FCC Takes Another Step Towards Regulating the Internet
by Lori DrummerIn step with federal government intrusion into the health care system, the auto industry, and the financial industry, the FCC and the Obama Administration has had its eye on asserting control over the Internet.
On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) closed its official public comment period “In the Matter of Framework for Broadband Internet Service.” In English? Despite broad opposition, three of the five unelected members of the FCC are one step away from officially regulating the Internet under laws originally intended for monopoly telephone carriers in the 1930s.
So how can the FCC make this dramatic change in the way the government treats the Internet? Well, according to the Democrats on the Commission and far left advocacy organizations like Free Press, it’s a surprisingly simple process – one that does not include the approval of Congress approval or any elected officials.
Just since June 17, the FCC: opened a Notice of Inquiry to seek the “best legal framework for broadband Internet access” on a partisan 3-2 vote; accepted comments on these proposed regulations; and then allowed for reply comments so that policy, advocacy, and industry leaders would have a chance to refute whatever points were made during the initial comment period (to whomever might be interested in a seemingly obscure telecommunications issue, in the middle of August!).
And that’s it, folks!
Now, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski believes he can defy the majority opinions of Congress and the American People and ignore a federal appeals court ruling and simply call a vote of the Commission that would officially reclassify broadband services under the Depression-era Title II regulations.
In response to erroneous-to-delusional claims made by Free Press, the leading radical group pushing for Internet regulations, members of the Internet Freedom Coalition filed reply comments with the Commission on Thursday to clarify to the FCC – and to the public – just how damaging thee regulations will be to both consumers and producers.
In their initial comments, Free Press flagrantly ignores even the will of a liberal Democratic Congress:
“Various parties have suggested that Congress could step in and restore the Commission’s authority over broadband networks. While Congress has begun discussions regarding comprehensive revisions to the Communications Act, the legislative process necessarily operates more slowly than the administrative process. The last time Congress updated the Communications Act, it took at least five years. Because we cannot afford to wait that long to pursue the nation’s broadband goals, congressional efforts cannot and should not supplant Commission action.”
The Internet Freedom Coalition members (including organizations such as Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayers Union, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Discovery Institute, FreedomWorks Foundation, Institute for Liberty, and the Institute for Policy Innovation, to name a few) warn of the effects of rushing such serious regulatory oversight:
“Those who argue that the Commission must rush to regulate merely because Congressional policymaking will take more time ignore both the proper role of the legislative branch of government and the proper role of deliberation in a free, democratic society. The Commission must consider the fact that the Congress may have refrained from regulating the Internet because they see no compelling reason to do so.”
Free Press’ co-founder Robert McChesney has said, “What we want … is an Internet that is not private property, but public utility.” The FCC seems to be playing right into that hand.
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138 Comments
They must really want to kick breitbart off the internet.
Congress could just take control of the FCC, who says the President is in control over all these little fiefdoms??
The free exchange of information and opinion is hampering their effort to destroy the country.
They realize they have to get it done this year either before the elections or in the lame duck session.
The track has to be blown up!
After all, why would the internet's infrastructure be private property when all meaningful expansion, upgrades and investments have been made by private corporations employing thousands of Americans and serving millions of homes and businesses? Of course, let's have the government come in and f**k that up!
They aren't going to get away with this. Let them play these games now, but the dismantling of the progressive apparatus will begin November 2nd, 2010. I just can't figure out how the new congress is going to have time for all the inquires, indictments and trials that are coming.
Genachowski is about to step into some thick spinach with this one. He could very well be the one who sets off the chain reaction. Man, I wouldn't want that on my head. This could be that straw.
The FCC(feckless, corrupt communists) truly want control of the Net. They want to tax it into oblivian. Wait and see.
Damn, Patriots!!!! The way things are going, and in a very bad way, mind you, it's gonna take more than one election cycle to clean up this Government takeover of, well, everything. i don't have the same confidence that some of you have that the GOP is gonna be the savior. Let's not forget, Progressivism has infected all of Washington and to a certain extent local governments. My Country is dying!!!
