Netroots Tell Obama and the FCC -- You Can't Just Let the Telecoms Steal the Internet

[Joanne98]

By Timothy Karr, Free Press
Posted on May 5, 2010, Printed on May 5, 2010
http://www.alternet.org/story/146735/

Leaders of the Internet's grassroots community have made it clear that inaction by the FCC is not an option when it comes to keeping the Web open and accessible.

In a series of posts and statements, bloggers for DailyKos, FireDogLake, OpenLeft.com, theAmerican Prospectand other influential sites have expressed dismay that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski would consider abandoning the agency's role as watchdog over the Internet.

Bloggers were joined by online advocacy groups including MoveOn, CredoAction, ColorofChange.org, SavetheInternet.com and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which are urging the FCC chair not to abdicate his responsibility to stop corporations from picking and choosing how users access information over the Internet.

A Washington Post story indicated that Genachowski was considering nothing to stop phone and cable companies from blocking access to websites and services. The chairman is weighing the agency's options in the aftermath of a federal appeals court decision that undercut the FCC's authority to protect Internet openness and ensure universal access.



http://www.alternet.org/news/146735/netroots_tell_obama_and_the_fcc_--_you_can%27t_just_let_the_telecoms_steal_the_internet

[fascisthunter]

1. this issue needs much more attention

[mikesm]

2. Do you know why Julius got his FCC job in the first place?

Because he raised a crapload of money for Obama. And not a ton of small contributions, but quite a few big ones.

He is the one who gets to decide because the other two D's on the FCC have said they would vote to reclassify and impose neutrality, and the two R's have said they are opposed to any regulation of the the monopoly carriers.

What happens to his ability to raise money from these big corporate lobbyists if he pisses them all off by voting to reclassify? All those spigots from Comcast and AT&T and Verizon etc... won't send it to the Dems anymore. Policy doesn't matter here. Can we find out who the donors were that he "bundled" up? I think that would explain a lot.

And don't think this is just Julius - he is one of the President's good friends and plays basketball with him all the time! If the President really wanted network neutrality to happen, guess what, Julius would know. Do you really think they never have discussed the topic?

Odd that the end of the Internet as we know it will be caused by one of President Obama's closest friends. The R's, sure, we would expect that, but I thought our side had won the election? This FCC is doing nothing differently than a Republican FCC would do. And it's not Clyburn or Copps that's the problem, it's the chairman himself.

And apparently even those on his whole staff have had enough - Colin Crowell announced yesterday that he was leaving the agency. Colin used to work for Markey who is a true neutrality supporter. I'm not sure that the folks he recruited to work at the FCC knew what a sellout he would be.

And now we hear that their are crazy meetings going on inside the FCC to this topic so it can look like he hasn't really decided yet, but in reality nothing has changed and Julius is going to side with the Republicans in the end and not even bring reclassification to a vote.

Look, if the President was serious about this, Julius would not be waffling here. He's a close friend of the President. But given the President's popularity issues, they believe they cannot piss off their corporate masters or their fundraising spigots will be turned off for the 2012 race. If I'm right, there is no point in calling the FCC or the White House. It's done deal. Why else appoint a FUNDRAISER as FCC chief?

Name me one thing this FCC has done that a Republican FCC would not have done? Argh...

[bvar22]

3. Will the Democratic Party Leadership ....

...listen to the "Fucking Retarded" Wing of the Democratic Party?

They haven't done so yet.
Why would they start now? :shrug:



The DLC New Team
Liberal Democrats Need NOT Apply

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)

The "Centrist" Democratic Party motto:
"If its good for Wall Street,
its good for America!"
All HAIL the Giant Invisible Hand!"

[Uncle Joe]

4. I couldn't agree more, this is a big deal, particularly after the recent SC decision

allowing corporations unlimited ability to influence elections via issue advocacy and thus use their mega-phones to drown out the voices of the American People with their top down authortarian deciders

"In an age when corporations can spend unlimited sums to influence policy and campaigns, the netroots must speak out or risk losing the only open communications platform we have left. We can't endure another broken promise from Washington. We must draw the line at Net Neutrality."

