Will internet freedom soon be protected?

According to officials at the Federal Communications Commission, by next month, we may finally have an ruling on net neutrality. That agency has been considering new rules for internet providers since the DC Circuit Court struck down the FCC's previous net neutrality regulations last January. That court ruled that the FCC could not regulate internet providers like utility companies because the agency had exempted providers from so-called “common carrier” status.

Net neutrality activists have been calling on the FCC to reclassify broadband providers as common carriers, which would prevent them from creating fast and slow lanes on the internet based on customers' or content providers' ability to pay. However, many industry lobbyists and Republican lawmakers have been pushing back against such regulations, claiming rules would stifle innovation.

Originally, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler appeared to side with the industry, but intense public pressure has made tougher regulations more likely. We may be only weeks away from finding out whether internet freedom won out over corporate power... hopefully our voices were heard.

Comments

Aliceinwonderland's picture
Aliceinwonderland 8 years 20 weeks ago
#1

Innovation, my ass. Just plain old simple greed.

chuckle8's picture
chuckle8 8 years 20 weeks ago
#2

AIW -- Yea, verily.

RichardofJeffersonCity's picture
RichardofJeffer... 8 years 20 weeks ago
#3

In a democratic society, FCC chair Tom Wheeler, former lobbyist and current sympathizer for the telecommunication industry, would not exist. The unbelievable open corruption of US government institutions has gone well beyond shameless greed to open contempt for Democracy. Public opinion is clear on the matter of net neutrality, yet certainty of public protection is still in doubt.

Mark J. Saulys's picture
Mark J. Saulys 8 years 20 weeks ago
#4

The scammers are used to getting whatever they want.

rhqjrvlq's picture
rhqjrvlq 8 years 20 weeks ago
#5

Its disgusting that our govermnt let us down and that we are even having this conversation.

the_hun's picture
the_hun 8 years 20 weeks ago
#6

I am a computer engineer with an old school experiense.

Worked for the financial industry for 28 years. Now without work

The internet is like a public swiming pool. Everybody jumps in with all kind of infections.

The once that are not infected they get an infection.

Unfortunately the infections cannot be stopped

Why?

Because it is CODE written by humans and humans can modify the CODE any way they want it.

That is why internet will never be protected

Internet security experts are just a pile of corupted scam artists.

Typical examples are the resent hacks at Twiter, Youtube, Tarkget, police in Texas and so on. As well as who know how many govermet computer systems were hacked without us knowing it

Anthony Bodo

the_hun's picture
the_hun 8 years 20 weeks ago
#7

!!!

Thom's Blog Is On the Move

Hello All

Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.

Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.

From Unequal Protection, 2nd Edition:
"Beneath the success and rise of American enterprise is an untold history that is antithetical to every value Americans hold dear. This is a seminal work, a godsend really, a clear message to every citizen about the need to reform our country, laws, and companies."
Paul Hawken, coauthor of Natural Capitalism and author of The Ecology of Commerce
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann seeks out interesting subjects from such disparate outposts of curiosity that you have to wonder whether or not he uncovered them or they selected him."
Leonardo DiCaprio, actor, producer, and environmental activist
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Right through the worst of the Bush years and into the present, Thom Hartmann has been one of the very few voices constantly willing to tell the truth. Rank him up there with Jon Stewart, Bill Moyers, and Paul Krugman for having the sheer persistent courage of his convictions."
Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth