You try to use your credit card, but it doesn’t work. In fact, no one’s credit card works. You try to go to some news sites to find out why, but you can’t access any of those, either. Neither can anyone else. Panic-buying ensues. People empty ATMs of cash.

This kind of catastrophic pan-internet meltdown is more likely than most people realize.

I direct the Internet Atlas Project at the University of California, Berkeley. Our goal is to shine a light on long-term risks to the internet. We produce indicators of weak points and bottlenecks that threaten the internet’s stability.

For example, where are points of fragility in the global connectivity of cables? Physical cables under the sea deliver 95% of the internet’s voice and data traffic. But some countries, like Tonga, connect to only one other country, making them vulnerable to cable-clipping attacks.

Another example is content delivery networks, which websites use to make their content readily available to large numbers of internet users. An outage at the content delivery network Fastly on June 8, 2021, briefly severed access to the websites of Amazon, CNN, PayPal, Reddit, Spotify, The New York Times and the U.K. government.

The biggest risks to the global internet

We take measurements at various layers of the internet’s technological stack, from cables to content delivery networks. With those measurements, we identify weak points in the global internet. And from those weak points, we build theories that help us understand what parts of the internet are at risk of disruption, whom those disruptions will affect and how severely, and predict what would make the internet more resilient.

Currently, the internet is facing twin dangers. On one side, there’s the threat of total consolidation. Power over the internet has been increasingly concentrated primarily in the hands of a few, U.S.-based organizations. On the other side, there’s fragmentation. Attempts to challenge the status quo, particularly by Russia and China, threaten to destabilize the internet globally.

While there’s no single best path for the internet, our indicators can help policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, activists and others understand if their interventions are having their intended effect. For whom is the internet becoming more reliable, and for whom is is it becoming more unstable? These are the critical questions. About 3.4 billion people are just now getting online in countries including Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. What kind of internet will they inherit?

A US-controlled internet

Since at least 2015, the core services that power the internet have become increasingly centralized in the hands of U.S. corporations. We estimate that U.S. corporations, nonprofits and government agencies could block a cumulative 96% of content on the global internet in some capacity.

The U.S. Department of Justice has long used court orders aimed at tech providers to block global access to content that’s illegal in the U.S., such as copyright infringements. But lately, the U.S. federal government has been leveraging its jurisdiction more aggressively. In June, the DOJ used a court order to briefly seize an Iranian news site because the department said it was spreading disinformation.

Due to interlocking dependencies on the web, such as content delivery networks, one misstep in applying this technique could take down a key piece of internet infrastructure, making a widespread outage more likely.

Meanwhile, U.S.-based technology companies also risk wreaking havoc. Consider Australia’s recent spat with Facebook over paying news outlets for their content. At one point, Facebook blocked all news on its platform in Australia. One consequence was that many people in Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu temporarily lost a key news source because they rely on prepaid cellphone plans that feature discounted access to Facebook. As these skirmishes increase in frequency, countries worldwide are likely to suffer disruptions to their internet access.

A splinternet

Naturally, not everyone is happy with this U.S.-led internet. Russia throttles Twitter traffic. China blocks access to Google.

These domestic maneuvers certainly threaten localized meltdowns. India now regularly shuts down the internet regionally during civil unrest. But, in aggregate, they present a more global threat: internet frgamentation. A fragmented internet threatens speech, trade and global cooperation in science.

It also increases the risk of cyberattacks on core internet infrastructure. In a global internet, attacks on infrastructure hurt everyone, but walled-off national internets would change that calculus. For example, Russia has the capacity to disconnect itself from the rest of the world’s internet while maintaining service domestically. With that capacity, it could attack core global internet infrastructure with less risk of upsetting its domestic population. A sophisticated attack against a U.S. company could trigger a large-scale internet outage.

The future of the internet

For much of its history, the internet has been imperfectly, but largely, open. Content could be accessed anywhere, across borders. Perhaps this openness is because, rather than in spite, of the U.S.‘s dominance over the internet.

