Breaking: Despite Protests & Citizen's Action: "FCC Votes to Advances Rules to Kill 'Open Internet'"

[KoKo]

Published on Thursday, May 15, 2014 by Common Dreams

Democratic commissioners betray net neutrality rhetoric by approving consideration of rules that would create 'two-tiered internet'
- Jon Queally, staff writer

Despite national outcry and protests both outside and inside a packed hearing room in Washington, DC, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted in favor of advancing a set of rules that threaten the heart of the "open internet" by allowing the creation of "paid priority fast lanes," supplanting the principle known as 'net neutrality' which says all online content must receive equal treatment by the nation's broadband networks. (Credit: SaveTheInternet.com)

As the Washington Post reports:

The plan, approved in a three-to-two vote along party lines, could unleash a new economy on the Web where an Internet service provider such as Verizon would charge a Web site such as Netflix for the guarantee of flawless video streaming.

Smaller companies that can't afford to pay for faster delivery would likely face additional obstacles against bigger rivals. And consumers could see a trickle-down effect of higher prices as Web sites try to pass along new costs of doing business with Internet service providers.
The proposal is not a final rule, but the three-to-two vote on Thursday is a significant step forward on a controversial idea that has invited fierce opposition from consumer advocates, Silicon Valley heavyweights, and Democratic lawmakers.

---------
Condemnation by those opposing the rule changes was swift.

Craig Aaron, president of Free Press, which has led the charge of a broad coalition fighting on behalf of net neutrality, acknowledged that nothing about the FCC rule changes is final and now that a public comment period has officially begun, the real fight for lasting reforms has now started. In a statement in response to Thursday vote, Aaron said:

Millions of people have put the FCC on notice. A pay-for-priority Internet is unacceptable. Today, both Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel stated that they support prohibitions on paid prioritization and other forms of unreasonable discrimination. Tom Wheeler spoke passionately about the open Internet, but his rousing rhetoric doesn't match the reality of his proposal. The only way to accomplish the chairman’s goals is to reclassify Internet service providers as common carriers.

The Commission says it wants to hear from the public; it will be hearing a lot more. This fight will stretch into the fall, but there’s one clear answer: The American people demand real Net Neutrality, and the FCC must restore it.

We’re encouraged by much of what was said during today's meeting. But words amount to little without the rules to back them up. If Chairman Wheeler is sincere in his objections to a fast-lane, slow-lane Internet, then reclassification is the only way to prevent this terrible scenario from becoming a reality.

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http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/15-3

[myrna minx]

1. Disgusting and outragous. *This* is to get people to vote Democratic? Really?

[grasswire]

2. If the vote was split on party lines...

....then how did "Democrats betray" us?

[Fumesucker]

4. I think this line might have something to do with that perception

Tom Wheeler spoke passionately about the open Internet, but his rousing rhetoric doesn't match the reality of his proposal.

[Ed Suspicious]

7. That's very familiar now. The business of high minded rhetoric followed by

dastardly deeds.

[KoKo]

8. That old Native American Expression: "He speaks with forked tongue"

or as my Grandma used to say: "Speaks out of both sides of their mouth."

[Fumesucker]

9. Remember this cartoon?

[KoKo]

11. Thanks...I missed that one

We might add a sidekick for that one now that we know what the Candidate we re-elected has been up to.

[KoKo]

5. Dems voted 3 to 2 to kill Net Neutrality. Party Line..

I guess Dem Party wanted it over the Dem Activists.

[truedelphi]

25. For starters, the President appoints the FCC Chairman

That is Crucial Point Number One.

Then there is the fact that legally, the cable companies should not at all be considered "utilities" but a new form of information media, much as radio, TV and newspapers are classified. Then it might have been possible to avoid the AT & T merger takeover of Comcast (or was it vice versa?)

Though maybe you continual cheerleaders are right. I mean, for all I know under a Republican President, the head of the FCC would have undertaken the crappola decisions made this week while clubbing baby seals or soemthing.