Let me guess; the FCC plans to tax libertarian-conservative sites and subsidize leftist-progressive sites. All in the interest of, "fairness."
Attack of the 50 Foot Pelosi
http://vimeo.com/13373582
Tea Party 101
* Be open and honest
* Speak truthfully
* Listen to and work for the people
* Adhere to the Constitution and your oath of office
* Support smaller government
* Lower taxes
* Always vote for freedom
……." Of course, let's have the government come in and f**k that up! "
Thats the plan
Just in time for elections
" five unelected members "
Get used to this people. Between Health Care, the Financial regulation bill, The FDA , FCC, FTC etc… Our entire country will be run by "unelected members".
Congress and the senate will have no authority, so what influence will our vote have? Congress of 2011 better be prepared to defund or dissolve all these out of control agencies.
To paraphrase Tom Periello (D):
China's doing it!
That is my fear. Once the straw is placed on the proverbial back, I hope the result is not violence. That would be catastrophic. Here's your crisis to postpone an election. Martial law? Scary stuff.
The control of the Internet is not just focused on Breitbart or any other site. It is all related to the totalitarian control over what information – if any – is to be provided to the masses. It is another of the necessities of becoming a dictatoral ruler (otherwise known as the resident of the White House – think Stalin here. The lame-stream-media is already statist, so any and all of other forms of information must also come under the control of the dictatorial rulers.
Let us all pray it is not to late to change this madness in November!!
@ Gillan
I agree. Most are still clinging to the belief that if the Repubs win back the seats, all will be corrected. Umm, nope, it won't. Defunding only delays the inevitable. Impeachment does not stop the last 100 years of indoctrination of our children who are teachers now and for the future. The complete rewriting of our history. The hatred Obama and all of his administration has for the free market system. The buddy system with the islamic faith and shariah law. The absolutely inevitable finacial collapse that is about to happen.
This is going to literally take a peaceful revolution if that even exists.
Plundering communist and absolutely typical.
Then that GD Obama will do it too.
Can I haz freedom of the new media?
Obama will not hesitate to create a crisis to maintain control. He is ruthless and so are the jerks around him.
I do not think your comments are to far fetched to be real.
Who has confidence that the GOP will be the saver?
Of course! Don't you know that all views are equal, so if not all views can gain equal advocacy then that must mean that the winners cheated and must therefore compensate for their actions by helping to subsidize the losers?
Our current bunch of crooks sure are good and side stepping rational thought to pay off their buddies.
That isn't exactly what I was referring to. I was considering a maelstrom of legal suits coming from citizens and businesses. I do wonder why we haven’t really had any yet. I don’t expect violence started from conservatives. Should any violence erupt for any reason, it will be the progressives throwing tantrums for not getting their way.
Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. – CS Lewis
Please stop trying to help us, o Wise and Benevolent FCC, who undoubtedly has nothing more than the public good and our best interests in mind.
* Be prepared to out Mobys and union plants
Band Width Rationing anyone????
Some sites are more important than others
What happens when it takes Huffington Post only 0.00001 seconds to load,,,,and it takes Drudge Report 10.000 minutes to load.
On the internet highway, with the FCC as the highway partol, only liberal progressive causes get to use the car pool lane.
On the NEW Internet TOLL ROAD: FCC will give subsidies for the tolls to those they favor and charge high rates to those they don't.
AFTER ALL: SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS
You just cannot get more Orwellian than calling an organization dedicated to destroying freedom of speech, "Free Press." This is how freedom dies, Ladies and Gentlemen. WAKE UP! As long as we have had free speech there has always been hope. Any change is possible with free speech, but if this is taken away from us, Revolution becomes the only recourse left. We can try and make it peaceful with tax revolts, work stoppages, etc…, but I fear in the end, it will get ugly.
Take Our Freedom Back! by Band of Patriots – Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP-IM7maxbI&fe...
