Is it time to Democratize The Media to Fight Net Neutrality?
By Thom Hartmann A...
Jake Johnson reports on Common Dreams, "Study Shows Corporate Cable Networks Largely Ignoring FCC Plan to Kill Net Neutrality".
You might want to ask ABC about this - if you can figure out a way to get through to them, this is one of the problems with having corporations rather than elected officials; they don't have to take your call. In fact, if you show up with a sign in front of their building they can have you arrested if it's their property. ABC spent 25 seconds in the last week talking about net neutrality, CBS 2 minutes, NBC: zero.
NBC, of course, is owned by Comcast. Comcast, of course, the company that has been suing the FCC to end net neutrality. These guys, hey, they want their money, right? They want to be able to jack up your Internet service prices, they want to be able to sell your information. In order to get your information, they want to be able to listen in on, read, watch everything you do on the Internet, so they know what you buy at the stores. They know what you're talking to your friends about that you want for Christmas in your emails. They know what websites you're browsing.
So they can take that information and they can sell it to to companies that want to market to you, that want to influence you, that want to get your money.
You are the product, right? When you get a service free, you are the product.
Well, it goes even worse than that. You're going to pay these Internet Service Providers for access to the Internet. You're going to pay them about three times what average people in the rest of the developed world pay for Internet services. And you're going to get crappier Internet service than you get in most of the developed world.
It's slower, it's clunkier, the interface is clunkier and on top of that they want to be able to say, "oh, you want to visit verizonsucks.com?" I don't know if that's a real site or not, but just for example. "If you want to visit verizonsucks.com or comcastsucks.com? Can't do it, sorry, that website is not available, it looks like it doesn't exist on the Internet."
Why would that be? Well, it would be because the big Internet Service Providers are doing exactly what China is doing only China's not doing it to make money. China is doing it to maintain political power.
Well, there's a certain point in the United States where making money and wielding political power become the same thing and that's what these corporations are all about.
This is an existential threat to democracy.
Comments
#2
As the Republican Fascist Party grows, with all of the money it just gave itself in tax breaks, It will further censor the media and internet.
#3
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Can the sick, sociopathic motives of the “establishment” (both Republican and Democrat) be in doubt here? Controlling the internet is key to squelching the free exchange of information, because sharing knowledge about what is happening might lead to some form of organized resistance. These greedy bastards have just passed a “tax reform bill” that cuts taxes on the wealthy and balloons the deficit by over a $One Trillion dollars. Next, they will use the deficit to justify cuts to safety net programs and even Social Security. There is no depth to which these greedy assholes will not stoop to win their game of monopoly. And do not be taken in by the false narrative which touts the Democratic Party as the friend of the working class. They showed their true colors long ago. They all work for the same bosses, as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama revealed during their presidencies and the DNC amply demonstrated in 2016. If we allow this rapacious minority to continue having their way with us, we will deserve exactly what we get. We need to fight and fight hard against this takeover of our country by the rich, and open our eyes to the stupidity of the notion that there is any difference between the motives of either of our two major political parties.
#4
To answer Thom's question he left us with; It's time for questioning everything. What I have observed is that once money is interjected into what should be a basic "human service"; it's done. I wonder; I have seen some post today that opined "what if Mueller's case isn't enough to unseat the antichrist and his merry men/ and some idiot females/Alabamans and mother"? What would happen if us, the 70%, refused to go to work; spend a dime, stay at home, not buy gas, not order from Amazon, (or any other online establishment), nor post on Facebook, I mean totally get out and walk for the day(s) for 3 days? It would bring our economy to it's knees. I say we choose the dates here and get on social media and shame anyone who breaks the code. We all must adhere but by God; it would work! "Natitional Admonishment Day" for the real America! Think about it? I first thought April 1st but that's too far away.... Just ask other countries. We can call it when the massed got "NADS!"