Whether or not that theory holds, the U.S.’s dominance over the internet is unlikely to persist. The status quo faces challenges from the U.S.’s adversaries, its historical allies and its own domestic tech companies. Absent action, the world will be left with some mixture of unchecked U.S. power and ad-hoc, decentralized skirmishes.

In this environment, building a stable and transnational internet for future generations is a challenge. It requires delicacy and precision. That’s where work like ours comes into play. To make the internet more stable globally, people need measurements to understand its chokepoints and vulnerabilities. Just as central banks watch measures of inflation and employment when they decide how to set rates, internet governance, too, should rely on indicators, however imperfect.

[Understand new developments in science, health and technology, each week. Subscribe to The Conversation’s science newsletter.]

Nick Merrill, Research Fellow, University of California, Berkeley

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A feasibility study on a county recreation and aquatic center has been completed and is being presented to local officials.

The phase one recreation center feasibility study was presented to the Clearlake City Council during a July 15 workshop.

Brian Whitmore, president and chief executive officer of Studio W Architects, and Michael Shellito, president of Shellito Training and Consulting, said it was the first of three presentations to be given to the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, and the county of Lake. The Lake County Recreation Task Force is a study partner.

The Lakeport City Council will consider the report on Tuesday, Aug. 3, and the Board of Supervisors will get a presentation on Aug. 10.

The version of the plan to be presented to the Lakeport City Council this week is published below. Because of its size, it may take a few minutes to load.

Earlier this year, the cities and county entered into a cost-sharing agreement to cover the study’s first phase.

The process of creating the study began on March 24, with the Lake County Recreation Task Force holding regular meetings and facilitating site tours.

The task force includes the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, the county of Lake, the Lake County Office of Education, Konocti Unified School District, Lakeport Unified, Upper Lake Unified, Mendocino College, Woodland Community College, First 5 Lake County, Lake Family Resource Center, Lake County Channel Cats, Hope Rising, Westside Park Committee, Redwood Community Services, Sutter Health, Adventist Health and Tribal Health.

The study looked at cost estimates and management structures, funding opportunities and potential project locations.

The group also identified what they want to see included in a recreation center program, including multiuse and racquetball courts, cardio and weight areas, training rooms, game area, restrooms, locker rooms, a lobby/reception area, and areas for custodial, storage and equipment. The space required for those amenities total nearly 15,000 square feet or 0.34 acres.

They presented several options for an aquatic center, based on centers around the state.

Estimated costs for an aquatic center range around $21 million to $22 million, based on configurations.

The options include:

Option one: a 4,880-square-foot pool, with a lap area and teaching peninsula, similar to that in the city of Patterson. Total site area: 24,762 square feet. Parking: 28,530 square feet, or 81 spaces. Estimated cost: $22,376,400.

Option two: a 5,737-square-foot pool, with a wide lap area allowing for 10 lanes, like Yuba City’s Gauche Aquatic Park. Total site area: 23,787 square feet. Parking: 33,600 square feet, or 96 spaces. Estimated cost: $22,801,879.

Option three: a 5,881-square foot pool, with a 9-lane lap area, like one in north Natomas. Total site area: 24,351 square feet. Parking: 34,300 square feet, or 98 spaces. Estimated cost: $22,919,666.

Option four: a 3,575-square-foot pool with a 6-lane lap area. Total site area: 19,784 square feet. Parking: 21,000 square feet, or 60 spaces. Estimated cost: $21,116,673.

All of the aquatic centers also included a 2,000-square-foot sprayground proposal.

In the city of Clearlake, where officials are looking at a recreation center with no pool, the estimated cost is $12.4 million.

The report finds that such facilities could have cost recovery totaling a couple hundred thousand dollars annually.

The management structures the report considered include a joint development and use project such as that used for the Roseville Aquatics Center and the Agoura Hills Calabasas Community Center; the joint use agreement used by the Spath Aquatic Center; and a special district for recreation, like the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District.

As for potential project locations, they wanted to find locations with community park proximity, shared parking and co-location to libraries, centers, schools and pools.

