[cooperation-wg] Q: What is the latest trend in Internet connectivity offerings?

Thanks for all replies.  I note none of them came from Italy or Spain...

On Wed 22/Jun/2016 16:11:00 +0200 Julius ter Pelkwijk wrote:
>
> Concerning registering yourself before you can use a network is something that
> is governmental-related. In case of problems they can point at you as the
> culprit. However, since anyone can register a domain, you can also set up a
> mule that buys the domain while you keep ownership of that domain, or buy a
> postbox company in the Seychelles?

There have been several privacy-safeguarding improvements in residential 
connections.  I welcome them.

Requiring a VAT number is different, though.  Every Italian citizen has a 
fiscal code, which is as good as a VAT number for identification purposes. 
Yet, after years, one of my connection providers still invoices me using my 
expired VAT number.  Could that be rooted in 11-digit VAT numbers vs 16-byte 
alphanumeric fiscal codes?  Hmm... not in this millennium, I'd say.

I'd rule out specific laws, because the other connection provider I have did 
switch to fiscal code invoicing upon request to do so.  However, I doubt they 
would have offered me that contract if I hadn't have a VAT number at the time.

A third provider, who promised me everything over the phone last month, 
retracted all /after having laid new fiber cables to my office/, saying they 
cannot do their "microbusiness" contract without VAT number.  They invoiced me 
zero euro for missing the deal.

Others just quit the conversation as they hear about no VAT number.  Note that 
residential lines, which I use too, are somewhat cheaper for "physical persons" 
than for businesses.

The only high level manager I spoke with dismissed the argument as obvious, 
saying "Every provider does so".  "You mean in Italy?!" I objected.  He said yes.

> The onliest thing that links an IP to a person is the endpoint. Other than
> that, there is no possible way to verify someone. The same way that companies
> try to validate someone by "sending an SMS". Anyone can get a free phone number
> on a SIP server and use that to "verify" themselves, That is how I have gotten
> an american phone number from Google and how I call customer support in the USA...

Postmaster.live.com used to check enlisting requests by (also) writing to WHOIS 
contacts.  Many methods can enforce one another.  And yes, it is something of a 
pita to switch provider on a mail server.

> The registry should be a "best guess" method, or they should do the same thing
> as banks and Facebook and start "enforcing" the fact that you should give out a
> copy of your ID card, and make sure that the ID card is valid and holds the
> same data as you entered on your account. Its a false sense of security when
> people can give out a random number and the registry will accept it without
> questioning the legality of it.

Agreed.  BTW, bank payments, along with email addresses, make for trusted IDs. 
  Erogo ergo sum.  I don't think FB wants to gain the same level of 
accountability as, say, PayPal, as an informal ID certifier.

Ale