Al Franken Blasts Net Neutrality Vote, Warning It Could Hand Corporations the Internet

[babylonsister]

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/15/al-franken-blasts-fccs-net-neutrality-vote-warning-step-handing-corporations-internet.html

Al Franken Blasts Net Neutrality Vote, Warning It Could Hand Corporations the Internet
By: Sarah Jones
Thursday, May, 15th, 2014, 3:24 pm


After the Federal Communications Commission passed newly proposed net neutrality rules on Thursday that would allow broadband providers to charge companies for faster delivery of their content, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), who has called this issue “the free speech issue of our time,” blasted the FCC’s vote. He said it could lead to fast lanes on the Internet and hand the Internet to corporations.

“Today’s vote, plain and simple,” Senator Franken (D-MN) said in a statement. “Because of net neutrality, the Internet has been a tremendous platform for innovation and connectivity. But the FCC has taken a woefully misguided step toward handing the Internet over to big corporations who can pay boatloads of money for preferential treatment. Anyone who values a free and open Internet should be deeply troubled by the FCC’s vote, and I plan to do everything I can to convince them that they need to change course.”

Net neutrality means that all legal content on the Internet is treated equally. President Obama was one of the earliest supporters of net neutrality (as he should be given how he used the Internet to run a campaign of the people). Franken’s office explained the Senator’s position on net neutrality, saying Franken believes the Internet belongs to the people:

Sen. Franken has said net neutrality is the principle that the Internet belongs to the people, not huge corporations. That means Internet service providers can’t pick and choose what content will reach consumers. Net neutrality prevents Internet service providers from charging for preferential access to their customers. Sen. Franken has also said that net neutrality is the free speech issue of our time, calling the Internet the public square of the 21st century and a marketplace for new businesses and new ideas.

Democratic FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has been pushing the plan to replace the rules that were overruled by a federal court in January. This vote is not the changing of the rules, but rather marks the commencement of the formal, four month comment period. In other words, weigh in now if you want to be heard.

Of course corporations want to appropriate the Internet; it is the one place where the people’s voice can be heard without corporate spin. The Internet saved us from a President Romney. If corporations are allowed to buy fast lanes on the Internet, the Internet will lose the democracy inherent in it right now. And while that would be a tragedy for democracy, the corporations need to understand that it will only push innovative young minds to come up with a new way to communicatate without the interference of corporate agendas.

[Skink]

1. in the begining to watch television all that was needed was an antenna

then came cable.

[truedelphi]

5. ANd within a year from now, it will be impossible to watch TV without that damn box.

At lest taht is what friends of mine are saying.

[blkmusclmachine]

11. Soon, your tv's are gonna be watching YOU:

New TVs Come Equipped With HD Cameras, Microphones, and Face/Speech Recognition

http://www.prisonplanet.com/new-samsung-tvs-have-built-in-hd-camera-microphones-face-and-speech-recognition.html

[babylonsister]

18. I'd bore the hell out of anyone watching, but that's creepy. nt

[erronis]

13. Simple solution - stop watching TV

We went out and bought a humongous (for us) 40" HDTV, plugged it in, watched about 2 hours of whatever, moved it upstairs to a bedroom so it wouldn't be this humongous presence in an otherwise nice livingroom, and haven't gotten around to making all the cable connections. This is more than a year ago.

I signed up for NetFlix thinking that I would like some of the content that everyone else talks about. Other than trying to find a show or two, haven't used more than 10 minutes. I have Amazon Prime TV content available. Couldn't care less.

We have stacks of good books to read, friends and neighbors to talk to, and lots of enjoyment of contemplative time.

Having just returned from a whirlwind weekend in NYC and shows and restaurants, I'm glad to be back in sanity, in northern Vermont.

[truedelphi]

24. We only watch a few nights a week.

We just got sent off our media contract, and with the inflated prices they want from us now, we will have to find an alternative. The one thing I have to have is the Music Choice channel, which plays about fifty channels of different music, and I cannot write any more unless I have it.

I am hoping that Music Choice is available on Sirius or somewhere other than cable TV.

Glad you got out to the Big Apple, and equally glad you have a home you love to live in.

[erronis]

26. And I can't make judgements on anyone other than myself.

Good luck with your Music Choice channel. I have tons of CDs (mainly classical) that I rarely listen to.

I know that local college stations seem to be the best for an eclectic (eye-opening) selection.

[truedelphi]

30. Apaprently if you have wi fi, you can get it for free!

So I am glad right now I did "re up" with the media company.

