NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Waxman now backs FCC reclassification of ISPs [plus Hitler invoked]
Waxman now backs FCC reclassification of ISPs [plus Hitler invoked] http://bit.ly/9KVHiy (The Hill) "In a dramatic move, Rep. Henry Waxman on Wednesday said the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should use its power to regulate Internet service providers." - - - While I'm on record as supporting the general concept of reclassification, either Title II or "Third Way" -- I also (as you might guess) am not enthusiastic about further dunking these critical issues into the toxic acid of Big Lies politics and astroturf. If the FCC attempts to act now, the political backlash (keeping in mind the increasingly bipartisan nature of politicians now encumbered to Big Telecom and related coffer funding) will be intense. Probably the only related bill likely to get through Congress in the near future would be one *forbidding* the FCC to do much of anything in this area. The debate has been poisoned by hardliners on both ends. The anti-neutrality faction attempts to claim that imposing any regulations on ISPs creates censorship -- seemingly using logic similar to those who feel that preventing corporations from secretly using vast funds to "buy" elections somehow imposes on their free speech rights. (I can't find "corporate rights" anywhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights -- I see many references related to *individuals* however.) And the anti-neutrality operatives have been very successful at confusing people and inciting the worst kinds of passions -- note the references to Hitler in the comments to the article linked above! Meanwhile, some hardliners on the pro-net-neutrality side have taken to using terms like "traitor" for anyone who doesn't agree with their tactical approaches, even those who actually support much of their underlying policy views on the subject. Any attempts at forging consensus or compromise positions are condemned from both ends as a sell out -- or worse. Where should we go from here? Where can we go from here? There are some interesting possibilities. Stay tuned. Much more to come. --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com) http://www.vortex.com/lauren Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 Co-Founder, PFIR (People For Internet Responsibility): http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, NNSquad (Network Neutrality Squad): http://www.nnsquad.org Founder, GCTIP (Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance): http://www.gctip.org Founder, PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Google Buzz: http://bit.ly/lauren-buzz