#5
Dang; Didn't mean to leave fellow citizens speachless. Merely providing a solution... That would work. Let's go! As far as dates, I propose January 2, 3, and 4th. Isn't that the days people spend more than they have for "things they didn't get"? That's Tuesday through Thursday after the first New Year and hopefully the last (if he/they survive till then) as supposed leders of the American people? It is that simple. Occams Razor!!
#6
This is where we need to promote white space modems, because they are free. Universities have been using them, but it's just a matter of time before they get out to everyone. They use the bands that broadcast TV used to be on, from 54MHz to 800Mhz. Nobody controls it, but it's just a matter of having enough modems about 1km apart, and we all have internet access for free.
#7
Too "involved" for me and most (although this audience are "thinkers" ), as far as ways around net neutrality (LOL) . Redneck as I am, I see whats a coming if "we" don't take control. And; we have the controller in fingertip and appendage's "at hand". Don't buy a damn thing from January 2nd through 4 th!. Would like to take it through Friday (the 5th) but I done declaired! Didn't think that through as far as I should have. I'll do better "in the future".
#8
Rick Loll: Interesting concept. Seems like an useful idea for urban settings, but how about networking the country as a whole, much less the globe? I mean, "pirating" RF isn't new (the fabled campus "pirate radio station"), but how to duplicate the bandwidth we have become accustomed to by way of satellite communications and fiber optics? Intrerested in your take on this....
#9
I hear a bunch of complaints, but nobody is doing anything to produce actual results. Where is the real plans? Protesting does zero. Fighting them does zero. Organizing gives the illusion you've don't something, but petitions end in zero. You've elected somebody that said they will work for you, but it's also zero, because system it useless to getting anything done. Back after WW2, when the computer was being developed by Seymour Crey, he had ideas to make the world fastest computer. He actually created something and his workers organized a way to make it happen with working prototypes. They showed it worked, and raised money to start the world's first supercomputer business, Cray Supercomputer. They didn't complain, they did something, and look at them today. Lots of people who came back from the war, did this and made businesses with solutions, they planned all the way through to visualize a finished product.
This is what The 7C Constitution is all about @ bit.ly/7C31PDF Making things happen by actually volunteering with your body and mind to get an actual task done.
#10
Bet so.
#11
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#12
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#13
The real "plans" was what I said. Shut the economy down! Period!
#14
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#15
Going beyond that, control of the radio spectrum, last I checked, was still the province of the FCC, unless of course they have quietly outsourced that responsibility to some private entity. Therefore, using unlicensed spectrum would be an illegal act and would only fly on a wholesale basis through a general act of insurrection. Why not take down the internet (through hacking) until the Amazons and Comcasts of the world cry "uncle"? It's an existing and perfectly usable infrastructure that was never intended to be monopolized by special interests. Just saying ....
#16
Don't buy a damn thing! Online nor in person. See nature. Go to the ABC store. Take a break!
#17
The bandwidth is an illusion, and radio has an advantage to produce a modulation scheme called, slipped ring encoding. You can use a sliver of band to form a large band effect, and produce over 20 times the data throughput, or perhaps 30 times higher. FM base transmitters have been doing this. The cool thing is the narrower the bandwidth, the higher the throughput, which is the opposite of traditional modulations.
I'm a computer engineer by trade.
#18
Rick: You're refuting Nyquist? I'd appreciate your sending a link supporting this. I'm genuinely interested if this counts.
#19
But; (Outback) The "president" can't obstruct justice nor do anything wrong..... And damn sure not any of his merry men and female/male prostitutes! LMAO! The "Merican" people have been had! Some still don't have a clue!!!! I would "Bless their Hearts" but; it's got too damn criitical now. I have no humanity left for anyone who was that damn stupid. No; still no "bless heart". To hell with them. May the "Real God" have mercy. Glad I realize i'm much lesser. Otherwise I could be committed... involuntary!! LMAO! Big Time! Joke and not intended Blasphemous!!!
