Net Neutrality Win

[Dee]

Big win today for keeping the internet free and open. It has been classified now as a utility, making it illegal for ISPs to throttle services:

The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to implement new net neutrality rules designed to make sure Internet service providers treat all legal content equally.

The historic vote on the proposal by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler elicited hearty cheers from a wide array of technology companies and consumer groups while setting the table for further legal challenges from Internet service providers. The controversial proceedings that led up to the vote generated heated lobbying in Washington and public clamor on social media, all in efforts to steer the future direction of the rules that guide Internet traffic.

"No one ... should control free and open access to the Internet," Wheeler said to applause from the standing room-only crowd gathered before the FCC panel. "It's the most powerful and pervasive platform on the planet. The Internet is too important to allow broadband providers to make the rules."

Source

 

[Webster]

Well, there goes the internet....

 

[Dee]

Of course it wasn't broken, but people were trying to break it. I get the feeling you'd feel better if Mitt had accomplished this.

 

[Nebulous]

"No one ... should control free and open access to the Internet,"

I agree. High five to the person who said that.

 

[Dee]

"No one ... should control free and open access to the Internet,"

I agree.   High five to the person who said that.

I believe Tom Wheeler said it.  

 

[Nebulous]

Yeah, him.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Hope you enjoyed your last days of a free internet for doing things like expressing opinions. My god when will people learn that when government gets involved in anything to supposedly make things better it only gets worse. But even though the destruction is all around them with every government program being run poorly with rampant corruption and ruining lives they just walk around with a bag over there head not seeing anything.

The only hope we have to stop a bunch of people who were not elected by the people of ruining the freest and the most innovative place for ideas is the dozens of lawsuits that have begun today. Good luck to them and there success. And may all the sheep conditioned by government wake up.
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"No one ... should control free and open access to the Internet,"

I agree.   High five to the person who said that.

It ain't and never was free. Someone has to pay to keep it up and running with the high speeds we now all enjoy. So let me see do you want a government who can't even run a website for peoples health care. And a government who makes the DMV seem like some place in hell for the long waits. Not me I know and understand the internet is and never was free and will take the private market running it any day over any kind of government involvement.

See todays ruined health care system for government involvement starting in the 1960's for one of many guides on how this is a horrible idea

 

[Webster]

Of course it wasn't broken, but people were trying to break it.  I get the feeling you'd feel better if Mitt had accomplished this.

No, I'd actually feel better if government just stayed the hell out of the way...after all, that's what they've done up to now in regards to the internet and its' worked just fine. *reads second part of comment8 ...and for the record, Dee: I voted for Obama twice, in 2008 and 2012...two votes I really wish I could take back.

 

[Dee]

Of course it wasn't broken, but people were trying to break it.  I get the feeling you'd feel better if Mitt had accomplished this.

No, I'd actually feel better if government just stayed the hell out of the way...after all, that's what they've done up to now in regards to the internet and its' worked just fine. *reads second part of comment8 ...and for the record, Dee: I voted for Obama twice, in 2008 and 2012...two votes I really wish I could take back.

So, you'd be okay if the ISP you pay for internet throttled your speeds and brought you back down to near dial-up territory? Hmm, okay.  Well, that's your choice, but I'm pretty sure the majority of people who protested to the FCC got their point across. If it wasn't for the public voicing their opinion, the government wouldn't have done shit about it as you wished. In this case, government intervention was necessary regardless of what you believe. And it is necessary in many cases where mega corporations think they're entitled to regulate and charge you money for the air you breathe.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Of course it wasn't broken, but people were trying to break it.  I get the feeling you'd feel better if Mitt had accomplished this.

No, I'd actually feel better if government just stayed the hell out of the way...after all, that's what they've done up to now in regards to the internet and its' worked just fine. *reads second part of comment8 ...and for the record, Dee: I voted for Obama twice, in 2008 and 2012...two votes I really wish I could take back.

