The FCC Just Voted to Regulate the Internet Like a Utility

[Lucille]

Dear Foolish and Gullible Americans, Net Neutrality is Not Your Friend
http://themattwalshblog.com/2015/02...ality-is-not-your-friend/#RtObHJbRKh1oZO2f.99

I really need you guys to read this. I know you might hear “net neutrality” and immediately think “sounds boring and irrelevant to my life,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I admit I’m biased. I make my living on the internet. The FCC tells us that they need to impose 332 pages worth of regulations in order to make the internet “open and free,” but I’m sitting here as someone who can attest that the Internet WAS ALREADY open and free. How else could I go from posting Facebook statuses to being a full time blogger with opinions that are considered repulsive and offensive to many people? This is the free and open internet. I’ve made my living with it.

Now the government wants to come in to “protect” us. From what? Who in God’s name actually thinks that a massive federal bureaucracy will IMPROVE the internet and make us more free. When has a massive federal bureaucracy ever improved ANYTHING or made ANYTHING more free?

So, look, I take it personally. I admit. I see so many utter fools applauding a government takeover of the internet, I see them accept on face value everything they’re told without even getting a chance to read the regulations, I see them flocking to the protective embrace of the government because they’re scared of the big, bad, evil corporations, and I just can’t possibly contain my disgust. Enough of this stupidity already. It’s killing us. It’s destroying this country. Yes, I take that personally. I take it very personally.

Read this. Understand the issue. Understand what just happened. Share this or share something else that let’s people know what’s going on:

Click here to read.

h/t http://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/ClaireWolfe/2015/02/27/friday-links-32/

 

[Cabal]

A good overview and history of the net neutrality issue and the subject of communication regulation in general, prior to this latest FCC ruling but very much related to it.

 

[AuH20]

Alex Jones just said that Mark Cuban was going to distribute an Alex Jones production a year ago and the White House supposedly threatened him.

Here it is:

http://youtu.be/o633B2YPse8?t=3m26s

 

[HVACTech]

I am not sure what I think about this, I am on a satellite dish, and, I ran over my data amount (again) towards the end of the month..

boom. I am back up to full speed..

so, I guess this means everyone gets unlimited data?

I would have missed the dancing spiders if my speed was still restricted.. :o

 

[Origanalist]

DH had me cancel NetFlix yesterday. I don't do fedbook but he's finally done with that "appalling spy machine." /Assange

Net Neutrality Vote In The FCC: You Lose America
http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=229877

So if I cancel Netflix we don't get Obamanet?

 

[PRB]

I am not sure what I think about this, I am on a satellite dish, and, I ran over my data amount (again) towards the end of the month..

boom. I am back up to full speed..

so, I guess this means everyone gets unlimited data?

I would have missed the dancing spiders if my speed was still restricted.. :o

 

[puppetmaster]

I don't think this has been posted in this thread yet:

Mark Cuban: Welcom to the "Department of the Internet"
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...m-to-the-quot-Department-of-the-Internet-quot


They mess with the Boomers' teevee at their peril!

Cuban should start a satellite company beaming the internets across the continent and run by an overseas company out of the fucking arm of the FCC.

 

[juleswin]

Nothing wrong with monopolies as long as nobody is forced to buy and use it.

and its not created by govt interference like regulation, subsidy, license etc etc

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I am not sure what I think about this, I am on a satellite dish, and, I ran over my data amount (again) towards the end of the month..

boom. I am back up to full speed..

so, I guess this means everyone gets unlimited data?

I would have missed the dancing spiders if my speed was still restricted.. :o

Would they have implemented this new regulation that quickly?

I guess what you might be saying is that people will get this immediate windfall, but pay in long run? I've seen that happen with other things. A variation was when Bush junior had that program where he just sent everybody a check and called it a tax rebate or some other euphemism.

 

[HVACTech]

Would they have implemented this new regulation that quickly?

