Posts Tagged ‘net neutrality’
Senate defeats Republican effort to crush Net Neutrality
New U.S. Internet traffic rules cleared a hurdle on Thursday, surviving an attempt by the Senate to block them from taking effect later in the month. President Barack Obama’s fellow Democrats in the Senate blocked a Republican-backed resolution to disapprove of the Federal Communications Commission’s rules on “net neutrality.” The vote was 52-46 against the resolution.
Adopted by a divided FCC last December, the rules forbid broadband providers from blocking legal content while leaving flexibility for providers to manage their networks.
The rules still face a court challenge. Lawsuits by Verizon Communications Inc and others have been consolidated before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The Senate resolution was championed by Kay Bailey Hutchinson, the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, and had 42 co-sponsors, all Republican. A similar measure passed the Republican-led House of Representatives in April…
The FCC’s rules allow consumers and entrepreneurs to utilize the Internet “without having to ask permission from their broadband provider,” Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said on Wednesday.
Backers of net neutrality say big providers could otherwise use their gatekeeper role to discriminate against competitors.
Republicans continue to frame their crap attempts to restrict public access to the Web. Requiring communications to be ruled by backwards corporations like Verizon and AT&T, offering the same old ideology, lies that try to credit freedom, jobs and the American Way of Life as dependent on corporate control.
They wish it were so. And there is only a small margin of conscience keeping them at bay.
Tea Party chooses corporate control vs government oversight
In the debate over Internet neutrality, Tea Party and other conservative activists have aligned their interests with those of major telecommunications companies…
Last month, many of the groups represented at Glenn Beck’s rally at the Lincoln Memorial, including Tea Party activists and Americans for Prosperity members, wrote to the Federal Communications Commission asking it to abandon attempts to regulate the Internet.
They oppose net neutrality — the notion that the federal government should establish rules of the road to prevent companies from indiscriminately blocking or slowing traffic for their own competitive advantage.
They asked the agency considering regulating it under Title II of the Communications Act to stop pursuing what they called “a massive regulatory regime that would stifle broadband expansion, create congestion, slow Internet speeds, jeopardize job retention and growth and lead to higher prices for consumers…”
“People no longer think it’s strange that the majority of the U.S. House is telling the Federal Communications Commission not to have authority over the dominant 21st century communications platform,” said Josh Silver, executive director of Free Press, which advocates net neutrality.
Members of Congress take donations from corporate lobbyists to “fund” their decision-making. Know-nothing teabaggers rely on corporate ideologues to “guide” their feckless activities. Same suit – different street.
Congressional Democrats lead opposition to Google/Verizon plan to limit net neutrality
Why are these men smiling?
Four Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have voiced opposition to a network neutrality proposal offered by Google and Verizon Communications last week, with the lawmakers saying the two companies shouldn’t set the rules for how U.S. residents access the Internet.
The four lawmakers — Representatives Jay Inslee of Washington, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Anna Eshoo of California and Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania — said they opposed several pieces of the Verizon/Google plan in a letter sent to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission Monday.
“Americans’ online experience shouldn’t be dictated by corporate CEOs,” Inslee said in a statement. “Innovation and creativity online have given rise to millions of jobs and tremendous economic growth, in large part because individual consumers have been free to access what they want. Net neutrality is not about imposing a new set of rules, net neutrality is about preserving the open Internet and empowering consumers and small businesses to bring the next generation of entrepreneurial drive to the World Wide Web…”
The four lawmakers, all members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, called for the FCC to set the same net neutrality rules for wireless broadband as it does for wired broadband. The proposal by Google and Verizon would exempt wireless broadband from net neutrality regulations. The committee has jurisdiction over most Internet-related law…
The lawmakers also raised concerns about the Verizon/Google proposal’s exemption from net neutrality rules for managed services, separate from the public Internet. “An overbroad definition of the proposed ‘managed services’ category would sap the vitality and stunt the growth of the Internet,” the lawmakers’ letter said. “In fact, an overly broad interpretation of managed services would create an exception that swallows the rule. Managed services might be rebranded or repackaged services and applications — only with priority treatment not available to competitors.”
It’s almost a surprise – having waited as long as we have to see political and economic alliances like this preparing to confront the future. Not only the future of the US [and North American] Internet market; but, the larger growth potential within the developing world. The latter relying even more upon wireless access to the Web.
No need to address collateral questions and complaints – I’ll leave that to those who consider the Web part of their religion. But, we have a unique opportunity to bring the FCC into play on behalf of consumers. An opening which has been blocked for decades by both flavors of the TweedleDeeDum political establishment.
