NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Judges hear arguments on net neutrality rules
Judges hear arguments on net neutrality rules
http://j.mp/1anmBet (New York Times)
"The F.C.C.'s uphill battle, in part, reflects politics and past
decisions by the agency. In 2002, its chairman at the time, Michael K.
Powell, a Republican, got the majority of the commission to agree that
the Internet was not a telecommunications service like the telephone
system. Instead, it classified the Web as an information service,
making it subject to much lighter regulation."
- - -
You remember Michael K. Powell, don't you? - His cable industry
masters must be enormously proud of their lackey's performance in the
furtherance of their expensive and consumer crushing mediocrity:
Former FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, who is now the chief lobbyist
for the cable industry ... Let's unpack his assertions one by one.
It's a little unclear what "three universally available high-speed
networks" he's referring to, but if he means cable, DSL and mobile or
satellite, he's blowing smoke. Only cable consistently offers true
high-speed capability -- DSL is spotty and barely serviceable when
it's available, and neither satellite nor mobile networks can offer
both high speed and reasonable pricing. Even if it were true that 85%
of the country "can access" 100-megabit service, the question is: at
what price? As my column noted, in Seoul you can get it for $31.90 a
month. In New York you'll pay $35 for one-fourth the speed, and in
Los Angeles you pay $30 for one-10th the speed ... He gives the game
away in his letter by pointing out that we've achieved our mediocre
record "without the massive taxpayer subsidies that financed broadband
networks in Europe and Asia." Right. His clients don't want the
government to compete with them, but they don't want to spend the
money to make the U.S. first in the world with the fastest and most
accessible Internet service. - L.A. Times, 30 Aug 2013
- - -
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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