I guess what you might be saying is that people will get this immediate windfall, but pay in long run? I've seen that happen with other things. A variation was when Bush junior had that program where he just sent everybody a check and called it a tax rebate or some other euphemism.

heck, I don't know.. it would have reset tonight anyhow. mebbe it is just my provider, I do not know. that is why I was asking about it.
if , indeed. EVERYONE gets unlimited data now.... that would be a big deal.
all of the plans would have to change.
that will not be a small issue if true.

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

heck, I don't know.. it would have reset tonight anyhow. mebbe it is just my provider, I do not know. that is why I was asking about it.
if , indeed. EVERYONE gets unlimited data now.... that would be a big deal.
all of the plans would have to change.
that will not be a small issue if true.

I still don't understand this shit, but could it be that these companies are sucking up to their customers? Maybe they are anticipating something bad for their type of company, and are trying some PR?

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/02/26/fcc-approves-net-neutrality-rules/24053057/

The five-member commission voted 3 to 2 to approve the proposal, as expected. Joining Wheeler in voting for his plan were Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel. Commissioners Ajit Pai and Michael O'Rielly, the two Republicans on the commission, voted against it.

"We cannot have a two-tiered Internet with fast lanes that speed the traffic of the privileged and leave the rest of us lagging behind," Rosenworcel said.

Okay, this is what I figured. A bunch of "poor" people and their slave masters whining because they don't have good entertainment. The big cheese just bought more of their votes. The rest just sold their freedom for material possession.

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I'd like to remind everyone that this is a regulation that a very very large segment of the population was very actively pushing.

How are you in a position to "remind" everyone about this? I doubt if "a very very large segment of the population" was even aware of this, let alone understand it.

It's hard to consider this to be some big government takeover conspiracy when so many people were pressuring the government to do it.

The person that you quoted in your reply did not hint at anything conspiratorial. You just made that up. If fact, I don't hear anybody talking that way except you.

From where I'm standing, it appears to be an example of rampant paranoia and fear mongering

And where exactly do you stand? It seems that a very very large segment of your posts are posts like these. You remind me of a few other dubious characters on this board. The ones who have no interest in liberty but pretend that they do.

 

[kpitcher]

Nothing wrong with charging more but there was a lack of competition in many regions due to state legislation. They could have simply tried to break up the regional monopolies as opposed to surrendering the ENTIRE FREAKING INTERNET to the FCC.

They did back in 1996 with the telco reform act which was passed by Congress. Then under Bush, Powel's son was put in charge of the FCC. He used to be a lawyer for a phone company. The FCC changed things so there was no longer forced competition on the government mandated monopolies of the baby bells. Where was the outrage then?

If you follow the money in opensecrets all the big complaints about the FCC are coming from people taking money from Comcast, AT+T, etc.

One bright side of the FCC ruling are this opens the way for Google Fiber and other ISPs to put things on utility poles. Google said this in a letter to the FCC and that can't have been well received by the monopoly ISPs.

Also Verizon sued the FCC a few years ago for the FCC fining them for slowing down bittorrent. The courts sided with Verizon saying the Internet was not a classified as a utility so the FCC couldn't do a thing about it. http://torrentfreak.com/verizon-sues-fcc-to-overturn-net-neutrality-rules/

 

[PRB]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/02/26/fcc-approves-net-neutrality-rules/24053057/




Okay, this is what I figured. A bunch of "poor" people and their slave masters whining because they don't have good entertainment. The big cheese just bought more of their votes. The rest just sold their freedom for material possession.

How is that different than "poor" people and their slave masters complaining that ISPs sell their information ask for "pay for privacy"?

Osan here attempts to make a case for internet access being a right, somehow I'm the bad guy because I oppose government regulation on free market and support provider's rights to gouge prices on a commodity.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?469071-Pay-for-privacy

 

[PRB]

How are you in a position to "remind" everyone about this? I doubt if "a very very large segment of the population" was even aware of this, let alone understand it.