[Demo_Chris]

6. And some here wonder why there is a lack of enthusiasm for our team...

Personally, most of the time I feel like I am being urged to once again bet on a boxer who has never failed to take a dive.

[leftyohiolib]

20. you dont need to be enthused you just need to vote

[Ed Suspicious]

10. Wheeler knows what needs to be done. Trust him. Trust the cable lobbyist.

"I will not allow the national asset of an open Internet to be compromised. I understand this issue in my bones," said Wheeler, formerly a private equity investor and cable industry lobbyist.

[DrBulldog]

12. There he is again ...

... the Great Promiser, Obama, sitting quietly in the back of the room, almost unnoticed.

[Armstead]

13. THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!!

Just had to get that off my chest

[historylovr]

17. + 1000

[WinkyDink]

14. This is THE issue of the moment, if the President can't grasp that.

[blackspade]

15. Wheeler's declarations mean nothing based on his vote.

He is a paid lobbyist for the ISPs and has no business on the FCC.
That Obama is the one that nominated him...well so much for change that benefits the 99%.

[jtuck004]

16. None of these elected ass clowns don't give a flying rat's ass about what any of us think

and haven't for some time. Slowly becoming apparent to more.

VOTE. It will change everything.

[truedelphi]

26. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ n/t

[Maedhros]

28. Voting has ceased to be an effective means of controlling government.

Step One: Vote for a politician that campaigns on issues with which you agree.

Step Two: Politician reneges on virtually all of his campaign promises, and does the exact opposite.

Step Three: Re-elect the politician anyway.

Why should we expect Democrats to do anything constructive if they can continually do the opposite and still get our votes?

Voting will only become effective again if we make politicians earn our votes, and then hold them accountable by not re-electing them if they screw us over.

[Not Sure]

18. Wow. I am simply shocked.

I can't believe it. Does this mean they don't care what we think?

[951-Riverside]

19. WHAT THE FUCK AM I PAYING FOR EVERY MONTH?

I'm paying $45 a month for my service but noooo that isnt good enough, these assholes want to double dip and the government supports this madness?

FUCK ALL OF THEM!

[Fumesucker]

27. The privilege of lobbying against the open internet and for monopoly pricing

That's what you are paying for.

[Jakes Progress]

21. Protests from the people and action from citizens mean nothing.

See Piketty. The voices of one million people equal less than one dinner at the country club. It doesn't matter which party is in power.

[TimeToEvolve]

22. hell yea 'Murica, the land of the psychopath and the home of the slave

this is why i no longer vote, nor do i define myself as a "democrat" anymore; DEM, REPUB are simply labels that the PTB use to divide us.

Obummer and his appointees have betrayed his voters yet again, unsurprisingly.

the mere idea that we can even have a democracy in a nation controlled by the ultra rich is an insult to our intelligence.

every election the candidates get worse and worse, more corrupt, more secretive, more flaky and dishonest, and more crass as they screw us over. and the limits to the debate are established before the debate even begins and anyone who ventures outside those limits are cast out and marginalized and labeled as incompetent or what have you.

voting is just tacit complicity to this intrinsically corrupt system, and even worse, it siphons away our dissent and anger and deep down inner driving force that would otherwise urge and inspire us to RISE UP and rip these leaches off our backs.

you cannot change the system directly, you can only change yourself; quit giving a shit about electing these puppet politicians, realize YOUR OWN power and inspire it in others, see what is wrong with yourself first.

[Maedhros]

29. Voting helps maintain the illusion that we have influence over our political process.

We don't. Just look at the healthcare reform "debate" - >70% of Americans polled were in favor of single payer, but single payer was preemptively removed from consideration before debate even began. AND THERE WERE NO CONSEQUENCES FOR DOING SO.

Because the people in Congress and the White House don't care about us - they care about their real constituents, the ultra-rich.

[emsimon33]

23. K&R

[Exposethefrauds]

24. Why are they even bothering with the pretense of a Comment Period?

We already know what the final decision will be regardless of the number of comments against it.

PBO and the FCC want to implement it and turn over the internet created with TAX Dollars to Corporations.

Mighty Republican of you Mr Obama.