FCC and the internet

Nope, you are not alone IMHO this is good news. I've been in IT since long before there was an Internet. I've watched for decades while the likes of Ma Bell, the local telephone companies, and cable companies did their absolute best to not move into the future. (don't even get me started that FUCKING evil company, Comcast)

No leaving the internet open to everyone is critical to the future. Those who parrot Fox News talking points clearly don't understand that the big telephone companies are monoplies and must be regulated or there will be no internet.

 

...the camel's nose under the tent here has to do w/ the treating it as a "public utility"... ...take a look at your phone bill, and look for "universal service fee"... that is basically a tax on you to pay for someone else to have a phone/service... anyone care to bet that the same tax/redistribution won't be done for the internet now?...

 

And we pretty much have telephones every where, having high speed internet every where isn't a bad thing. Besides, one man's tax is another man's need.

 

Price will go up. And there will be censorship.
Welcome comrades.

 

^^^This.

They want to be able to block websites.

 

Pass out the foil

 

Again, corporate payola and search engine positioning are far more likely filters on what is and isn't seen on the Internet than common carrier regulations.

We still have this handy thing called the first amendment.

The day the FCC tries to enforce content filtering, I'll be at the front of the line to protest, along with everyone who was cheering for net neutrality.

That isn't what this is about. But Comcast is cynically happy to have your support - for whatever reason.

 

So you're saying they don't need their foot in the door before they regulate what they want later?

 

I would say there is a lot of paranoia

 

Hillarynet soon enough

 

Radio is already regulated by the FCC , no ?

 

The FCC is powerless to regulate content over "common carrier" phone lines.

The rules around broadcast television are most onerous in allowing equal time for opinions. The natural corollary to that on the Internet would be that providers can NOT filter various websites espousing various views.

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/public-and-broadcasting-july-2008

The guidelines on broadcast television around "indecent or obscene" content are again because television is a broadcast medium - and are not blanket prohibitions but rather restrict the hours when such content can be shown from 10PM to 6AM.

But again - internet is NOT a broadcast medium and looking to the restrictions on broadcast television is not the precedent for common carrier internet access - the relevant precedent is wired phone lines.

 

I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up. The internet is literally like no other form of media. There will be more and more "rules" outlining what the internet is and how regulatory bodies can interact with people over it. These sort of rulings and votes are long overdue. Getting worked up about it isn't worth it. Let's see what is presented and do our civil duty to point out the flaws in the legislation so those in power can make the best decisions.

Hell, look at bitcoin. It's this quasi currency that's basically being manufactured by terrorists and hackers using botnets while some silly people in there basement try to pay off over priced "computer mining" equipment with it as the criminals laugh. There are independent estimates saying that there is now tens of billions of dollars worth of bitcoin out there in the hands of people who are literally robbing power from people. You don't think some regulation is needed there before shit gets into the real world?

 

No, I'm with you.

 

This is exactly right, and that's what I am for this.

 

...so, why should I be forced to subsidize somebody else's phone AND internet?...

 

Because they are forced to subsidize your roads, golf courses, water systems, sports arenas, schools, airports, etc, etc, etc, etc. It's also called being a contributing member of society.

 

..you're claim is specious, ...I'm already paying taxes to fund all of those things....

...the topic at hand is a tax (for phones, it's called the "universal service fee") on those of us who "choose", and thus pay, to have phones, and who are also by virtue of that compelled to subsidize phones for those who don't pay, but still "get"... now, extend this concept to the new "public utility" internet...

 

Well, let me blow your mind then, your universal service fee also pays for schools and libraries to have reduced rates for communications. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/universal-service-program-schools-and-libraries