#20
Outback: There is also another technique that the FCC has no control, called longitudinal waves, or scalar waves. They are faster than light and don't use the standard EM bands. Scalar varies in speed depending on the power levels. I know two methods of making them, a rectangular plate, and destructive interference of two EM beams.
The FCC only controls US territory, and has limited enforcement resources. So pirate it is.
#21
Woah! Faster than light? Rick, you're way over my head and I'm headed for Google to check some of this stuff out. I guess my formal education has become seriously outdated. And Oldskoold, god bless you bud - kieep slugging. I'm right behind you ;-)
#22
Outback: Please use common sense and do a search on 'Slipped Ring Encoding'. I have no links, because it was a magazine article.
#23
(Sorry! Do not understand how comment #5 becomes comment #1 on reply... the blog needs some attention I believe)
#5 reply: Great idea and magical leadership... how it will go forwards on a small scale like this will gain low traction I suspect
#24
The money that The Republican Fascist Party is giving to the 1% in tax cuts will only be further used against us. How many of these loopholes were eliminated?
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/15715-ten-ways-the-wealthy-dodge-taxes
#25
Why stop at "net neutrality" we also should have car neutrality, and house neutrality, oh wait that's called communism,. Why do Liberals always think they should get everything for free.
#26
A leftie/socialist breakfast, free shit and other peoples money. Go back to name calling and resisting, it is sooo much more entertaining.
#27
Then 2 of the right wing trolls post completely stupid postings with no intelligent input, fact or reference. Kend, Net Neutrality is about Freedom of the Internet. Not Free Internet. We all or most have ISP's (Internet Service Providers) that we pay for. It is about not letting them (or the governnent) control what what we do on the internet. Do you not want to protect your Freedom?
#28
I believe attempts to remove net neutrality would infringe first amendment rights... no?
#29
DianeR: The queen of name calling herself..LMAO! "Free shit and other peoples money" ... you mean when right-wing vulture capitalists like Mitt Romney steal pensions????...or do you mean when the same rightie capitalist pigs make massive amounts of money shipping our jobs overseas to markets where labor is paid 35 cents and hour. Yes, 35 cents an hour is stealing from people... it's other peoples money.
You're so boring!
#30
The killing of net neutrality is another step closer to the point of no return ...won't matter what we do to fight back. Our elections aren't unlike Russia's already...I can see Crooked Donny, the sex pervert who won't step down, winning with a Putinesque 99% of the vote in 2020! ... wake the f up!
#31
Thanks for another Christmas gift road runner. Ever consider the wages paid and the standard of living in the country making the product? I didn't think so but in case you are concerned, go back and read my past posts where I have suggested that everything brought into this country is taxed at an enormous rate and that tax money all be given to US manufacturers to keep them competitive. You then would pay ten times for that Tee shirt you are so egar to tie-dye but $8.00 of that would go the local manufacturer for producing it in our country. The down side, you may have to reconsider replacing your Birkenstocks.
BEEP-BEEP
#32
Trump promised tariffs. Where are they? Of course there were lots of promises. He could place tariffs on China. But then, China might start trading with North Korea again. Hmmmmm. I personally would be for tariffs. But the 20% that he proposed is not going to bring your tee shirts home. By the way I do not remember you ever proposing that. But I am sure that your wardrobe is American made. And Birkenstocks are so out.
https://www.google.com/search?q=trump+and+tariffs&oq=trump+and+tariffs&a...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariffs_in_United_States_history#1980s_to_...
#33
Diane the sales girl! Thank you for trying to educate yourself by reading my posts. I don't support a standard of living that amounts to nothing more than slavery anywhere on this planet. Companies that are already profitable leave this country because of greed, not because of taxation, unions, and or high wages.
Taking advantage of desperate citizens in countries with Trump like leaders is immoral. Fair wages need to be universal law. Support of unending greed and the free-trade race to the bottom ultimately hurts everyone but the piggish few, the elite who fool light thinkers like you and Kend into voting against your own self interests.
