The FCC's Threat to Internet Freedom

[Janice]

The FCC's Threat to Internet Freedom
Wall Street Journal

Tomorrow morning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will mark the winter solstice by taking an unprecedented step to expand government's reach into the Internet by attempting to regulate its inner workings. In doing so, the agency will circumvent Congress and disregard a recent court ruling.

How did the FCC get here?  >>>

It wasn't long ago that bipartisan and international consensus centered on insulating the Internet from regulation. This policy was a bright hallmark of the Clinton administration, which oversaw the Internet's privatization. Over time, however, the call for more Internet regulation became imbedded into a 2008 presidential campaign promise by then-Sen. Barack Obama. So here we are. >>>

The most expansive regulatory regimes frequently started out modest and innocuous before incrementally growing into heavy-handed behemoths.

On this winter solstice, we will witness jaw-dropping interventionist chutzpah as the FCC bypasses branches of our government in the dogged pursuit of needless and harmful regulation. The darkest day of the year may end up marking the beginning of a long winter's night for Internet freedom.

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So the Obamunist march continues ... naturally unabated by republicrats.

[ReaganForRushmore]

Defund the FCC

[BlueStateSaint]

Defund the FCC

Maybe that's exactly what John Boehner has in mind.

[thundley4]

What's the big deal? There is too much information available, anyway.

[cavegal]

THIS WHOLE BUNCH IS A THREAT TO FREEDOM........PERIOD

[DLR Pyro]

no comment from the left who throughout G.W.Bush's 8 years kept harping on how he was wiping his ass with the Constitution and how he was systematically taking away our rights one by one

[Janice]

What business does the FCC have over the Internet at all? The only thing they have in their Charter to regulate are broadcast frequencies, not cable, not satellite, which are international frequency allocations, and not phone lines (DSL, fiber-optic). And considering the socialist partys propensity for taxing anything possible, dont be surprised if this is partially just a way to implement internet sales tax. All those sales going unpunished er .. I mean untaxed ... it just aint fair. /s

[Attero Dominatus]

The left chanted 'there's a chillwind of censorship' under Bush. The silence is deafening.

[olde north church]

Yeah, it's a kick in the privates but really, if you stop and think about it, I've been on those Internets for almost 15 years.  Am I the only one that thinks it's a bit of a let down?

[true_blood]

The imposter in the White Mosque is hell bent on his red diaper doper baby bringing up.

[Janice]

@ olde north church - No let down for me. Its my primary source of news, information and oftentimes shopping. Especially ebay. Plus I get to meet and chat with friends from all over the world just as easy, peasy as can be. Oh - and I get all the movies and tv shows I want -- with no commercials! And I can stop/ start them anytime I wish.

Nope. No let down here. It keeps me out of trouble too.  

[olde north church]

@ olde north church - No let down for me. Its my primary source of news, information and oftentimes shopping. Especially ebay. Plus I get to meet and chat with friends from all over the world just as easy, peasy as can be. Oh - and I get all the movies and tv shows I want -- with no commercials! And I can stop/ start them anytime I wish.

Nope. No let down here. It keeps me out of trouble too.  

You hit the high notes but has anyone ever used the term "vast wasteland" to describe a form of media?  Did I expect too much or did it not live up to it's expectations?

[thundley4]

You hit the high notes but has anyone ever used the term "vast wasteland" to describe a form of media?  Did I expect too much or did it not live up to it's expectations?

It may be a vast wasteland, but there many oases spread throughout. Forums like this are great, and then there's the fact that you can access news from almost anywhere in the world, and not just what the MSM wants you to have.  Then there is the fact that if you want to learn about some subject , there is a site for gaining that knowledge.

Overall, I'd say the internet gives you what you want to put into it.

[true_blood]

Yeah, it's a kick in the privates but really, if you stop and think about it, I've been on those Internets for almost 15 years.  Am I the only one that thinks it's a bit of a let down?

[olde north church]

It may be a vast wasteland, but there many oases spread throughout. Forums like this are great, and then there's the fact that you can access news from almost anywhere in the world, and not just what the MSM wants you to have.  Then there is the fact that if you want to learn about some subject , there is a site for gaining that knowledge.

Overall, I'd say the internet gives you what you want to put into it.

I guess that applies to a lot of life, right?  

[Janice]

"With the Obama administration on the verge of embracing new "network neutrality" rules increasing government oversight of the Internet, it's difficult to tell who objects more: Republicans who denounce the move as a federal power grab or Democrats who dismiss the reforms as too weak to do the job. >>>

Big telecommunications firms counter that they cannot justify huge investments in Internet infrastructure if they must offer access to all comers on basically the same terms.

Many conservative and libertarian critics also see the FCC move as a stalking horse for greater government control of content on the Web and the potential of silencing dissent. They also say the administration is pre-empting congressional action by proposing a solution where no problem exists."

FCC set to OK rules on Internet

Where in the Constitution is the authority to deny freedom of speech?

[thundley4]

Big telecommunications firms counter that they cannot justify huge investments in Internet infrastructure if they must offer access to all comers on basically the same terms.

IOW, they want to make a bigger profit than they make from us , the consumers on the internet. They want to charge the producers of the content we consume.  That would be akin to movie theaters charging Hollywood for showing their movies.

[I_B_Perky]

Looks like they passed it. Drudge has a link to the story by the WSJ. (below)   



Another freedom taken away

[true_blood]

Internet prices could go up because of this as well.
Anytime the gubberment gets involved, it's all over.

[Thirdbase]

The FCC is following the example of the governments greatest rogue agency, the EPA. The political unproductive class is convinced they are smarter than all of us and the only true solution is to defund them and remove their fangs!