This century+ long castle of corporate supremacy; all built on a false foundation and 21st century version of feudalism must be reversed.

The Internet is the last best hope for the American People of that occurring and the forces of subjugation know it, don't go quietly in to the night.

Thanks for the thread, Joanne.

[mikesm]

5. So how do we get Julius to do the right thing?

It's not like he listens to people like us... Do you know how much money AT&T and Verizon alone spend on lobbying and campaign contributions?

[Uncle Joe]

6. Go over his head if need be.

To the Congress, the President, strike, boycott, protest, build a political opposition based on Internet Neutrality, this issue should reach across traditional partisan lines.

The First Amendment was first for good reason, without it the rest; including the Second don't stand a chance.

[mikesm]

7. Do you really think that Julius is not taking guidance from Obama?

If the President wanted network neutrality to happen, Julius would have already scheduled a vote on a reclassification order - the two other Dems at the FCC are already chomping at the bit, but only Julius controls the agenda for what gets voted.

And don't think the Congress will do anything, while most Dems are supportive of passing neutrality regulations, the incumbent monopolists have bought off the usual suspects (the same ones the oil industry has bought, and the same ones the insurance industry has bought). So they can't pass it. But then again, they don't need to - the FCC can do this all by itself!

So I don't see how you can go over his head - the President obviously has sided with the big incumbents... Julius is a good friend and sees him plenty often.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Then you go over the President's head, you fight for it or else the American People end

up like this.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=robin+williams+awakenings&aq=1

So long as you accept the notion of having no control or power, your destiny will be determined by your expectations.

If Obama wants to retreat and screw the American People out of their unalienable rights of national consciousness, public deliberation and determination, by handing control and even more mega-phone power back to the corporate supremacists, then he must be held politically accountable.

I believe the Internet should be a public utility and no doubt this is why Comcast ranked public utilities at the top of their corruption pile in spite of such fierce competition from the corporate media and banksters, just more brainwashing from Comcast in an attempt to take over the net.

[Jefferson23]

15. +10

[NorthCarolina]

8. The fly in the ointment is that Obama stated he was

a "Staunch supporter of Net Neutrality". He has also indicated he is a "Staunch supporter of LGBT equal rights", and we now know the gains as a result of his "staunch support" on that front.

It has become painfully evident that it is a mistake to ever equate campaign rhetoric with any form of reality. Let's get real, if it has come down to the point that his "staunch support for net neutrality" hinges on prodding from the net roots community, then I would say it is a pretty safe bet that he was never REALLY there in the first place.

Suck it up folks, health care reform, ending DADT, ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reforming international trade agreements, enacting campaign finance reform, preserving the ban on off shore drilling, etc. were all the empty rhetoric of a DLC New Dem who was campaigning to win over a Democratic Base that, in truth, he could give two s#1t's about. As always, talk is cheap.

[ima_sinnic]

10. does "staunch supporter" = "fierce advocate"?

yes, I agree, the fix is in and once again it's profits and payola over principles (does he even have any?)

[NorthCarolina]

11. Staunch supporter, fierce advocate

it's all just empty words. I'm hoping for a true Liberal/Progressive primary challenger to Obama at this point. The likelihood of that is probably about as good as this president ending DADT in short order, or Congress auditing the Fed, but I am hopeful nonetheless. All hope is lost when you lose hope.

[ima_sinnic]

12. I lost hope back when I figured out how he sabotaged single-payer health care

and even the so-called public option that he pretended to be "for," for as long as he could keep up his little charade.

[NorthCarolina]

13. Don't forget....

campaign against a public mandate for private insurance, then implement the same once elected.

Are we ready to elect a true Liberal/Progressive yet?

[progressoid]

14. I suppose we really are becoming an Underground of Democrats

Since those D's in power don't seem to have the same goals and ideals as us.