Browsing Posts tagged Net Neutrality
The debate about net neutrality rages on, but the meaning of “open internet” vs. “closed internet” is seldom explained. Without an open or neutral internet, corporations like AT&T or Comcast can restrict bandwidth and charge people extra for faster connections or limit access to their competitors’ services altogether.
In the United States, a January 2014 ruling from the DC Circuit Court determined that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) had no authority to enforce its previous rules about net neutrality. This opened the decision about how to govern the internet’s future up to law makers in the US Congress.
Net Neutrality – What a Closed Internet Means
This video describes what net neutrality complete with fake buffering in the video.
This video is really oversimplified and the voice of the speaker is not really great.
Cable companies are trying to create an unequal playing field for internet speeds, but they’re doing it so boringly that most news outlets aren’t covering it.
John Oliver explains the controversy and lets viewers know how they can voice their displeasure to the FCC.
The Federal Communications Commission is backtracking on its net neutrality stance. A proposal released in April would have allowed for the creation of a two-tiered internet. Internet service providers would be permitted to charge content providers for faster user downloads, making it harder for users to access the content of the providers who don’t pay.
After a public backlash, the FCC is making changes to ensure all parties have equal access, but many digital rights activists are concerned the changes may not go far enough. According to attorney and internet activist Kevin Zeese, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is scared of Comcast, preventing him from implementing actual change.
President Obama said he’d stand up for net neutrality and never appoint a lobbyist and then put a paid shill from the cable industry in charge of the government entity that is supposed to regulate them.
Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the FCC was a venture capitalist and lobbyist for the cable and wireless industry, with positions including President of the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA).
It is absolutely amazing that something with this much opposition continues to move forward.
This, however, is not a final rule. The FCC approved the proposal is now open for four months of public commentary after which they will vote again. Keep contacting your representatives and the FCC. Pay attention to the official public discussion on the proposal. The amount of public opposition can change the final form of the rule.
Call Congress
Who is my representative?
Comment at the FCC and then click 14-28 to publicly file a comment to the FCC about this proposal. This is the OFFICIAL way to submit your opinion to the FCC.
The FCC’s phone number: 888-225-5322 Press 1, 4, and 0 to be connected directly to an agent.
A whitehouse.gov petition to maintain true net neutrality.
A whitehouse.gov petition to remove Tom Wheeler.
More.
The Republican response.