So, you'd be okay if the ISP you pay for internet throttled your speeds and brought you back down to near dial-up territory? Hmm, okay.  Well, that's your choice, but I'm pretty sure the majority of people who protested to the FCC got their point across. If it wasn't for the public voicing their opinion, the government wouldn't have done shit about it as you wished. In this case, government intervention was necessary regardless of what you believe. And it is necessary in many cases where mega corporations think they're entitled to regulate and charge you money for the air you breathe.

That's why we have things called the free market where you can pick the internet provider of your choice If they are acting in a manner you don't like. But as usual people want something for nothing and think it's so unfair a individual or a business can afford better service then someone else. So let's whine to government Like petulant little children and ruin the internet while they try and make it exactly the same for everyone ruining it for all. And if you think Prices are not going to go up dramatically I have some of that Everglades land for sale. And if this government regulation is so Great why the need even now to keep it secret from the people. Just more freedom to many people are willing to throw away.

 

[Dee]

Of course it wasn't broken, but people were trying to break it.  I get the feeling you'd feel better if Mitt had accomplished this.

No, I'd actually feel better if government just stayed the hell out of the way...after all, that's what they've done up to now in regards to the internet and its' worked just fine. *reads second part of comment8 ...and for the record, Dee: I voted for Obama twice, in 2008 and 2012...two votes I really wish I could take back.

So, you'd be okay if the ISP you pay for internet throttled your speeds and brought you back down to near dial-up territory? Hmm, okay.  Well, that's your choice, but I'm pretty sure the majority of people who protested to the FCC got their point across. If it wasn't for the public voicing their opinion, the government wouldn't have done shit about it as you wished. In this case, government intervention was necessary regardless of what you believe. And it is necessary in many cases where mega corporations think they're entitled to regulate and charge you money for the air you breathe.

That's why we have things called the free market where you can pick the internet provider of your choice If they are acting in a manner you don't like. But as usual people want something for nothing and think it's so unfair a individual or a business can afford better service then someone else. So let's whine to government Like petulant little children and ruin the internet while they try and make it exactly the same for everyone ruining it for all. And if you think Prices are not going to go up dramatically I have some of that Everglades land for sale. And if this government regulation is so Great why the need even now to keep it secret from the people. Just more freedom to many people are willing to throw away.

That's not actually true. Where I live, and where many other people live, only one internet provider is available. While you're right that we do have a choice in what we can pick, there's also another factor that comes into play: what do I have to choose from? My apartment, unfortunately, is only wired up for two internet providers, and they're both equally dismal in their service, pricing, etc. I just chose the most reliable one out of the two evils, and plenty other Americans have to do that as well. You seem to forget that only a few corporations run things in this country, TL. You know, that idea of the Big Five, and it's only getting worse. This is why government regulation on corporations is needed.  Perhaps not in other areas of our lives, I totally agree, but in this case I am fully behind what the FCC did.

And in this case, it's not a matter of something for nothing.  Plenty of people are paying out the ass to get GREAT internet speeds. But hey, guess what, the ISPs have decided your $100+ for internet just isn't enough. So let's have the customers shell out a shit ton more money to crank it up a few MB or so.  Good idea!  This is why we're falling behind as a country compared to the rest of the world.  It's why we're now the laughing stock because of the rabid and widespread ignorance of our citizens who allow corporations to do as they please, grow so big and get out of control to the point where government intervention is the only way to fix it.   

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Okay so what you want to do then is where you live is have the small company based internet provider be forced to give you cheaper prices by force under government regulation. Ya that is going to work out splendidly with small providers going out of business or upgrades going the way side. Then the those big corporations you hate so much will even have more control. And you know why many not all but many have the power they have? I will tell you why because they play cronyism with the very government that is going to regulate the internet. That sounds like a wonderful idea. So now what you are going to get is the same dismissal speeds (even though mine is lightning fast for $50.00) and everyone else happy with theres will be brought down to the same level and a price increase to boot. Enjoy!

Whats needed is not a government getting involved in a place for free expression and true laissezfaire of everything and anything you can dream up but for government to make it easier for companies to start up to create more choices for internet and cable providers. But government has intentionally made it almost impossible for such things to happen. And now we have a government in bed with the large companies invested in government control of the internet. Coincidence I think not!!!! God we are a land of dependent and easy to control sheep.