What they ought to do is go house to house arresting anyone they please. Maybe then Americans will rise up and put their foot down right on their heads.
Unfortunately it is not to be…just slow water my friends…slow luke warm water
You just cannot get more Orwellian than calling an organization dedicated to destroying freedom of speech, "Free Press."
Kinda has that whole Ministry of Truth vibe to you too, huh?
may we meet in battle
Remember November. It is time to take our country back. Leave no stone unturned.
http://remembernovember.com/
He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard for his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country, who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections.
Samuel Adams
You are so right!
You are dead on, no more info or free speech for us, unless we want to curse out the repub's, then we can say anything we want!
Agreed, I am not concerned about Conservatives "starting" it, only responding to it.
I wonder what the pretend (libs) tea party people will start at the rally on 8/28. That is the million dollar question.
And then comes the lame duck session, by the time this is over where will we be? Or who will we be, Venezuela?
A wee little teensie weensie reminder for all TRUE PATROITS ! It has taken the actions of ONLY 535 corrupt, lying, filthy, scummy legislators that WE put into office to destroy this country ! Just 535 living pieces of pond scum. We are a few hundred million….
Think its TIME ? ? ? ? ? (I forgot one chiefly POS….and his welfare partner, Evita Peron) Bingo !
What is the matter with these creepy people trying to control everything?
These thugs are the most dangerous to ever come down the pike. This is how Chavez took over after he was elected. Enough is enough. Wipe Dem out in November!
We're from the FCC and we're here to help!
Another nail in the coffin of freedom. BIG nail!
It is not so much the idiots who weild power over every facet of our lives, as it is US who elected these bastards to start with. Until, if its not to late, we the voters start behaving responsibly with our freedoms, we have only begun to see the loss of the America we once knew.
If you have children and grandchildren you are truly blessed. LIBS prefer abortion and the killing of the unborn so they probably have little interest in this comment. Having said that I suggest to all parents to read a little history about Argentina during the 1920's through the mid 1940's. And focus on Juan and Evita Peron and their unconscienable looting of the country's treasury.
We in America are LIVING this unfolding nightmare as the Obama's steal your capital, your future earnings, your retirement and your financial legacies that will be relegated politically to Obama's socialist allies…the unions and other political directorships. Your grandchildren will suffer economic harm of the highest order. These heartless ideolouges will tear every shred of freedom and liberty from your crying and dying hands. You do NOT understand the sheer evil that is working to destroy this country. Your vote and beliefs will determine the course of the next hundred years of this great Republic. Will you allow your CHILDREN TO PAY for these mistakes after you have left the scene of this terrible crime ? Think about it !
A Quick "Spelling" lesson:
The last four letters in "American" = I Can
The last four letters in "Republican" = I Can
The last four letters in "Democrats" = Rats
End of Lesson.
Test to follow in November.
November has been set aside as rodent extermination month.
" go house to house arresting anyone they please"
I'm sure that's what they would prefer to do but, that pesky 2nd Amendment gets in their way.
One of the Democrats three big targets slated for total destruction or control. They have got to destroy all outlets that deal in the truth. The truth is dangerous to Democrats. It may come down to we the people protecting Breitbart and Drudge websites, Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Savage, etc. AM talk radio programs, and the lone voice on the TV Fox Networks. Can't wait to kick the Democrat bums out this November.
not I….
Mobys?…
And remember that if you're serious about cutting spending, then eventually you'll have to cut spending that you like and touch the third rails of politics, so let's try not to bite the foot off of those who dare talk about making cuts to social security and medicare, OK (thinking of Sharon Angle here)?
They better not. We are in no mood for any more control over anything by this commie regime.
Obama will make Chavez look like a conservative!
Here is a serviceable definition.
http://zombietime.com/lgf_dictionary/#moby
Imagine a resounding victory in November 2010. Imagine that Repubs take control of House and Senate. then imagine they do their usual "can't we all just get along" routine.