The presentation didn’t go into a lot of detail, only touching on considered locations including the existing and out-of-commission Westshore Pool, Quail Run Fitness Center — which could be purchased — and Westside Community Park.

In Clearlake, there are existing synergies for the Burns Valley area, where the city in December purchased a 31-acre property it intends to develop. That property is near the Redbud Library, the Highlands Senior Center, parking, and shopping and restaurants on Olympic Drive.

Whitmore and Shellito suggested facilitating a strategic market analysis, narrowing down a location and funding opportunities to provide a map for future facilities.

They also recommended embarking on the next phase of the report, which includes conceptual layout and design of facility, a capital cost estimate based on the concept design, operational analysis based on the concept design and finalizing the report.

Clearlake Mayor Dirk Slooten asked why they didn’t identify any locations in southern Lake County. Whitmore said it was a matter of there not being a high need and the county not being a huge dollar partner.

They also looked at funding opportunities, including community facility districts and bond measures, Quimby Act funds from subdivision developments, state grants, property asset sales, tax assessments, development funding, Prop 68 funding, federal funds such as the American Recovery Act and cannabis industry related funding.

Whitmore said bonds didn’t work well across California in early 2020 but later had a near-record pass rate. He said he thinks they will see a lot of districts pursuing bonds in 2022.

The presentation gave the following recommendations for moving forward:

— Facilitate a strategic market analysis utilizing surveys conducted via social media.
— Narrow down location and funding opportunities to provide a road map for the
future recreation and aquatic facilities.
— Embark on phase two of the report, which includes conceptual layout and design of the facility, capital cost estimate and operational analysis based on the concept design, and finalize the report.

City Manager Alan Flora said the whole process started with the situation in Lakeport, where voters were promised a pool in the Lakeport Unified School District bond but didn’t get one.

“The timing is really good,” Flora said of the project, adding Clearlake is probably in a position to get a new sports complex faster than Lakeport.

He said he’s speaking with the school superintendent and other organizations about a plan for a Clearlake facility. “I really feel like there is interest and probably available funding there for us to do this sooner than expected.”

Flora said the city has redone its Burns Valley Project design to add a recreation center as a central part of the plan.

There is no room for a pool, he said. “Our school district doesn't see as much of a need for that.”

Rather, the district wants after school programs for children.

A pool would be a next phase project somewhere else in the city, Flora said.

Flora asked for — and received — council direction to move forward with phase two.

He said the cities and the county supported the first phase financially. They will need to come up with funding for the next phase. Flora said he plans to seek that money from a large group of partner organizations.

As for funding the city’s Burns Valley project, which includes new ball fields and a recreation center, Flora said the plan is to apply for a State Parks grant in November to cover part of the project.

He said that the process will have a requirement for public meetings, so there will be a lot of opportunities for public input.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. — For the first time this year, mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus in Lake County.

The mosquitoes, Culex tarsalis (western encephalitis mosquito), were collected in traps near Upper Lake on July 21, the Lake County Vector Control District reported.

“West Nile virus activity is increasing statewide, including in Lake County,” said Jamesina Scott, Ph.D., district manager and research director of the Lake County Vector Control District. “This serves as a reminder to avoid mosquito bites to avoid West Nile virus.”

Scott said mosquitoes thrive in still water. Dump out or drain water in backyard water sources, or contact the district for free mosquito-eating fish for water that can’t be drained, like unmaintained (green) swimming pools and spas, ornamental ponds, or animal watering troughs, she advised residents.

The district encourages residents to reduce their risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases:

— Dump or drain standing water to prevent mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle.
— Defend yourself. Use repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow the label directions.
— Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are present, typically dawn and dusk.

So far this year, West Nile virus activity has been detected in one mosquito sample in Lake County.

Statewide, 21 California counties have detected WNV this year, mainly in mosquito samples.

As of July 23, three human cases of West Nile virus illness have been reported in California residents this year.

For more information about West Nile virus, visit https://westnile.ca.gov/.

