Civic Register
| 7.15.21
Should the U.S. Restore Internet Access for Cubans When the Communist Dictatorship Cuts Them Off?
Should the U.S. try to provide Internet access to the Cuban people when their government shuts it down?
UPDATE 7/15/21
- In remarks at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Joe Biden was asked about the Cuban government cutting off the Internet access for its people and responded, "We are considering whether we have the technological ability to reinstate that access."
- Biden also said that "communism is a failed system, a universally failed system, and I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute, but that's another story."
The original story appears below.
What’s the story?
- The protests by the Cuban people against their government’s repression which began on Sunday were the largest in decades, but the Communist Party of Cuba moved quickly to cut off the public’s access to the Internet and social media platforms that protesters were using to community amongst themselves and with the rest of the world. That has prompted calls for the U.S. government and American telecommunications companies to restore Internet access to the Cuban people.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) wrote a letter to President Joe Biden making a request to that effect, which read in part:
“As you know, the Cuban people are taking to the streets to protest the Communist regime, and the Cuban government has responded with violence. At first, the world could see the images and videos of this mass movement, but now the tyrannical regime of President Miguel Díaz-Canel has shut off access to the Internet. The Cuban people have lost their ability to communicate with one another, and many Floridians born in Cuba have no information on the safety of their loved ones. Equally as important, the world has also lost the ability to see what is happening on the ground as the Cuban people rise in support of freedom.”
- DeSantis explained, “Technology exists to provide Internet access into Cuba remotely, using the innovation of American enterprise” and urged the president “to provide all necessary authorizations, indemnifications, and funding to American businesses with the capability to provide Internet access for the people of Cuba.”
- Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr released a statement concurring with DeSantis’s call for the federal government to help provide Internet access to the people of Cuba and the technical feasibility of doing so:
“While Cuba’s communist regime is blocking Internet access in an effort to hide their brutal crackdown on freedom, American enterprises have the technical capability to beam connectivity to the Cuban people and help power their real and ongoing struggle for life and liberty. With the backing and authorization of the federal government, these private sector innovators can get to work immediately.”
- Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said in an interview that the U.S. could boost Internet access in Cuba from Key West and the Dry Tortugas in Florida, in addition to the American naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also wrote a letter to President Biden calling for the federal government to help restore the Cuban people’s access to the Internet:
“In recent years, American firms have made significant strides in telecommunications technologies, including fiber-less solutions that can be deployed to remote regions at relatively short notice. For example, in 2017, during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the island of Puerto Rico received emergency connectivity through balloon-supplied internet. American technical capacity, coupled with the physical proximity of Cuba to the United States and its interests, make providing unrestricted access to the island an attainable and morally imperative goal. Today, U.S. companies stand ready and willing to support this effort with the support of the federal government.”
— Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Cuba: iStock.com / molloykeith | Internet: iStock.com / ipopba)
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The problem, of course, is that the US media were showing protests in Florida, not protests in Cuba. Wrong date, wrong place. That's deception, propaganda, not actual reporting. Yes, Cuba has free speech issues, but it also has medical supplies blockades imposed by the US which means it doesn't have enough needles to inject its citizens against the coronavirus. This is American corruption. Why? Because the US is still fighting an outdated Cold War battle that has nothing to do with current reality. Cuba is a decades-long living example that communism can function as a viable government form. Not my preference, but it can take care of its people, certainly better than the US can, which is based on an exploitative capitalist system.
The world needs to know about the human rights violations that the Communist Party is committing against its own people. The United States needs to stand with the Cubans people during this time, and ensure that they are able to share their stories and communicate with each other and the world.
I fail to see how it is the US’s business providing internet for another country.
Support Cuba. They vote Republican. Oh that’s why this administration doesn’t acknowledge their existence.
Get behind our Great President Joe Biden as he brings American Values back into our foreign policy. Christian Values are now front and center. Opposition to Biden is rejection of the Gospel message. We know the Texas Three Stooges pay lip service to the Bible, let’s see them get behind President Biden as he puts words into action.
Yes
It could be the modern equivalent of Radio Free Europe
Looks like communism is the death of the will of the people. Hoping my fellow Millennials now see why people who fed communist states don’t want it here in the US.
If we are going to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants cross our border from Mexico, and scream sanctuary, then we need to help the Cubans communicate with one another and others outside of their country, they are screaming freedom in the streets waving the American as a sign of Freedom!