[ProSense]

2. Everyone

“Today’s vote, plain and simple,” Senator Franken (D-MN) said in a statement. “Because of net neutrality, the Internet has been a tremendous platform for innovation and connectivity. But the FCC has taken a woefully misguided step toward handing the Internet over to big corporations who can pay boatloads of money for preferential treatment. Anyone who values a free and open Internet should be deeply troubled by the FCC’s vote, and I plan to do everything I can to convince them that they need to change course.”

...should take action. Two Democratic commissioners support stronger rules, they should hear the outrage.

FCC votes to start formal consideration of net neutrality proposal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024958257

FCC Hears the Public Outcry for Net Neutrality, Continues to Consider Pay-to-Play Rules

There’s good news: the nationwide outcry against the Federal Communications Commission’s troublesome proposal for new Open Internet rules is clearly having an impact. At a public meeting this morning, commissioners were factoring in questions that—according to previous accounts—weren’t on the table only days ago. The bad news: the FCC still is considering a set of rules that will allow Internet providers to discriminate how we access websites with only vague and uncertain limits, endangering network neutrality and threatening the vibrant growth of the Internet.

We’re still waiting for the full proposal. But according to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s statements at the open meeting, the FCC didn't take pay-to-play "fast lanes" off the table. Paid “fast lane” access fees threaten the engine of innovation that has allowed hackers, startup companies, and kids in their college dorm rooms to make the Internet that we know and love today. We want the Internet to continue to thrive as a platform for innovation and expression; vague rules that bless "pay to play," with ill-defined limits, are not compatible with our vision of an open Internet.

We are encouraged that the FCC is continuing to push for greater transparency. Internet users and innovators cannot protect themselves if they can't scrutinize how their ISP handles their traffic. Without knowledge of how ISPs are operating and maintaining their network architecture, enforcement of any network neutrality rules will be hollow. New forms of discrimination may surface to circumvent regulatory or public responsibility, unbeknownst to users and the FCC alike.

Today was an important day in the fight for net neutrality, but this battle is far from won. The FCC announced plans to open an extended four-month public comment window to solicit the stories from people across the country about the agency’s proposed open Internet rules. Internet users must take this opportunity to speak up, early, and often.

We’ve created a tool to help. Visit www.DearFCC.org to raise your voice and make sure the FCC is clear on this point: we don’t want regulations that will turn ISPs into gatekeepers to their subscribers. It’s time to protect our Internet.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/05/fcc-hears-public-outcry-continues-consider-pay-play-rules

[kristopher]

25. If two of the Dems support stronger rules, why'd they vote for this proposal?

It was 3 Dems for and 2 Repubs against.

[leftyohiolib]

3. that's what this is all about corporate america wants the i-net so it can shut down

the left and profit from it.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. +1. In DC, it's what they call "bi-partisanship"

[Go Vols]

4. Tell the FCC what you think

https://www.dearfcc.org/

[2banon]

17. Thanks for the link, it's perfect for sharing on fb.. n/t.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. It's a toll booth on the Internet. "Thanks," Obama. Couldn't have done it w/o you!

[Uncle Joe]

8. I couldn't agree more with Senator Franken.

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.

[Shandris]

9. Oh, don't worry! It's okay! See, Mr. Wheeler said that he won't let them...

...slow the internet down beyond 'a certain acceptable level of service'! Granted, we have the worst, slowest broadband in the first world to begin with (at some of the highest rates in the world, too!), but that's okay!

On an unrelated note, do you think Mister Wheeler would consent to us rationing his access to water if we promised to make sure to keep it at 'a certain acceptable level of service'?

[2banon]

16. Friends of mine from Holland, say this all the time. Our Internet is the SLOWEST in the Free World.

Now it's going to be worse than it already is. f**k this sh*t.

[Pakid]

21. We don't live in the free world we live in the greed world

and that the problem

[2banon]

23. I forgot the quotation marks around "Free World".. totally agree with your pov. n/t

[Enthusiast]

10. I'm glad we admit this issue is not resolved.

[arely staircase]

12. k&r nt

[Auggie]

14. LAST SENTENCE: "… will only push innovative young minds to come up with a new way to communicate ...

without the interference of corporate agendas.

HELL YEAH!

[WillyT]

15. K & R !!!

[jwirr]

19. Proud to call him my senator. His campaign called last night and I volunteered to work for him.

Don't know what I can do but I want to help.

[NorthCarolina]

20. The administration kills net neutrality and Americans say:

whats that?

[rhett o rick]

31. The frog water is getting near boiling. For 30 years the greedy have been reducing the quality of

life for the lower classes and most are apathetic. I guess it takes too much energy to jump out of the pot.

[Digit]

22. K&R

[DrBulldog]

27. Crickets in the White House

Not a peep from the black guy sitting in the back of the room ...

[bbgrunt]

28. k and r.

[Blue Owl]

29. Al's been on this issue for awhile

Finally people are starting to notice, but too late?