Lake County Vector Control District provides mosquito control services to the community. If you would like help with a mosquito problem, including reporting a neglected pool or spa, or have an in-ground yellowjacket nest on your property that you want treated, contact the Lake County Vector Control District at 707-263-4770 or submit a service request on their website at www.lcvcd.org.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Authorities on Monday released the names of four people whose bodies were found in a downed helicopter near Colusa on Sunday afternoon.

The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the four individuals as William Bernard Vann, 67, Suzanne Marie Vann, 60, and Bobbie Lee Keaton, 62, all of Williams, and Charles Thomas Wilson, 71, of Rocklin.

William and Suzanne Vann are longtime almond growers in Colusa County and part of a family that has farmed there for more than a century.

The sheriff’s office said it received a report of the downed helicopter in the area of Highway 45 at Reservation Road at 1:15 p.m. Sunday.

Upon arrival, deputies and paramedics found all four people who had been riding in the helicopter dead, authorities said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation.

On Monday, an FAA accident report posted online said there was one crew member and three passengers on the helicopter, identified as a Robinson R66, a five-seater reported to have a top speed of 161 miles per hour and an engine manufactured by Rolls-Royce.

The description of the incident so far notes that the aircraft crashed under “unknown circumstances.”

The information released by federal investigators has not stated who the pilot was.

However, the FAA’s aircraft registration showed the helicopter, which had been built in 2013, is registered to William Vann.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — Authorities took a Clearlake man into custody Monday after he was found with nearly a pound of methamphetamine.

Michael Tremell Mitchell, 36, Clearlake was arrested at around noon on Mondary, according to a report from Clearlake Police Sgt. Ryan Peterson.

Shortly before noon on Monday, Officer Chris Kelleher was conducting routine patrol in the area of Austin Road near Buckeye Street when he saw Mitchell exit a silver 2007 BMW parked along the shoulder of the road, Peterson said.

Peterson said Officer Kelleher knew Mitchell to be on parole for drug trafficking out of Idaho.

Officer Kelleher saw Mitchell look toward his direction and toss a backpack he had in his possession in an apparent attempt to conceal it, Peterson said.

Kelleher contacted Mitchell, detained him, and conducted a parole search of the backpack. Peterson said the search revealed the backpack contained two large plastic bags filled with suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale and a large sum of cash.

The combined weight of the two bags of suspect methamphetamine was almost 1 pound, Peterson said.

Peterson said Officer Kelleher arrested Mitchell on probable cause for possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance for sale.

However, Peterson said the charges from Monday did not meet the requirements for booking under the Lake County Superior Court emergency bail schedule.

As a result, Peterson said Officer Kelleher contacted the Lake County Superior Court and requested bail enhancement and an order for examination of any source of bail Mitchell would present.

The Lake County Superior court authorized both requests and set the bail for Mitchell at $250,000. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was also contacted and placed a parole hold on Mitchell, Peterson said.

Peterson said Mitchell was booked into the Lake County Jail to await further court proceedings.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Planning Commission will hold a special meeting this week to hold a workshop and consider two use permit applications.

The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. In accordance with updated guidelines from the state of California and revised Cal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standards, persons who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are required to wear a face covering at this meeting.

The agenda is available here.

To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here; the meeting ID is 986 6166 5155. To join by phone, dial 1-669-900-9128.

Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the City Clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4.

Please indicate in the email subject line "for public comment" and list the item number of the agenda item that is the topic of the comment. Comments that are read to the council will be subject to the three minute time limitation (approximately 350 words). Written comments that are only to be provided to the council and not read at the meeting will be distributed to the council before the meeting.

On the agenda is a study session on the city’s objective design standards.

The commission also will consider a use permit and categorical exemption submitted by Barbara Morris, who is proposing to do a short-term rental within an existing single-family dwelling at 55 Fourth St.

Also on Wednesday, the commission will review an application from Jessica Asbury for a minor use permit to allow for a residential use in conjunction with a commercial business as well as an architectural and design review and categorical exemption for a new fence at 75 Fourth St.

The project is located next door to Morris’ proposed rental.

The commission’s next meeting following this week’s is set for Sept. 8.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.