You've been brainwashed by the billionaires Diane, and your small minded selfishness harkens back to 14th century Europe at best. BTW: I don't buy your import tariff rhetoric simply because you support the very party that would never enact such a tax....so cut the bull. .... cha ching!
Another thing..your fantasy image of me is so far off the mark I'm very openly pleased...LOL For example road running????? really??? LOL... Not a chance, I value healthy knees way too much.
Kend: glad you get free internet, I don't and I have to put up with unending advertising, not to mention my personal info gets sold by those same advertisers. Kend, c'mon ...raise the bar dude.
#34
Legend, Trump has put tariffs on Canada's Aero Space and soft wood lumber industries already and we are extremely worried there is more to come.
10K. My internet is far from free Canadians pay way more tha Americans for cell, cable, and internet services. It is horrible as well. I understand the industry is growing so fast it is hard for the provider to keep up. We are well regulated by government as well.
#35
We're all getting what the Nazi coup and rise of the Confederacy are giving us. And we're too lazy to vote?
#36
#37
#34. Kend, As with most everything with the Trump administration, tariffs on Canadian goods does not make much sense. Is that part of NAFTA? It is not like you are paying your workers $0.50 per hour. You have lots of forests so why do we want to destroy our forests? Then you had the unmitigated gall to manufacture a jet that can compete with Boeing. So the Fascist Trump administraion slaps a 300% tariff on it. Boeing probably had some input. Meanwhile Trumps ties and Ivanka's goods still come from China with no tariff. We still import goods from Vietnam where they do pay $0.50 per hour. They must have a lot more leverage. Like China could cripple our economy if they wanted to.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/06/news/companies/boeing-bombardier-trade-r...
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/358545-us-slaps-duties-on-canadian-sof...
#38
Legend. Our stupid Liberal government gave Bombardier hundreds of millions of tax payer dollars to a perfectly sound company to buy political favours. Which of course gives the Canadian mfg. a huge advantage over Boeing . Trump was right to even the playing field. Softwood is complicated. Most of Canada's forest are on government land which also is a tilted advantage to Canadians. Although Canadians pay the government a lease fee to harvest the logs American land owners feel it isn't enough. You should be proud to finally have a president who puts his country first Instead of a idiot like our Prime Minister who could care less about Canadians and puts every other country before his own
#39
The ISP corporations are relying on corruption rather than innovation for excessive profits.
#40
Okay, So he attacks our good neighbor Canada. What has he done about tariffs on the countries that are the real problem? China, who we had a $347 billion dollar deficit. Mind you that most of the trade treaties have been set up by Republicans. We do have a large trade with Canada but it is reasonably close to even.
https://www.thebalance.com/trade-deficit-by-county-3306264
Judge for yourself. Bombardier got some loans to keep it out of bankruptcy from the Government. We have done the same with our auto industry etc.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bombardier-announcement-feds-1.39...
#41
Internet freedom...when Thom posted this same subject way back last week I showed two new freedom internet projects attempting start ups. It's only a matterof time until someone is succesful.
Off Topic: Truth! If you're interested in it you might want to read the whole article...
Glenn...definately not a Republican.... speaking the truth. Most likely not what you want to hear.
December 9 2017, 7:17 a.m.
https://theintercept.com/2017/12/09/the-u-s-media-yesterday-suffered-its...
#42
MAIL IN BALLOTS would be a Big part of the Political Revolution the USA NEEDS.
#43
To paraphrase Bill Hicks, how far do you think Trump has to have his dick up your ass before you think you are being fucked?
Liberals want to get everything for free? What the xxxx do you Trump ass-kissing, greedy, bigoted, xxxx-heads think we pay taxes for?
Who do you stupid xxxx-heads think developed the internet in the first place? Who do you think made it accessible to the public?
It was the government, you xxxxing dumb-asses!!!! It was the xxxxing government that made the internet possible and workable with tax payers money!! Is that too hard for you xxxxing greedy, bigoted, child xxxxing, right-wing nazi/fascists to understand?