Obama has moved the barrier to liberty for consumers vs. corporations about halfway. His “allies” are unlikely to help out very much – witness the grand total of four Democrats speaking out, right now.
If you care enough about Net Neutrality to make it an up or down vote in your life, I’d suggest getting hold of your elected representatives and telling them to get off their rusty dusty.
Obama launches plan to boost broadband
Tea Party fears of Internet thought control
U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to free up airways would nearly double the amount of commercial spectrum currently available for wireless devices. The plan would make available 500 megahertz of federal and commercial spectrum over the next 10 years…
Freeing up spectrum would also create jobs by meeting the growing demand for mobile and fixed broadband, spur economic growth and raise funds to build an emergency network for public safety workers, the official said.
Some estimates suggest the next five years will see an increase in wireless data of between 20 to 45 times 2009 levels, reflecting the burgeoning use of smartphones, netbooks and other wireless devices…
“This initiative will catalyze private sector investment, contribute to economic growth, and help to create hundreds of thousands of jobs,” Larry Summers said in excerpts made available in advance of a speech to the New America Foundation.
Under the policy, most of the freed-up spectrum would be auctioned for mobile broadband use…revenues from the auction would provide funding to help build a nationwide mobile broadband network for public safety.
After Hurricane Katrina and other botched government responses, that mobile broadband network was proposed to the Republican-controlled Congress – and got nowhere. Not enough profit guaranteed for the Telco corporate giants – even though Bush would have given it away in lieu of more tax cuts.
The network is overdue. Greater access to broadband is overdue. Anyone think the crew in Congress will back up the memorandum from the White House with anything more than ennui and foot-dragging?
FCC offers 3rd Road to Net Neutrality
The Federal Communications Commission has detailed plans for its so-called “third way” to reclassify broadband service as a telecommunications service, which would help the agency reassert its authority for regulating the Internet, after it lost an important legal battle last month.
The purpose of the statement is to put the agency on stronger legal footing after a federal appeals court ruled last month that the FCC had no legal authority to punish Comcast for slowing down BitTorrent traffic on its network. The FCC officially censured Comcast for violating its Net neutrality principles…
In his statement Thursday, Genachowski said he is taking an approach that would apply some telecommunications regulation on broadband, but not all regulation. He emphasized that this would be a light regulatory approach that would still encourage investment in broadband…
Specifically, the FCC is looking to apply new classification rules narrowly. This means it plans to only apply old telephony rules that pertain to network transmission. Chairman Genachowski said the FCC will “not regulate the Internet, including Web-based services and applications, e-commerce sites, and online content…”
“The FCC would invoke only the few provisions necessary to achieve its limited but essential goals,” he said.”The commission would take steps to give providers and their investors confidence and certainty that this renunciation of regulatory overreach will not unravel while also giving consumers, small businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators the confidence and certainty they need and deserve.”
Genachowski pointed out in his statement that the FCC has taken a similar approach in the past in the way it regulates wireless phone service. The agency has applied certain rules to wireless, but it has not applied rules that don’t make sense for that particular technology.
The FCC plans to open a comment process that would involve the public as well as the broadband and Internet industries to provide input on how the new classification rules should be applied.
RTFA.
If you care about access to broadband, if you believe coming generations don’t stand much of a chance in what the world of communications and information is becoming – without easy access to broadband – stay in touch with the FCC and let them know what you think of their plans.
FCC pushes forward with broadband agenda
The Federal Communications Commission is moving forward with its National Broadband Plan despite an appeals court decision earlier this week that called into question the agency’s authority over regulating the Internet.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski issued a statement that said the court’s decision “does not change our broadband policy goals, or the ultimate authority of the FCC to act to achieve those goals.The court did not question the FCC’s goals; it merely invalidated one technical, legal mechanism for broadband policy chosen by prior commissions…”
Ayuh. Did anyone out there think that the last couple decades of FCC appointees did anything other than ask corporate approval for how high to jump? When so ordered?
In its 2010 Broadband Action Agenda the FCC said it plans to address more than 60 rules in the making and other proposals by the end of the year. The FCC said it was important to move forward with these items to reach its goals of helping 100 million U.S. homes get affordable access to broadband with download speeds of 100 Mbps over the next decade; promoting innovation, investment and competition and consumer interest in broadband; and providing a platform to improve energy consumption and monitoring, education, and health care…
Consumer advocates would like to see the FCC reclassify broadband Internet traffic so that it is treated like the traditional telephone network. This will give the agency the legal authority to regulate the Net.
