Hours after the FCC unveils their new set of regulations that will give the great promise of "Net Neutrality", our favorite Maverick Senator, John McCain, introduces a bill that plans to stop it.
The reason for it, according to McCain is, "[to] allow for continued innovation that will in turn create more high-paying jobs for the millions of Americans who are out of work or seeking new employment,"
Now of course this seems like a great thing to believe in, but what he is not understanding (Or possibly does understand, but don't care about) is what those companies are planning on doing with our internet.
More after the fold:
The FCC Regulations:
The new FCC regulations, unveiled by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, would give the internet a new set of provisions that would ensure "Net Neutrality".
According to PCMag.com:
The draft [FCC] proposal would permit broadband Internet access service providers to engage in reasonable network management, provided they don't discriminate based on content or application, block customers from using competing services, and are transparent about how they manage their networks. The rules would also apply to wireless Internet access.
This is something I have always felt strong for. We should be allowed, as private citizens and businesses, to use the internet anyway we please, and not have to be restricted by the network provider.
As best stated by Google.com's Public Policy Blog:
The Internet was built and has thrived as an open platform, where individuals and entrepreneurs -- not network owners -- can connect and interact, choose marketplace winners and losers, and create new services and content on a level playing field. No one seems to disagree with that fundamental proposition.
These steps being consider by the FCC would be a great step towards having an open, free from control internet, that will allow for people, just like us, the right to do as we please on the web. It will also stop any future attempts at strict control of our usage of the internet. (I.E. What applications we can use, what network we are locked into, and what sites we can visit)
Some have called the idea of net neutrality, as a swipe against innovation in the industry, and will hinder the internet, more than it will help. But as Genachowski said:
"The idea that we must choose between innovation and investment on the 'edge' of the network, where content and applications are developed, or innovation and investment in the 'core' of the network, where broadband providers operate, is a false choice," he said.
Actually it is the opposite, Net Neutrality creates innovations and investments. If given a free, open internet, people are allowed to create anything they please, and have it reach more people, than in a restricted web.
What McCain's Bill Will do:
Sen. McCain's bill will try to stop the new regulations being worked out in the FCC. According to Reuters.com, the main purpose of the bill, titled ironically the Internet Freedom Act, would be to allow the Telecom companies to do as they please with our internet.
They can block websites, deny the use of the internet if you use unapproved applications or visit unapproved sites, they can make load times for different websites impossibly long, all according the companies discretion.
Notes from the Bill, according to PCMag.com:
The FCC "shall not propose, promulgate, or issue any regulations regarding the Internet or IP-enabled services," according to the bill text.
This screams of the old games played by these same companies, back in the Bell systems days. They will monopolize the internet, and force you into different restrictions, that will destroy the fabric of modern communications.
But McCain's bill does not address that, and does not give any clearance into what can stop these companies from controlling our favorite source of information. Instead McCain tries to pull the trick of calling those in support of Net Neutrality as against the internet.
From Reuters.com:
McCain, an Arizona Republican, called the proposed net neutrality rules a "government takeover" of the Internet that will stifle innovation and depress an "already anemic" job market in the U.S
Why We Should be Concerned:
Net neutrality is something we should all be in support of, for many reasons, but the main being what they will restrict.
These companies are big on anti-regulations, and hold a very conservative view on many things. It would censor out a lot of Liberal sites and blogs (Including this one), and would censor out any sites that adhere to their set standards on what is right and wrong.
It would force customers into basic network slavery, where they will be banned from certain sites, barred from using another network if they so please, and would put a constant eye on what you are doing and where you are doing it.
From Washingtonpost.com:
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a key member of the Energy Committee, said AT&T "wants to frame it as big companies against each other, but in fact millions of people online see net neutrality as the ability for great ideas by the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Sergey Brin to get out without having to ask permission from companies like AT&T."
We should be fighting for this, and we should be calling our Senators and Representatives telling them that we want the ability to go and do as we please, without the overbearing Big Bother tactics of big business.
We need to send Sen. McCain a message. I have included below, contact information for his office. I hope you will join me in calling and emailing his office, asking for him to remove his proposal, and to allow the free and open use of the internet.
U.S. Senator John McCain
Washington Office:
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: (202) 224-2235
Fax: (202) 228-2862
Contact Form for Email
This is not an issue that should be passed over for. This is something that will create competition, and will allow for a free source of communication for us all. We should stand for our principles, and stand for the internet.
At&t has been lobbying hard to stop this, we must push even harder to achieve this. We cannot let Sen. McCain's bill go through, and we cannot allow for Net Neutrality to be lost because some Senators like the money the Telecommunications companies give them. We must have Net Neutrality.