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Here is the letter, verbatim:
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
The deployment of broadband service is a national imperative — as important to our nation’s economic success, growth and competitiveness as the postal roads, canals, rail lines, and interstate highways of the past.
Following the D.C. Circuit Court’s Comcast decision earlier this year, the Commission’s regulatory authority with respect to this vital engine of our economy was upended. Accordingly, the initiation in May of a proceeding on Commission authority was an appropriate and tailored response to the Court’s Comcast ruling. Reclassification and clear FCC oversight as contemplated by your “Third Way” proposal is critically important for bringing the benefits of broadband to all Americans and achieving the goals set forth in the landmark National Broadband Plan, including advancement of consumer welfare, energy independence and efficiency, job creation and other national priorities.
The recent proposal by Google and Verizon of an industry-centered net neutrality policy framework reinforces the need for resolution of the current open proceedings at the Commission to ensure the maintenance of an open Internet. Rather than expansion upon a proposal by two large communications companies with a vested financial interest in the outcome, formal FCC action is needed. The public interest is served by a free and open Internet that continues to be an indispensable platform for innovation, investment, entrepreneurship, and free speech.
As the Commission’s broadband proceeding moves forward, we believe that the Commission should be guided by the following fundamental principles:
The FCC must have oversight authority for broadband access services.
The United States has fallen behind other nations in terms of broadband deployment and adoption because of the failure to properly plan for its development and support its use; however, the National Broadband Plan represents a monumental step towards increasing deployment and adoption and unleashing the power of high speed access to create jobs, improve health care delivery, upgrade public safety tools and expand educational opportunities. Without the proper authority to implement all facets of the Plan, we will not fulfill its full promise or achieve its goals. Classification of broadband access service under Title II, combined with the Commission’s forbearance authority, would provide the necessary certainty for broadband network operators, broadband users, and Internet innovators alike.
Paid prioritization would close the open Internet.
Paid prioritization is contrary to the fundamental non-discrimination principles that have made the Internet the most successful communications and commercial medium in history. Such arrangements would favor certain content providers to the detriment of other content creators, degrading the traffic of providers unable or unwilling to pay. These types of arrangements, whether they are called paid prioritization or fast lanes harm the Internet. A commonsense non-discrimination requirement without loopholes is essential for an efficient marketplace where businesses and consumers — not carriers — decide the winners and losers in the Internet ecosystem. We strongly encourage you to reject any policy proposals that would permit paid prioritization of delivery of Internet content.
Wired and wireless services should have a common regulatory framework and rules.
Exclusion of wireless services from open Internet requirements could widen the digital divide by establishing a substandard, less open experience for traditionally underserved regions and demographic groups that may more often need to access or choose to access the Internet on a mobile device. Moreover, such inconsistent principles could confuse consumers, who would have different and uneven experiences depending solely on the connection that their mobile devices might use to reach the Internet. An Internet framework excluding wireless from important consumer safeguards could impede attainment of national broadband goals, while lessening the potential for wireless platforms to serve unserved and underserved areas.
Broad “managed services” exceptions would swallow open Internet rules.
An overbroad definition of the proposed “managed services” category would sap the vitality and stunt the growth of the Internet. In fact, an overly broad interpretation of managed services would create an exception that swallows the rule. For example, managed services might be rebranded or repackaged services and applications — only with priority treatment not available to competitors. By undermining competition and the value of the open Internet, managed services could have significantly negative consequences for consumers and commercial enterprises.
In sum, we believe that any rules that result from the Commission’s proceedings should focus on adherence to the public interest, discourage attempts to strangle the free-flow of lawful content, applications and services for American consumers and provide certainty both for entrepreneurs and Internet users. The time for FCC action is now. We look forward to continuing to work with you and other members of the Commission to ensure that the Commission’s Open Internet proceeding moves forward to protect the public interest.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Rep. Jay Inslee
Rep. Ed Markey
Rep. Anna Eshoo
Rep. Mike Doyle
Source: Jay Inslee for Congress
[Attribution: IDG News. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Kevin N.” for the heads up.]
To the nameless soul who responded to my post above,
I pity you.
So let me get this straight. 8 years of that fscking retard Bush and his incompetent twats, two wars, the most devastating terrorist attack in history, as well as overseeing the meltdown of the WORLD’S economy, but it’s OBAMA that is somehow to blame?
I’d say the USA is half full of fscking retards, but that would be unfair to retards. Face it, you teabagger fscktards: you are living a delusion of fear, paranoia and lies dressed up as patriotism and it is driving you insane that there is a black Democrat in the “White”house.
macdailynews.com lol
The fact that the U.S. had a shot at having someone as overqualified as Romney willing to be President, but elected Obama instead, only goes to prove that the country has been dumbed down to an extent from which there may be no reasonable return.