No, the young population is fully aware of this, though what they want may not be freedom. Consumers look at a few things and those things only: PRICE, CHOICE, SERVICE. They'll ask for it, pay for it, beg for it, vote for bullies to steal for it. That's what it's about, entitlement minded consumers asking the government to protect their interests forgetting that corporations and providers are owned and operated by people who also have rights.

They don't need to "understand" it if they know what they want : cheap access, privacy, fast speeds, a saturated entertainment machine. They don't care what it takes or what it costs other people (or even themselves). If you don't believe me, look around and see how many people believe they have a right to have a smartphone and that they can't live without it, or their quality of life depends on it.

 

[PRB]

I'd like to remind everyone that this is a regulation that a very very large segment of the population was very actively pushing.

It's hard to consider this to be some big government takeover conspiracy when so many people were pressuring the government to do it.

You are correct, it's not a sneaky conspiracy by a small group of top down tyrants against consumers and peasants, it's the result of consumers and liberals feeling entitled to net neutrality, so they harrassed the government to bully their providers. This is no different than Democrats wanting Obamacare or other free shit. Selfish consumers and Democrats want government, and they want lower prices, so they ask government to give them lower prices.

 

[pcosmar]

I am not sure what I think about this, I am on a satellite dish, and, I ran over my data amount (again) towards the end of the month..

boom. I am back up to full speed..

so, I guess this means everyone gets unlimited data?

I would have missed the dancing spiders if my speed was still restricted.. :o

mine comes over the copper wires of the phone lines that have been here since Ma Bell.

It has no restrictions,, other that the speed we pay for. They have several packages and we have the cheapest.

The ISP has more and faster options,,for a price.
Hell,,DSL was fine,, at half the speed. but they are phasing it out.

 

[Suzanimal]

Verizon issues statement in Morse code to protest net neutrality ruling

What does a big corporation do when it believes the government is imposing antiquated regulations? Issue a harsh statement. In morse code.

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved tough net neutrality regulations to oversee online traffic.

The new rules prohibit Internet service providers from discriminating against legal content flowing through their wired or wireless networks, such as by charging websites for faster delivery of video and other data to consumers. Verizon and rival AT&T have called the rules unnecessary and say they risk damaging the Internet economy.

On Verizon's policy blog Thursday, the company posted a statement it titled "FCC's 'Throwback Thursday' move imposes 1930s rules on the Internet."

Here's the full statement in all its old-timey glory:

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Verizon also translated for the non-Morse-code-reading public:

“Today’s decision by the FCC to encumber broadband Internet services with badly antiquated regulations is a radical step that presages a time of uncertainty for consumers, innovators and investors. Over the past two decades a bipartisan, light- touch policy approach unleashed unprecedented investment and enabled the broadband Internet age consumers now enjoy.

“The FCC today chose to change the way the commercial Internet has operated since its creation. Changing a platform that has been so successful should be done, if at all, only after careful policy analysis, full transparency, and by the legislature, which is constitutionally charged with determining policy. As a result, it is likely that history will judge today’s actions as misguided.

“The FCC’s move is especially regrettable because it is wholly unnecessary. The FCC had targeted tools available to preserve an open Internet, but instead chose to use this order as an excuse to adopt 300- plus pages of broad and open- ended regulatory arcana that will have unintended negative consequences for consumers and various parts of the Internet ecosystem for years to come.

“What has been and will remain constant before, during and after the existence of any regulations is Verizon’s commitment to an open Internet that provides consumers with competitive broadband choices and Internet access when, where, and how they want.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busin...ode-net-neutrality-20150226-story.html#page=2

 

[nayjevin]

If I understand correctly, FCC now has regulatory power over any kind of Internet delivered in any way that might be invented in the future.

http://www.coindesk.com/blockchain-play-role-kim-dotcoms-uncensorable-internet/

How would you like a new Internet that can't be controlled, censored or destroyed by Governments or Corporations? I'm working on it #MegaNet — Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) February 16, 2015