Net Neutrality - Chapter 12: Betrayal in the FCC

[Krynn72]

FCC Chairman Announces Fake Net Neutrality Proposal
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/fcc-chairman-announces-fa_b_790307.html

According to the Times, the proposal:

-Fails to restore the FCC's authority over Internet service providers (ISPs) like Comcast and AT&T. This presents the unecessary risk that the new rules, if passed, will be swiftly rejected by the courts. Any other future rules related to the Internet, such as competition policy (which would give you more choices than your expensive monopoly cable and phone company) would suffer the same fate if the chairman continues to avoid the politically challenging but absolutely essential moves that would restore his agency's authority.

-Offers weak protections against "paid prioritization." That is, it could allow ISPs to create tolls on the open Internet that would favor the traffic of a select few who could pay by slowing down the traffic of everyone else. Worse yet, it opens a loophole for "specialized services" that could lead to the creation of a new "private Internet" for a few giant media companies. You might remember that idea as one of the worst ones in the Google-Verizon pact last summer.

-Fails to make even Genachowski's tepid protections apply to wireless connections using mobile devices. With the inevitable explosion of super-fast wireless Internet connections during the next decade, it represents the most blatant sellout to the likes of Verizon and AT&T. Both companies view wireless Internet and phone service as the future. And both companies are among Washington's biggest spenders on PR firms, lobbyists and campaign contributions.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has been an unwavering champion for Net Neutrality, and he holds the power to fix the chairman's bad rule.

Commissioner Copps is a longstanding champion of real Net Neutrality. If he knows you've got his back, he can toughen up the language of Genachowski's plan.

Chairman Genachowski needs his vote. Commissioner Copps has real political leverage to fix this rule and move us toward the Net Neutrality protections that millions of people demand.

Make the call and then tell your friends to take action, too.

If you live in the US, please call using the link above (containing a sample script of things you can bring up) or at the very least email them using the following link:

http://act2.freepress.net/sign/real_net_neutrality?source=stiBlog

 

[Darkside55]

I keep sending these goddamn mails and I'm starting to wonder if it's worth anything. Every two or three months there's another one of these. It's like nobody in the FCC understands.

 

[dfc05]

This has nothing to do with my stance on net neutrality, but these FreePress.net people choose some really crappy titles for their emails (which I do receive, having sent some emails via their website).

 

[YROC]

Why can't people just leave my internet alone?

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Think about it, he who control the internets, wins.

 

[Acepilotf14]

what next? spice?

 

[Mogi67]

They're already trying to ban spice. There's a gas station nearby that sells it for pretty cheap, shit gets me so stoned

 

[ktimekiller]

Next thing you know, we will be trying to grow internet out of mother****ing wombs to break the monopoly

 

[VirusType2]

Genachowski calls his plan Net Neutrality. But it's fake.

1. It fails to protect Net Neutrality for people who access the Internet using wireless devices. There is only one Internet: Users must be free to access any legal website, service or application whether they're at home or using a mobile phone.

2. It fails to prevent new "paid prioritization" schemes planned by industry. We can't let AT&T and Comcast charge steep tolls to speed up the sites and services of a few media giants while slowing down everyone else.

3. It fails to close massive loopholes. The FCC can't let Verizon build a new "private Internet" under the guise of "specialized services" that would stifle competition and innovation.

4. It fails to restore the FCC's authority, which was stripped away during a Bush-era frenzy of deregulation. If the FCC doesn't "reclassify" its broadband authority under Title II of the Communications Act, it risks making Net Neutrality rules that will be tossed out in court right away.


We still have time to fix Genachowski's toothless rule before it goes to a vote on Dec. 21.

Sign the petition:

By clicking here you will send the following letter to the FCC:

Chairman Genachowski’s proposed open Internet rules don’t meet any acceptable standard of real Net Neutrality. Unless they’re changed significantly, we urge you not to support them when you vote on Dec. 21.

First, the rules need to extend full Net Neutrality protections to both wired and wireless Internet users.

Second, they must have stronger language to prohibit “paid prioritization” schemes, which give phone and cable companies the power to pick winners and losers on the Internet.

Third, they must close massive loopholes for “specialized services” that allow industry to discriminate unfairly online.

Finally, they must ensure that Net Neutrality rests on a secure legal foundation that can withstand a court challenge.

Please continue to stand with me for real Net Neutrality protections and fix these rules before you vote.

