making" examines how the Russian Internet space has transformed into the Runet, a censored & surveilled instrument of Russian national sovereignty, imperialism, and repression. Available #OpenAccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255367...
October 21, 2025 at 2:06 PM
We should all be studying this book in the U.S. because something tells me we might be on the …
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
The entire "free speech on campus" moral panic was manufactured to blackmail us into making space in intellectual life for bigots and charlatans who couldn't get there on their own merits. Its a DEI scheme for fascism. Congratulations to everyone who took it at face value.
“Following his lecture, Yarvin will debate the legendary British historian David Starkey on history and the future of conservatism.” Everything about this is so cursed. Masks off at the University of Oxford.
October 20, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The entire "free speech on campus" moral panic was manufactured to blackmail us into making space in intellectual life for bigots and charlatans who couldn't get there on their own merits. Its a DEI scheme for fascism. Congratulations to everyone who took it at face value.
And let the church say …
jesus doesn't want AT&T to face accountability for the illegal harvesting of sensitive cellular location data!
it is known
it is known
October 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
And let the church say …
This has been well established theologically 🙄🤦🏾♂️
jesus hated the regulatory state and wants Exxon to be able to indiscriminately pollute the water table
Chip Roy: "The truth is the marxist, radicals, and Islamists the Democratic Party promoted this weekend, they cannot handle the truth. The truth is that there is a king and that king is Jesus. And the president has been willing to say it, & Charlie Kirk was willing to say it & he got killed for it."
October 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
This has been well established theologically 🙄🤦🏾♂️
Remember the good ol ancient days when the “scandal” was Obama’s tan suit or his remark about clinging to guns and religion?
Now we have toddler behavior in the White House and it’s totally “normal”
Now we have toddler behavior in the White House and it’s totally “normal”
President Denies Reality Of Massive Nationwide Protests While Posting Videos of Himself Dumping Shit On Citizens
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command…. And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed–if all records…
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command…. And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed–if all records…
President Denies Reality Of Massive Nationwide Protests While Posting Videos of Himself Dumping Shit On Citizens
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command…. And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed–if all records told the same tale–then the lie passed into history and became truth." —George Orwell, 1984 This past weekend witnessed what may have been the largest single-day political protest in American history.
www.techdirt.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Remember the good ol ancient days when the “scandal” was Obama’s tan suit or his remark about clinging to guns and religion?
Now we have toddler behavior in the White House and it’s totally “normal”
Now we have toddler behavior in the White House and it’s totally “normal”
Looong overdue, even as Congress is now a rubber stamp branch for whatever TF this “President” wants to do, including cancelling laws Congress passed
Any Constitutional scholars out there that can tell us when checks and balances went fr being a central feature of our democracy to a museum relic?
Any Constitutional scholars out there that can tell us when checks and balances went fr being a central feature of our democracy to a museum relic?
Nonprofit files lawsuit to reinstate digital equity grants
The Trump administration cancelled funding under the Digital Equity Act earlier this year. A group that was in line to receive some of those funds is now suing to get them back.
www.govexec.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Looong overdue, even as Congress is now a rubber stamp branch for whatever TF this “President” wants to do, including cancelling laws Congress passed
Any Constitutional scholars out there that can tell us when checks and balances went fr being a central feature of our democracy to a museum relic?
Any Constitutional scholars out there that can tell us when checks and balances went fr being a central feature of our democracy to a museum relic?
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
Real story: President Trump posted online that the Digital Equity Act is "racist" & he would simply ignore the law. Now, millions of dollars for broadband in rural communities have gone away because of it.
It's illegal & Congress is silent.
kffhealthnews-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/kffhealt...
It's illegal & Congress is silent.
kffhealthnews-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/kffhealt...
Trump Called Digital Equity Act ‘Racist.’ Now Internet Money for Rural Americans Is Gone. - KFF Health News
President Donald Trump called the Digital Equity Act unconstitutional, racist, and illegal. Then the $2.75 billion program for rural and underserved communities to gain internet access disappeared.
kffhealthnews-org.cdn.ampproject.org
October 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Real story: President Trump posted online that the Digital Equity Act is "racist" & he would simply ignore the law. Now, millions of dollars for broadband in rural communities have gone away because of it.
It's illegal & Congress is silent.
kffhealthnews-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/kffhealt...
It's illegal & Congress is silent.
kffhealthnews-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/kffhealt...
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
This week, join Sir Tim Berners-Lee & Brewster Kahle for a conversation on the past, present & future of the Web.
📅 Thurs Oct 9, 7:30 PM PT
🎟️ In-person
➡️ blog.archive.org/event/buildi...
📅 Thurs Oct 9, 7:30 PM PT
🎟️ In-person
➡️ blog.archive.org/event/buildi...