Do you stupid xxxx-heads think that we should just give it away to a bunch of greedy scum-bags that can buy all the political influence they want, so they can control the most important development of our time that is the result of taxpayer money and has been made possible by taxpayer money?
Of course you do!! That's why Trump is president!
#44
Thanks #43
AHHHHHH! Incoherent babble from a leftie/socialist.
Great way to start another Christmas morning.
#45
That's right Diane Chelsea Clinton Reynolds, I'm Santa Claus and Trump is a dumb ass lump of coal in the planet's stocking, which is all that will be left when the right-wing is finished…a huge smoldering radioactive cinderblock whirling around in space.
Every time this buffoon Trump opens his mouth, the likes of Diane Chelsea Clinton Reynolds will be there as his loyal, unconditional echo-chamber and megaphone, never questioning or doubting the wisdom or veracity of the Donald. Wildly barking like a rabid pit bull at anyone that happens to be walking by. Content to curl up at his feet, waiting for a scrap to fall from the table…waiting for Donald to reach down occasionally and pat them on their heads, tail awaging as they try to lick his fat little hand.
#46
You really don't get it do you? It is nothing about Trump and everything about all the whackadoodles bouncing around like a fart in a hot tin skillet with their panties in a wad. It is absolutely hysterical reading rants from leftie/socialists that are clearly in serious need or therapy. Jesus people, get a grip.
#47
The way I look at our current people power situation is:
we still have two powers left that we better utilize before they vanish-
1, Our purchasing power ( soon to disappear)
2, Our LABOR.
We have a system of capitalism speciffically built on consumerism. We stop "consuming"long enough - the system goes down so, Days of Admonishment sounds great to me since when one "gives"money one "gives" power.
In terms of the internet- I am wholly supportive of #43 here. Very accurate.
To our second power, - this is the one that might have to be used due to nothing else bringing fruits to our cause. Our labor or, more specific, US refusing it, is the most powerful arrow in our quiver. It might be necessary releasing it from our bow even, when it will hurt us most at first. However, do not forget- our labor is what is making "their" profits. Making "them" profits, BTW, is the only reason we have jobs. If "they" could make as much profit without our labor as with it "they" would not hire any of us.
#48
When you look closely at what's been going on in this country, even a blind person can see that we have not been a democratic Republic for a very long time. We are beyond oligarchy and well into fascism. I find it disheartening - crushing - that our current population, Democrats & Republicans alike, still want to hold onto their personal political party even though a number of these political figures are working to make life even worse than ever for each of them.
My blessings go to the police in Honduras who have taken the position of standing with their fellow citizens in fighting against the dictators who want to quash the uprising for democracy in that country. I only wish the police in this country would stand with the people for a change and not beat them, pepper spray them and cripple them when they take a stand against this fascist regime and push for free speech. Where are the hearts and minds of police in this country?
There's so much work to be done in this country, saving Social Security & Medicare, saving public education, saving the public from abusive and thieving banking institutions. This affects ALL Americans, yet instead of being united in this work, they work against their own interests.
It's one hell of a bad time to be living through.
#49
Why aren't there charges being brought against Matt Lauer for kidnapping? My understanding of kidnapping is the taking of a person in such a way that prevents them from leaving at will. Isn't that what was happening each time he managed to bring his "target" into his office and lock his door with the press of a hidden button under his desk? I call that "kidnapping."
#50
Actually Diane Chelsea Clinton Reynolds, it's you that doesn't get it and never will. But I will say, that when it comes to fart sniffing, you're the best!!!!
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NO! Regarding Net Neurtrality - I agree with everything you say, Thom, but evidently you don't know that Rachel Maddow on MSNBC DID spend at least five minutes discussing Net Neurtrality about two weeks ago. At least it was something. I haven't heard anything else. Perhaps MSNBC gave their blessings to Rachel to discuss Net Neurtrality as a token or so they can say they aren't biased = ho, ho, ho1