 

[Dee]

Okay so what you want to do then is where you live is have the small company based internet provider be forced to give you cheaper prices by force under government regulation. Ya that is going to work out splendidly with small providers going out of business or upgrades going the way side. Then the those big corporations you hate so much will even have more control. And you know why many not all but many have the power they have? I will tell you why because they play cronyism with the very government that is going to regulate the internet. That sounds like a wonderful idea. So now what you are going to get is the same dismissal speeds (even though mine is lightning fast for $50.00) and everyone else happy with theres will be brought down to the same level and a price increase to boot. Enjoy!

Whats needed is not a government getting involved in a place for free expression and true laissezfaire of everything and anything you can dream up but for government to make it easier for companies to start up to create more choices for internet and cable providers. But government has intentionally made it almost impossible for such things to happen. And now we have a government in bed with the large companies invested in government control of the internet. Coincidence I think not!!!! God we are a land of dependent and easy to control sheep.

You're sure as hell right about that.  The road goes both ways.

What do you propose happens then?  Perhaps it's time for you to campaign to fix this mess.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

I said what to do. Get government out of cronyism and certainly do not let government get involved in any aspect of regulating the internet.

 

[Dee]

I said what to do. Get government out of cronyism and certainly do not let government get involved in any aspect of regulating the internet.

And let corporations run the show instead, essentially standing in as the government? We'll still be fighting against two evils.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Yes let the dozens and dozens of companies in each state that would start up and compete for the peoples money run the show. Cheaper prices and better service is what we would get. But people seem to like limited competition, higher prices and government control that will regulate what you can do and say on the internet. So I for one am praying the lawsuits happening across the country to at least keep it where we are at this moment and not make it any worse then it is.

 

[Dee]

Yes let the dozens and dozens of companies in each state that would start up and compete for the peoples money run the show. Cheaper prices and better service is what we would get. But people seem to like limited competition, higher prices and government control that will regulate what you can do and say on the internet. So I for one am praying the lawsuits happening across the country to at least keep it where we are at this moment and not make it any worse then it is.

How can they start up and compete when these major companies are running the show and calling the shots?  Even before there was government intervention, Comcast and one or two other companies were still in control.  

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

They are only running the show because government regulations has made it impossible for new start ups to begin. And these big corporations paying off our government for favors is doing its best to ensure it remains that way. And even before there was heavy government regs small startups sprang up in some of the remote locations that did not have access to the internet. And now they are expressing there concern they will close up shop when the new unknown heavy handed regs become fully implemented.

People like Glenn Beck who makes over a 100 million a year has been doing everything he can with his corporation to bypass comcast and just create his own version of it. But even with his money the government has stopped him at every turn with the regs in place. Now imagine the choices we would have in cable and internet providers if people like him on many different political and ideologies had the freedom to do this. The evidence clearly shows with every government program ever implemented you are in the wrong and no good will come of this.
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In a government-run pseudo-market (also known as economic fascism), the standards shift from consumer satisfaction to political concerns. Government talks of “fairness” as over and above profit; what this always means in practice is manipulating the decisions of big businesses to suit the political purposes of the particular political party in power.

The really interesting part of the article at recode.net is this statement:

The executive [Mark Cuban] dismissed Netflix’s claims that subscribers endured slower speeds until the company paid Comcast for direct access to the Internet provider’s broadband network. Comcast claimed that Netflix had used an inferior middleman to deliver video to Comcast’s network.

“It’s a battle between two fairly large companies,” Cuban said. “[They] worked it out, just like happens in business every day.”

That’s the key. Businesses work things out, because they have to do so. Government stands in the background, enforcing the right to private property and to uphold contracts willingly signed. At least, that’s how it would be in a free market.

As significant as the Internet has become, this “Net Neutrality” issue is about more than the market. It’s a grab for power by the federal government. You see, the federal government isn’t interested in leaving well enough alone, or letting companies work out matters on their own, based on the motives of profit, survival and customer satisfaction.

http://capitalismmagazine.com/2015/02/say-good-night-internet/