Big Corp buys "Fast Lanes" [sic] from FCC & NYT, Net Neurtality (Neutrality, too) loses

Obama pledges Net neutrality laws if elected president

If elected president, Barack Obama plans to prioritize, well, barring broadband providers like AT&T and Comcast from prioritizing Internet content.

Affixing his signature to federal Net neutrality rules would be high on the list during his first year in the Oval Office, the junior senator from Illinois said during an interactive forum Monday afternoon with the popular contender put on by MTV and MySpace at Coe College in Iowa.

Net neutrality, of course, is the idea that broadband operators shouldn't be allowed to block or degrade Internet content and services--or charge content providers an extra fee for speedier delivery or more favorable placement.

The question, selected through an online video contest, was posed via video by small-business owner and former AT&T engineer Joe Niederberger, a member of the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org. He asked Obama: "Would you make it a priority in your first year of office to reinstate Net neutrality as the law of the land? And would you pledge to only appoint FCC commissioners that support open Internet principles like Net neutrality?"

"The answer is yes," Obama replied. "I am a strong supporter of Net neutrality."

He went on to explain the issue briefly: "What you've been seeing is some lobbying that says that the servers and the various portals through which you're getting information over the Internet should be able to be gatekeepers and to charge different rates to different Web sites...so you could get much better quality from the Fox News site and you'd be getting rotten service from the mom and pop sites," he went on. "And that I think destroys one of the best things about the Internet--which is that there is this incredible equality there."

Obama added that companies like Google may not have gotten started without a "level playing field" and pledged to make sure Net neutrality "is the principle that my FCC commissioners are applying as we move forward."


http://www.cnet.com/news/obama-pledges-net-neutrality-laws-if-elected-president/

a petition to sign:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pe...ct-freedom-information-united-states/9sxxdBgy

keywords to drive AW searches here:

militia, racist, you're a racist, privilege, trigger alert, breasts, bra

great call.

the "neurtality" in the subject line is an equally nice touch.

benbradley said:

I did't even notice. Fixed/added to, just in case anyone looks for it.

And thanks for showing up, I'd be all alone here if it weren't for you. I recall more traffic a year ago in the SOPA thread. Maybe it's okay for COMMERCIAL interests to charge extra for movies, but not for Teh Government to read email, is that it?

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Everybody's busy with bras, moms, and the militia.

Don said:

Everybody's busy with bras, moms, and the militia.

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Speak for yourself, Don! Things look more hopeful here in the EU, but the battle isn't won - legislation hasn't been passed yet.

I mean I signed the petition but I do not think I have much to say besides "rawrg I am angry at this!"

In most threads here there is some discussion or dissent. This is just, "wow, that sucks" and everyone agrees with it.

It is the silence you hear when everyone is marching to the Somme.

benbradley said:

And thanks for showing up, I'd be all alone here if it weren't for you.

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shit man. i've got your back. always have.

Let's hear it for the revolving door between government and corporations.

Three cheers for crony capitalism and rule by the oligarchy.