Put the internet connection at the base the United States still has! Make it happen as soon as possible to let the Cuban citizens know America is supporting them. Viva Liberati!
Yes but our own country's students suffered during the pandemic. Which mind you is not over yet. They lacked internet access to continue school online. Some students don't have access to computers, laptops or tablets either. All students should have free network internet access through the school systems. In my town the schools provide tablets to the students for school work only. It also teaches them to be responsible for that tablet during the school year. But what happens if they don't have access at home? This is a major problem in our own country. So before we step up to help others we have to help ours. If we can afford to set up internet access for other countries we sure as hell can set it up here.
Give them 5G!!!
Cuban citizens should not be silenced and the US should step in and provide internet if Cuba shuts it down.
Revised Looks like someone was paying attention during a briefing! Question: Does Cuba have military aircraft capable of flying in the Stratosphere? AP News EXPLAINER: Could balloons power uncensored internet in Cuba? Read the full story https://apnews.com/article/4fd3378eb76f6c750f6723a11b190ff1 Sounds like it could be an episode of Mission Impossible (the TV show, not the Tom Cruise abomination.) Anyway... It reminds me of two songs: 1. NENA | 99 Red Balloons [1984] (Official Music Video) https://youtu.be/hiwgOWo7mDc German Version: https://youtu.be/Fpu5a0Bl8eY 2. The Byrds - Eight Miles High (Audio) https://youtu.be/NxyOhFBoxSY
Then there's.... Internet Over Shortwave https://swling.com/blog/tag/internet-over-shortwave/ Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network https://www.arednmesh.org/ There’re likely Cubans with the necessary engineering and programming skills if the US goes this route.
Cuba's Internet Underground The path to internet access has been quite circuitous. However we already have some information about it. Some of these things might be able to be further exploited. "Circumventing Censorship (See also: the Wikipedia article Internet censorship circumvention) "In order to get around the government's control of the Internet, citizens have developed numerous techniques. Some get online through embassies and coffee shops or purchase accounts through the black market. The black market consists of professional or former government officials who have been cleared to have Internet access. These individuals sell or rent their usernames and passwords to citizens who want to have access. "Bloggers and other dissidents that have trouble getting online may use flash drives to get their work published. The blogger will type their piece on a computer, save it on a flash drive, and then hand it to another person who has an easier time getting online at a hotel or other more open venue. Flash drives along with data discs are also used to distribute material (articles, prohibited photos, satirical cartoons, video clips) that has been downloaded from the Internet or stolen from government offices. Others get their work out by writing it by hand and then calling a person abroad to have them transcribe and publish it on their behalf." From the Wikipedia article Internet Censorship in Cuba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Cuba? See also "Censorship circumvention tool helps 1.4 million Cubans get internet access" https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/censorship-circumvention-tool-helps-14-million-cubans-get-internet-access-2021-07-16/
More on Cuban Internet Access (Real life cyber skirmishes.) "As Cubans protest, government cracks down on internet access and messaging apps "Various governments, including those in Venezuela and Iran, have in recent years sought to limit or block internet access during protests. July 13, 2021, 2:41 PM EDT / Updated July 14, 2021, 8:39 AM EDT By Kevin Collier "As protests grip Cuba, the country's government has taken steps to block citizens’ use of the encrypted chat apps WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, researchers say. "The entire country went offline for more than 30 minutes on Sunday, according to researchers who study internet censorship. Since then, *virtual private networks*, which are tools used to reroute internet traffic that can circumvent some internet censorship, and popular communication apps in Cuba have been blocked." https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/cubans-protest-government-cracks-internet-access-messaging-apps-rcna1400
It’s a no brainer yes.
Although the idea is good for the people of Cuba, I wonder how the Cuban government would react, and how that would affect the general population. The US has a history of inserting itself into other countries' internal problems, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse; and the effects of such interference need to be considered as well. I think that the US should consider carefully all the factors before deciding to interfere in this situation.
I agree with Leslie and larubia - make this broad band initiative part of the infrastructure package, to assure that our needs for broad band access are not put secondary to our desire to help people in other countries maintain internet access. Internet services are becoming an essential utility here and around the world - providing adequate internet services for people in our country should be just as important as providing them to other countries with populations also willfully denied adequate services by their authoritarian governances. Fair is fair.