We will have to hold their feet to the fire, and it will take several elections to convince them we are now awake and will NO LONGER sit idly by, settling for changing drivers of the car headed for the cliff, at a reduced speed.
NO, DAMN IT!
We want to turn the car around, and drive it in the opposite direction. Back toward our founding principles and constitutionally limited government.
Sometime in the next couple of months, if you don't see the republicans draft some sembalance of a new "contract with America", spelling out actions they will take if elected to the majority, signed by the republican candidates, listing such things as defunding these bureaucratic fiefdoms, you will KNOW how much work remains to be done by free Americans after the elections.
I fear it will be significant, but you eat an elephant one bite at a time….
Let's see…………….if we make the internet essentially a public utility what will be the consequences?
First….You and I will now have to pay for some "deadbeat jobless wonder liberal" to have 24/7 high speed porn access.
Second….Which is more of a question……….Will there be rolling "brownouts" when it is deemed there is too high of a demand…………….like maybe when a big election is coming up……….or a story breaks about a socialist party member (Democrat) being drunk, driving off a bridge, and killing a woman?
Just thinking out loud…………..
RINOs are the reason we're in this mess, in the first place. They have to be hunted to extinction, before we can really turn this around…….
Spot on, Tuco. But imagine the other scenario where, let's say, Sillary is the next President. She won't have to do any of the heavy lifting as it will have been done by our very own Muslim in Chief. It'll make that ProgressivePhony look like a Right Wing moderate. To my discredit i never served this Country, (militarily), although my OleMan was a career soldier. A peaceful revolution sounds great but, i'm prepared to sacrifice should it go the other way.
Gold Bless you and the ones you care about!
After all, it's all this unfiltered information causing us natives to get uppity and racist. The liberal machine has seen right through that little gimmick and will do everything in their power to save us from that damned truth.
So I guess this koolaid's for drinkin then is it? Word on the street is if I stop paying my mortgage, obama gonna give me 50,000 bucks!
WOO!
Well thank you for the blessing and to each and yours, I pray.
I don't know what a peaceful revolution would look like if there can even be one. Hillary won't be president. The Demo brand is done for a while. The pubs have to much to run on now with Barry's great leadership and what has she done for the U.S.S.A.? Nothing. I think she plans on running, that's why she's hiding under O's house of cards.
I tried to get into the Navy after college, was denied because of a blown out/repaired knee from skiing. BUT I grew up in the mountains of OR and got my first deer at age 12, that was many years ago and many freezers full of meat. I never ever, EVER thought THESE thoughts would enter my mind that the American people need to take the country back from the vermin who is desperately destroying it.
What do you suppose the NBP has planned for Beck's little party at the Lincoln Memorial?
I have searched the FCC congress created it and congress should be able to take over control or just eliminate It…I vote for elimination. The President couldn't stop them, same thing with the EPA.
hell with lessons like that,…..
I wouldn't even mind homework there Stan.
The tail is wagging the dog.
Its really simple. Either the GOP grows a pair after November, and proceed to cut dozens of these agencies and slash the budgets of those that remain until they cry uncle, or the US goes straight down the UK road where 90% of all of the regulations and laws are made without a single elected official, let alone the citizens, having any vote whatsoever.
November-its not just about putting neocon puppets back in, its getting the RIGHT kind of GOPers in.
Thanks…..too bad, I kinda liked Moby…….the Hotel CD was pretty good…
Bullseye … what else could it possible be.
What else does Imam Obama need to control to make the USA into his version of Venezuela… hmmm, talk radio would be nice.
absolutely!
No, they want to kick off anyone who does not agree with the misnamed "free press'' idea of how the Internet and news or opinion is delivered. They want complete control over what you say. However, because the internet is world wide, and we are the only non-socialist nation left, they will get what they want. All other nations will follow suit to control the content of the internet. Small time bloggers will be forced off the net by skyrocketing fees and taxes for domain names and registrations. However there is some light in the tunnel… I have started a lawsuit against Free Press for false advertisement. Their name is a blatant lie of who they are and in as much it is misleading Americans. AKA false Advertising. It will be an easy lawsuit for me to win. All I need to do is print out their manifesto and the name they go by. Case won.