October 7, 2025 at 7:03 PM
This week, join Sir Tim Berners-Lee & Brewster Kahle for a conversation on the past, present & future of the Web.
📅 Thurs Oct 9, 7:30 PM PT
🎟️ In-person
➡️ blog.archive.org/event/buildi...
📅 Thurs Oct 9, 7:30 PM PT
🎟️ In-person
➡️ blog.archive.org/event/buildi...
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
Welcome to Opt Out October, our collection of tips to slowly break free from online surveillance and throw sand in the gears of overreaching large tech companies. Today’s tip is about establishing good online security fundamentals. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Opt Out October: Daily Tips to Protect Your Privacy and Security
Trying to take control of your online privacy can feel like a full-time job. But if you break it up into small tasks and take on one project at a time it makes the process of protecting your privacy
www.eff.org
October 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Welcome to Opt Out October, our collection of tips to slowly break free from online surveillance and throw sand in the gears of overreaching large tech companies. Today’s tip is about establishing good online security fundamentals. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
I moderated a chat for our Building For Digital Equity livestream and one of our guests LaShawn Williamson said something powerful that applies far beyond broadband
“You just do it and do it afraid. And you walk by faith and not by sight. And everything that you need will come into play," she said
“You just do it and do it afraid. And you walk by faith and not by sight. And everything that you need will come into play," she said
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
I moderated a chat for our Building For Digital Equity livestream and one of our guests LaShawn Williamson said something powerful that applies far beyond broadband
“You just do it and do it afraid. And you walk by faith and not by sight. And everything that you need will come into play," she said
“You just do it and do it afraid. And you walk by faith and not by sight. And everything that you need will come into play," she said
So it’s not enough to dismantle the federal government, this admin now has its sights on destroying public interest and civil society orgs along with it
As the Trump administration threatens them, liberal nonprofits have been quietly preparing to do everything from surrendering 501(c)(3) status to relocating outside the US.
The Trump Administration Is Coming for Nonprofits. They're Getting Ready
As the Trump administration threatens them, liberal nonprofits have been quietly preparing to do everything from surrendering 501(c)(3) status to relocating outside the US.
wrd.cm
October 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
So it’s not enough to dismantle the federal government, this admin now has its sights on destroying public interest and civil society orgs along with it
We went from the War on Poverty to the War on The Poor
Example 1,347 — as @karlbode.com writes for us here
Add this to the Trump admin’s growing F Them Kids file
Example 1,347 — as @karlbode.com writes for us here
Add this to the Trump admin’s growing F Them Kids file
The Trump FCC has voted to kill two different programs that helped bring free Wi-Fi to school kids in underserved poor and rural U.S. communities
It’s the latest casualty of an administration that has been taking a hatchet to FCC consumer protection and affordability initiatives
Our story here 💻📶⬇️
It’s the latest casualty of an administration that has been taking a hatchet to FCC consumer protection and affordability initiatives
Our story here 💻📶⬇️
Trump FCC Kills Popular Program That Brought Free Wi-Fi To Low Income School Kids | Welcome to Community Networks
The Trump FCC has voted to kill two different programs that helped bring free Wi-Fi to school kids in underserved poor and rural U.S. communities. It’s the latest casualty of an administration that ha...
communitynetworks.org
October 2, 2025 at 5:15 PM
We went from the War on Poverty to the War on The Poor
Example 1,347 — as @karlbode.com writes for us here
Add this to the Trump admin’s growing F Them Kids file
Example 1,347 — as @karlbode.com writes for us here
Add this to the Trump admin’s growing F Them Kids file
Reposted by Sean’s Pen {technically speaking}
you win if you fight
NEWS: Sinclair says its ending its pre-emption of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
September 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
you win if you fight
If - IF - we survive this regime, volumes could be written on the sheer spineless craven cowardice that permeates corporate America
Kimmel’s defiant return highlights one of the most disturbing dynamics of Trump II, that so many people in positions of leadership are chickenshit frauds who would rather fold in advance than put up anything resembling a fight www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
September 26, 2025 at 2:09 AM
If - IF - we survive this regime, volumes could be written on the sheer spineless craven cowardice that permeates corporate America
Been on a book-buying tear last few months, which includes binging out at Mahogany Books at the National Harbor last month
Been buying mostly historical stuff to help me draw strength from the struggles of my ancestors …
💙📚 #booksky #blackbooksky 🧵
Been buying mostly historical stuff to help me draw strength from the struggles of my ancestors …
💙📚 #booksky #blackbooksky 🧵
September 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Been on a book-buying tear last few months, which includes binging out at Mahogany Books at the National Harbor last month
Been buying mostly historical stuff to help me draw strength from the struggles of my ancestors …
💙📚 #booksky #blackbooksky 🧵
Been buying mostly historical stuff to help me draw strength from the struggles of my ancestors …
💙📚 #booksky #blackbooksky 🧵