 

[VirusType2]

Have you guys signed the petition in my post above? Time is running out. I don't even use wireless networks, but I'm sticking up for you guys. If you don't want to pay special fees everywhere when you use wireless (for example: a smartphone), you should be paying attention.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...-two-internet-worlds---wired-and-wireless.ars

This principle of "equality" is crucial, she told the Practicing Law crowd, because some consumers rely entirely on wireless services for their broadband experience.

"We should ensure that, while there are two kinds of networks, we don't cause the development of two kinds of Internet worlds," Clyburn warned. "Aside from technical differences, the basic user experience should be the same."

"Paid prioritization is the antithesis of openness," they warned the FCC on Friday. "Any framework that does not prohibit such economic discrimination arrangements is not real Net Neutrality. Without a clear ban on such practices, ISPs will move forward with their oft-stated plans to exploit their dominant position and favor their own content and services and those of a few select paying partners through faster delivery, relegating everyone else to the proverbial dirt road."

supporters and opponents of net neutrality agree [that this is bullshit and you need to sign the petition]

All they need is your name and email address to at least give credibility to the fact that you are a real person.

 

[<RJMC>]

I hear that the 21 is the day this whole thing will be activated,of the control of internet and such

here in spain there are aplying a anti-piracy law that will close any web seemed to go against copyrights stuff

so how is this whole thing going?

 

[VirusType2]

Well, it's due to be signed on the 21st. But we want to stop them signing this. It's not done right. We want them to fix a few things before we accept it.

Think of it like bargaining.

Senator: New net neutrality plan worse than "doing nothing at all"

So there's still time to sign the petition if you live in the US. It couldn't be easier, you just put your name and email address.

I want you to consider signing the petition if you are in the US, guys. Overwhelming power is better than 'almost enough' power.

 

[Krynn72]

You'll also be able to watch the vote live on the 21st, starting at 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time at this link. http://www.savetheinternet.com/FCCmeeting

Tuesday is decision time for Net Neutrality. The Federal Communications Commission is finally voting on rules that could stop companies like Comcast and AT&T from blocking where you go on the Internet.

The vote is a test for President Obama and Chairman Julius Genachowski. Will they deliver on earlier promises and pass strong Net Neutrality rules, or will they cave to the phone and cable lobby and give us a fake version?

Be the first to know. The SavetheInternet.com Coalition has set up a streaming website where you can witness the vote as it happens, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET, Tuesday, Dec. 21:

Watch the vote on Net Neutrality: www.SavetheInternet.com/FCCmtg

Join us online to watch the vote and connect with others. We’ll be hosting an online conversation with hundreds of other Net Neutrality supporters who are working together to protect the open Internet.

Let the FCC know that we’re watching: www.SavetheInternet.com/FCCmeeting

If you plan to be in Washington on Tuesday, you can come to witness the vote in person. It’s open to the public. I will be outside the meeting with other Free Press staffers to meet with Net Neutrality supporters and pass out information. Come see us and get an “I Support Net Neutrality” sticker to wear into the meeting:

What: FCC Meeting on the open Internet
Where: Room TW-C305
445 12th Street, S.W
Washington, D.C.
When: Tuesday, Dec. 21, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time

(If you plan to attend in person, please come early. We expect a full room.)

More than 2 million people have urged the agency to create real and lasting Net Neutrality protections. We can’t let FCC commissioners turn their backs on us and vote with Comcast and AT&T.

Please join us, watch the vote live, and let the FCC know we won’t rest until we’ve got real Net Neutrality.

Thank you,

Timothy Karr
Campaign Director
Free Press

 

[Tyguy]

I've signed a bunch of petitions, none of which detailed plans for the future of free porn.

Priorities people.

 

[Krynn72]

Just voted 3 to 2 in favor of this false net neutrality proposal, can't wait for comcast to force prices up for all my favorite sites! Poor hl2.net is going to be left in the dust as Comcast creates tiered internet packages.

 

[VirusType2]

Just voted 3 to 2 in favor of this false net neutrality proposal

****.

This rule, for the first time in history, allows discrimination over the mobile Internet, paving the way for widespread industry abuses.

MOTHER****ER, SHIT.

The new rule doesn't do enough to stop the phone and cable companies from dividing the Internet into fast and slow lanes

GOD, DAMN IT.

It lets AT&T [or Comcast] block your access to third-party applications and require you to use its own preferred applications.

What a setback.