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Ear to the Ground

The FCC, Net Neutrality and You

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Posted on Dec 21, 2010
Flickr / balleyne (CC-BY-SA)

How is one to make sense of the FCC’s big vote Tuesday? Does it represent a gain for the net-neutrality cause, or is the corporate takeover of the Web upon us in earnest? Well, one thing seems certain: Nobody is all that happy with the outcome—except, that is, for some lobbyists.  —KA

Salon:

Tuesday’s FCC vote on rules purportedly designed to ensure open and free networks was a 3-2 partisan charade, with Genachowski and the other two Democratic commissioners in favor and the two Republicans against. It did nothing of the sort. The short-term result will be confusion and jockeying for position. Genachowski’s claim that the rules bring “a level of certainty” to the landscape was laughable unless he was talking about lobbyists and lawyers; their futures are certainly looking prosperous. The longer-range result will be to solidify the power of the incumbent powerhouses—especially telecommunications providers and the entertainment industry—to take much more control over what we do online.

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By purplewolf, December 23, 2010 at 11:32 am Link to this comment

You’re welcome Gerard.

Report this

By gerard, December 22, 2010 at 1:46 pm Link to this comment

Many thanks, purplewolf!

Report this

By ocjim, December 22, 2010 at 12:50 pm Link to this comment

This is another example of the voices of the majority being drowned out by the voices of money and power.

Why aren’t we tired of being ignored?

Report this

By purplewolf, December 22, 2010 at 12:33 pm Link to this comment

Net neutrality has been sold out to AT&T, Verizon and Comcast. Rules passed today by the FCC is nothing more than a ploy by demos to claim victory all the while caving on real protections for consumers.AT&T lobbyists pre-approved this proposal, we the people lost and Big Telecom won.This decision marks the beginning of the end of the Internet as we know it.

Things you can do:
1:share with your friends at Progressive Campaign Change Committee with 3 things everyone needs to know about chairman Genachowski’s fake net neutrality rules:
huffingtonpost.com/jason-rosenbaum.breaking-fcc-breaks-obama_b_799844.html http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6734&id=14068-2652899-kPI11 x&t=6

2.Tell AT&T to at least oppose the increased consolidation of our media by opposing the merger of Comcast and and NBC Universal. Go here and sign:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6735&id=14068-2652899-kPI11 x&t=7

3.Harry Reid’s new chief of staff is a former telecom lobbyist and contributor to the Republican causes. Tell Reid to fire him. Go here to take action:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6736&id=14068-2652899-kPI11 x&t=8

4.Contact Al Franken and thank him for standing up for net neutrality at: http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=6737&id=14068-2652899=kPI11 x&t=9

Information from Credo Action.

We do not need further censorship that the Bush administration started.The truth needs to known, not hidden, altered, lied or manipulated nor unattainable to the public.

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By knute, December 22, 2010 at 11:53 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Since the net is the only place left where all of the information flow isn’t under direct control it stands to reason that the corporate state has been working behind the scenes to correct that problem. After all , we can’t leave any oppurtunity for the people to be able to make informed decisions. Monopolizing the flow of information to the public has been an ongoing effort that has paid off very well for the rich white power brokers that have always been in charge.

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By grumpynyker, December 22, 2010 at 10:50 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Also unspoken it the Zionist/neocon wet dream of implementing an Internet gag rule on questioning the Zionist narrative of the Holocaust, the financial shenanigans of certain “semites” in Germany,Russia, etc.  Hope you sheeple are happy now-Amerikkka is now apartheid Israel’s largest settlement.

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By gerard, December 21, 2010 at 8:23 pm Link to this comment

I fear we will have to be glad if this is all the harm done to the Internet to shut down freedom of information.  WikiLeaks gave them the shock of their authoritarian lives and they’re drooling to eat
whatever they can catch in theirjudicial network. 
  Read the American Civil Liberties Union “Statement before the House Judiciary Committee” of Dec. 16 on “The Espionage Act and the Legal and Constitutional Issues Raised by WikiLeaks” and do something to help keep the net free and save Assange and Manning from being scapegoated by hysterical officials and right wing nuts.  Contribute time and money. Understand the issues. Stop violence and injustice. Write letters.  Talk to friends. Make the New Year happier, somehow !

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By thethirdman, December 21, 2010 at 7:04 pm Link to this comment

Seriously, what the HELL is going on here?  Is this a huge story that the other guys
just aren’t covering or is this just par for the course?  Frankin is freaking out about
it and I suspect it’s because he actually read it.

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pbmus1's avatar

By pbmus1, December 21, 2010 at 6:23 pm Link to this comment

OMG, WTF is happening, George was right, hunker down and
buy your shortwave because that is where the truth will be
told…..

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