Not quite true though, is it??
Because what actually happened is that Republican Party’s “core support” threw Romney under the bus as he became increasingly mired in a theology debate between his Mormon beliefs and the more evangelical leanings of Mike Huckabee, a debate from which his campaign, though well-funded, never recovered.
The reality is not that the American people rejected Romney; it is that the American right decided he shouldn’t have the chance to even compete, preferring well-know Beach Boys tribute artist John McCain and we know how that turned out.
Let’s not try and amend history to suit our narrative: I know Faux Noise gets away with it, but it’s largely broadcasting to the deranged.
I am a neocon wingnut idiot who regurgitates anything I hear from Fox News or Limbaugh and absolutely no one should pay any attention to anything I post. to
Only brain dead “paint the right as white racists” lefties try to shift the argument of the cause of the economic meltdown to a black president who just was kookie bird Nancy Pelosi’s pet dog at the time.
The fact is the tiny amount of white racists out there don’t like either party, Democrat or Republican, because there are Jews, Hispanics, Asians and Blacks in both parties.
No the real cause of the economic meltdown is the creeping socialism that has been invading our country like a sickness.
You see when a company screws up, it fails, there are others to take it’s place or customers find they can get what they need better elsewhere and be happy. That’s the free market and yes it needs some government supervision to prevent chaos.
But when a government screws up running things, there is nowhere to go and everyone suffers. That’s socialism.
The government failed because it got itself involved in the mortgage market, forcing competitors out with better rates. Then it was used as a instrument of government policy and stole from investors. To get out of it’s debt it printed up more money, thus cheapening everyone’s purchasing power who hold dollars.
That’s why gold is $1200 a ounce instead of $400.
“You see when a company screws up, it fails, there are others to take it’s place or customers find they can get what they need better elsewhere and be happy,”
Try telling that to all the small businesses who had their credit facilities and overdrafts unilaterally withdrawn at short notice and who can’t move banks.
“No the real cause of the economic meltdown is the creeping socialism that has been invading our country like a sickness.”
So was the 1929 crash the fault of socialism? Or rampant stupidity on the part of both financial institutions and investors?
How about the S&L fiasco? Socialism or supply-side economics gone mad?
And the current crisis? Socialism or the result of a combination of corporate greed, the arrogance of believing that the market had eliminated risk and a regulatory vacuum.
Why I want net neutrality (and oppose Google/Verizon):
Imagine if the cable companies redesigned the internet into their own image. i.e. you can only get onto the internet (wired or wireless) via cable or carrier company. They give you only the basic internet, but very cheaply or free. BUUUT if you want the FaceBook channel or the YouTube channel or the News or Sport channels you can upgrade and pay more for them to be unblocked by your ISP. Or maybe you have to pay to have it fast enough to live-stream. The content providers (e.g. HBO this week) want ‘exclusives’ so they can charge more.
The internet becomes PayTV through a different technology.
No thank you – stop it now before it goes this way!
My own congressional representative, Dan Maffei, despite an otherwise great record, is in the pocket of The Corporate Oligarchy regarding Net Neutrality. He has personally written the FCC TWICE requesting demolition of Net Neutrality. This is of course INSANE.
He knows my stance on the subject and we’ve bantered about it. His POV is shameful and ‘bought’ IMHO. It goes to show how it doesn’t make much of a difference which of the two crap parties one votes for in the USA. Expect The Corporate Oligarchy to f*ck things up in their favor no matter what.
Screw you Google and Verizon, scum sucking parasites!
HolyMackerel
Imagine that many people would quit using cable and go on to another ISP provider.
Now imagine all the sad faces around the cable board room, and the YouTube and FaceBook ad agencies, and someone being replaced to re-invigerate business.
Now imagine people who run these companies know better than to screw every customer they have.
Now here is something you don’t have to imagine.
Broadband is already offered at tiered pricing for speed.
It would be insane for YouTube and FaceBook to offer it only on a fast channel.
Now I am going to imagine people like you have some business sense to outweigh your paranoia……no, dammit, it’s not working.
Some people just can’t be convinced.
Derek
Do you have a job in the private sector?
Here’s a short lesson…
If the ISP can’t make money, they can’t provide a service.
(end of lesson one)
If you’re in not good state and have got no money to go out from that point, you will need to take the loans. Because that should aid you definitely. I get short term loan every year and feel myself great just because of that.