It will be funny to watch as all the private companies that own the internet infrastructure shut it down and tell the FCC to build their own infrstructure, from scratch. BTW, Have you ever read the terms of use on some federal sites? Some of them state that your computer and all devices attached to it are now federal property. Sneaky huh? this came out during Cash for Clunkers.
I have to ask you rightside, do you believe that our votes and beliefs can save us or is it to late? My next fear is that even if the supposed conservatives win both house and senate, will they stand up to the left and undo and give back what we have lost? I think both sides are progressives, with one side going much slower, toward the same endgame which I believe is One World Government. I might be exaggerating that all are progressives, but you know what I'm talking about. Thanks for your post, and the info on the Peron's which I looked up and very scary indeed!
Never realized that or saw that! Thank you for making me laugh
I don't want the government mucking around with the internet, but I'm wondering about your comment that terms of use for some federal sites state devices attached are now federal property. Where did you see that?
Can't wait to see the 12231876532786528598701984758 videos of it. I pray there is no retaliation violence from the Tea Party, you KNOW they are going to try to incite something.
Speaking of the internet, I used to post on Fox quite a bit over the last several months. Then about two weeks ago, several of us started to complain of glitches that would make page after page reload (and couldn't be stopped without a manual shut down, not even task manager could stop it). Now I cannot even go to Fox without it crashing my system. I have state of the art equipment and virus software. I can get on with my laptop (no posting). Just saying………..?
Why is it that people can't leave things alone: they must "control" it, or tell us what we can do or can't do. Why on earth, do liberals, who claim to be the party of freedom, just have to stick their ruddy noses in everyone else's business? Why can't they, find that we SHOULD have the freedom from them and their "say so" in every other facet of our lives? They found a privacy clause, that isn't there, but can't seem to read what the constitution really says, and when or how do we come up with a real way to tell them to back off and mind their own beeswax?
Think its TIME ? ? ? ? ? (I forgot one chiefly POS….and his welfare partner, Evita Peron) Bingo !
Pretty close. Forget anything on the 535. Best is shut down the Fed agencies locally and statewide. They can sit in DC and have no way to get anything done. Cut off the arms and legs and the body will just lay there like a stump. Just something I heard someone say.
Hey Barack! Are you proud of this triumph also? Your commie buddies are doing America………..wrong!
http://www.youtube.com/user/fiercefreeleancer
Can states individually opose any FCC regulations on the internet?
The original Cash for Clunkers computer filing system had the wording that dealers computers belong to the federal government if they used a computer to file for the C4C program. The CIA website also had the notice for a time. However, since Glenn Beck outed the C4C program many of the notices have changed. I am looking into who has what on each website. I will post a list as soon as I can. I am in the process of getting my own website up with details of such things in the very near future. I'll let you all know when that is up and running. But I suggest that you read the Terms Of Use for any Government site you visit.
Yeah, I wonder how quickly the new Acorn sites will load under these new rules?(and all non-profit sites in general)
Looks like the cyber-warfare czar is right on top of this! (causing it most likely!)
Yeah, Breitbart will have to resort to broadcasting its blogs from Cuba before it's all over!
The missing piece to this whole thing is that while the government started the backbone of the Internet, the private sector expanded it to it's current state. They have no legal leg to stand on, and if they don't get what they want, they will make laws up, just like they're attempting to do now.
Democrats and their tyrant heroes. I bet Periello didn't even know why people were looking at him funny after he said it.
It's no surprise that the Socialist Obama Admin want to control our Communications. We need to scream and BLOG at fever pitch! Protect our Constitutional Rights! and point out that these socialists will stop at nothing to declare a complete dictatorship! Blogging, and emailing the TV Networks helps! Protest with Glenn Beck on Aut 28 in D.C!!