All we need to do is get Congress in gear, the Democrats up on their hind legs – and lose more members of the Party of NO.
President Obama on Net Neutrality – again
Here’s the full interview with YouTube folks.
I should’ve watched it live.
Instead I watched a scrappy EPL make-up match between Sunderland and Stoke City. A Coca-Cola Championship-level match in hi-def made sparkling by the worst job of refereeing Howard Webb has ever offered.
And he’s my favorite referee. Usually.
Yes, Obama’s my favorite president. After FDR. Who had dead legs, the balls of a brass monkey and the heart to provide leadership to a Congress even more reactionary and cowardly than the present incarnation.
While Obama and Genachowski support net neutrality, they don’t own as many lobbyists as TWC, Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and all the corporate creeps embedded in the cable and telecom industry. Keep poking ‘em with a stick, folks.
Web giants join support for users, net neutrality
Daylife/Getty Images used by permission
Internet heavyweights are weighing in on the net neutrality debate, sending a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski this morning supporting his push for new rules.
The CEOs of Amazon, Google, Facebook and Twitter, along with some telecommunications and media firms such as EchoStar and XO Communications, sent their letter after a barrage of letters from bipartisan lawmakers criticized a new rule. A vote this Thursday would begin the process of creating new rules on how Internet service providers control access to the Web. Critics have warned Genachowski’s push for stronger and broader rules for access to the Web would hurt investment in networks run by AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and other firms that run Internet networks.
The tech companies, many from Silicon Valley, disagreed. They wrote that Genachowki’s push for rules that would prevent carriers from blocking applications like theirs would help spur more technological innovation and support economic growth.
“We believe a process that results in common sense baseline rules is critical to ensuring that the Internet remains a key engine of economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness,” the CEOs wrote in the letter.
RTFA. There’s not much content – except that it’s an opportunity to see who really is on your side.
That presumes “you” is a user of the Web for personal uses – maybe even a lot of business use like telecommuting. The obvious split is becoming clear between those who fear communications expanding outside of their profit arena versus ordinary citizens of Earth who enjoy the expanding capabilities.
The other division is between mostly Republicans who come down on the side of profitable restrictions and mostly Democrats coming down on the side of free access. A case where corporate lobbyists obviously demand support from their traditional flunkies.
Why do Republicans hate Net Neutrality? – UPDATED
Senate Republicans have moved to prevent the FCC’s proposed rules on net neutrality with an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that would tie up funding at the agency for new regulatory mandates. Observers said, however, that the move was unlikely to be approved in the Democrat-majority Congress.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), ranking member of Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, said in a release:
“We must tread lightly when it comes to new regulations. Where there have been a handful of questionable actions in the past on the part of a few companies, the Commission and the marketplace have responded swiftly,” Hutchison said in the release.
“The case has simply not been made for what amounts to a significant regulatory intervention into a vibrant marketplace. These new regulatory mandates and restrictions could stifle investment incentives,” she said.
This is one of those old-fashioned Republican deceits. Not the Bush-Cheney-Perry neocon flavor. A little less sophistry.
Perish the thought someone might prefer freedom of choice, freedom of access and communication – over investment incentives!
UPDATE: In today’s modern up-to-date Senate, the 6 senators offering the amendment to an appropriations bill that will prohibit the FCC from developing and implementing new regulations:
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas ), Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).
FCC is sneaking up on endorsing Net Neutrality – UPDATED
Daylife/Getty Images used by permission
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski will unveil in a speech on Monday new proposals that would force Internet providers to treat the flow of content equally, say sources familiar with the speech.
The concept, referred to as net neutrality, pits open Internet companies like Google against broadband service providers like AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Comcast, which oppose new rules governing network management.
Advocates of net neutrality say Internet service providers must be barred from blocking or slowing traffic based on content.
Providers say the increasing volume of bandwidth-hogging services like video sharing requires active management of their networks and some argue that net neutrality could stifle innovation.
“He is going to announce rulemaking,” said one source familiar with his speech about broadband, to be delivered at the Brookings Institution, a public policy think tank. “The commission will have to codify into new regulations the principle of nondiscrimination.”
The most hypocritical aspect of the Telco/Cableco position is their whining over the amount of fibre utilized by consumers, small vendors, independent producers of video content – anyone but the fibre-owners and their backdoor buddies in the MPAA.
Then, the sky’s the limit on how much bandwidth is used to provide direct unregulated profit.
UPDATE: Here’s the speech.
