The following editorial first appeared in the Seattle Times:
Even the Federal Communications Commission’s timid assertion of rights and protections for consumers on the Internet continues to inspire the wrath of Republicans.
The U.S. House of Representatives cleared the way for a resolution disapproving of the FCC’s net-neutrality guidelines adopted in December. Debate and a vote on the resolution, a formal device used by Congress to block actions taken by federal agencies, is pending.
The target: net-neutrality rules that require owners of the Internet’s infrastructure to treat all content equally. Even with expected House approval, the resolution should not clear the Democratic Senate, and it is still subject to a presidential veto.
The White House on Monday threatened just such an action, as it raised concerns about a threat to innovation on the Internet and consumer abuses without net-neutrality rules.
Oregon congressman Greg Walden proposed the rule-blocking resolution. News accounts quoted the Republican chair of the Communications Subcommittee as saying the FCC’s Open Internet Order would prohibit religious organizations from creating specialized services.
Earlier this month, a lawyer for Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, said they hear from consumers, small businesses, religious organizations and civil-rights groups that open Internet rules are critical to protecting equal access.
The House is primed to go after FCC rules that should be stronger, not weaker. Broadband providers must not be able to invent tiered rates and tinker with speed and delivery to the detriment of broadband customers.
Comments (3)
Add commentBig corporations controlling
Big corporations controlling our Internet or the government? Who would you choose?
A far more complex issue
than most people see. Control of the internet is similar to who controls the airways and the phones. As I see it the private industry will give us the same results with the internet as they have done with TV and radio: every few minutes they'll interrupt service to give you a commercial brake. Or perhpas you have to have multiple subscriptions as individual business will only allow access to their system to select subscribers. In any event the history of industry having control over anything shows they put profits ahead of anything else except their occasions political perspectives.
Free and open
Free and open access to all content - common carrier status should be a legal requirement for any ISP, and Net-neutrality should be inviolate. If that's not acceptable, then don't go into the business. Any country that supposedly prides itself on being a democracy should see the clarity of that position with no fuss whatsoever. The free and open exchange of information is critical to maintaining any semblance of a free society.