A Socialist Obama Administration wants to control our abilities to communicate? Raise holy Hell! Blog, contact TV stations, write your local newspaper, email Fox News! Scream bloody murder! until every Progressive Dem & Repub is out of office! Remove them all. Replace them with Conservative Constitutionalists! Attorney's General: Please keep the State Law suits coming. WE CAN BURY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION!
Ok, glass half full here. . . .
1. Band width rationing, golly all of a sudden, we take over media matters chat rooms, HuffPo chat rooms, Kos chatrooms (I got banned from there)
2. Routing. Now I'm no uber geek but even I know that "they" can't police all ISP's, we'd "storm the walls".
3. Screw the interwebz. We can all use mimeograph machines, smoke signals, beat tomtoms, shout really really loud. They'll never shut us up.
Never.
We need to eliminate the FCC and the rest of the government alphabet soup of worthless and power grabbing agencies.
Defund the FCC!
So can any progressive explain why progressivism always involves regulation, force, coercion, destruction of liberty, reduction of choices?
The Statists have certainly showed their hand; they plan to use regulatory agencies as a means to achieve their tyrannical oligarchy. They are end running…who or what will be the brick wall?
The regulatory system of appointed and non-elected bureaucrats MUST be dismantled; Congress has castrated itself by delegating its Constitutional powers for 140 years.
I am old enough to remember how it was before the fairness doctrine was struck down. The was NO information given out that was not approved by the powers that be.
It's time to be developing alternative forms of communication among the people. In other words, go underground!
I'm having a VERY hard time understand how anyone in their right mind could possibly be against Net Neutrality, which is what we're talking about… ALL the FCC is doing is attempting to keep the internet like the founders of the internet envisioned it – A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD – ; What the BIG corporations like comcast want is to be able to give certain sites better access than others ; If the FCC loses, companies like comcast would then legally be able to make it where liberal websites get very fast access and conservative sites (like Rush Limbaugh's) etc get very slow access. (it could be the other way around too — but considering most of the media companies are run by the left , that's how it could very well end up ) … I really don't understand how you could be against the FCC in this case?? Seriously, why do you guys keep voting against your self interest on this and so many other issues in politics that you right wingers don't have the slightest bit of understanding about.
Seriously; if the FCC loses this case and the big media companies get to play political favoritism by choosing to give liberal sites better access than conservative sites, DON'T YOU DARE CRY FOUL .. because that's EXACTLY what you are asking for….
My question to you guys: For the love of god, why do you guys keep making such a ruckus over issues you have no education or even an elementary understanding over? …. If you think I'm wrong, then prove to me by explaining what Net Neutrality is and why you are against it.
Despots maintain power by controlling the written word. Think Hitler's book bonfires and Stalin's gulags.
Tell me one thing government does well. Go away shut up and leave us alone. Before we pull your plug.
"Because we cannot afford to wait that long to pursue the nation’s broadband goals"
What? What goals? I never heard even the administration come out and announce "goals" for broadband. And what's the rush? You've waited this long!
"Tell me one thing government does well. Go away shut up and leave us alone. Before we pull your plug. "
Again, I'm asking you to explain what net neutrality is and why you are against it.
"
So can any progressive explain why progressivism always involves regulation, force, coercion, destruction of liberty, reduction of choices?
"
That's just the thing, your choices could severely be limited if net neutrality falls by the wayside. The people who invented the internet, including Vint Cerf, have long argued to keep a level playing field on the internet = equal access for all sites. Why do you wish to destroy that? Why are conservatives such destructive people?
Darn that First Amendment. It's really getting in Obama's way.
"They must really want to kick breitbart off the internet. "
This is the most ironic reply I've seen yet among those of you who don't have the slightest bit of understanding what Net Neutrality is. Seriously, if you're going to be this ignorant and let net neutrality fall by the wayside, you DESERVE the censorship that can possibly ensue as a result.
What you don't get is that net neutrality PROTECTS from censorship! Why are right wingers so very IGNORANT??! I really don't get it. Is it lack of education? Is it just willful ignorance?
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