FCC Proposal Passes In Landmark Decision; Net Neutrality And Municipal Broadband Wins, ISPs Lose

[Mr Soup]

There were 4543 words (including signatures) in the original Constitution of the United States. That is 6 pages give or take. The entire framework of our country and all of our freedoms in a relatively simple yet elegant document. Yet this FCC proposal is 320 pages. Sounds to me like there are probably 319 pages of garbage, pork, lies, and actions that have nothing to do with the internet at all. The Constitution is revered, displayed, and celebrated and yet the FCC document is hidden from the public and most of government as well.

So the non-elected FCC staff of 1,930 people thinks it knows best for the 316.13 million people living in this country, and we are all too stupid or ignorant to be privy to their plans that will likely effect our personal and business lives on a daily basis. And we cheer it.

I hope this is a great age of internet freedom and access but I think we should be a little more guarded in receiving this "gift" from our government and we should take a step back before we hoist Tom Wheeler on our shoulders as a champion of the people.

 

[backoffmanImascientist]

Don't everyone get their panties in a bunch until the court battles start and then end. The executive branch can pass virtually any regulation they want, just as the legislative can pass any law they want. It all means squat if successfully challenged in court, no matter what side you believe.

 

[oldboy2508]

Well it will be finally decided in the courts as to wether these new regs will stay or not. Side note: Bandwidth IS SPEED NOT HOW MUCH YOU CAN DOWNLOAD. Google "bandwidth" and see the definition.

 

[atwspoon]

In the 1930's, under FDR's administration, the Tennessee Valley Authority was created. This allowed a great previously unemployed workforce to be used in constructing various dam projects. This resulted in the government competing against private electricity companies, through their newly built hydroelectric dams. The vast amount of man power, paid for by tax dollars, was the only way the huge amount of infrastructure for so many hydro dams could be made. This government competition into the sale of electricity opened up the understanding of how production and sale of electricity worked, and the high profit margins of private electric companies was found out. In conclusion, the price of electricity dropped nearly 90% in the following years, and the oversight committees were then put in place to make sure electricity would not abuse its consumers again.
Always good to look back at history when figuring out what's going on today.

 

[10tacle]

So let me get this straight: The FCC made a ruling based on an 80-year old act, specifically Title II of the 1934 Communications Act. The very same government that caused localized telecom monopolies by subsidizing landline installation. Now the very same people who think this is a great deal for them, that it is only for controlling those big evil ISP providers, think this same government bureaucracy can fix what they meddled with in the first place. I can't wait to find out what's hidden in those 300+ pages that had to be passed to find out what's in it...sounds familiar.

 

[Quarkzquarkz]

LISTEN, you guys are missing the point here, Internet is now considered as a Utility. Which means they can now charge like they do with electricity, water, etc etc. So in other words, the more we use, the more we pay? Dude, I don't even know if this net neutrality thing was even a good idea... Beware folks~ =(

 

[InvalidError]

LISTEN, you guys are missing the point here, Internet is now considered as a Utility. Which means they can now charge like they do with electricity, water, etc etc.

I think internet access is more like roads and sewers: infrastructure that needs to be there regardless of how much or how little you use it with relatively little cost scaling from individual usage.

 

[garrick]

Next up, price gouging by mobile carriers. Get rid of their overpriced tiered plans that cost an arm and a leg.
LTE was supposed to bring faster bandwidth but what good is that when you're getting less than what you were getting with unlimited 3G because you have a data cap?

 

[f-14]

Freedom of Press is limited to those who own one. - H.L. Menken Heresy

"I am... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents." --Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1799. ME 10:78

"No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open to him all the avenues to truth. The most effectual hitherto found, is the freedom of the press. It is, therefore, the first shut up by those who fear the investigation of their actions." --Thomas Jefferson to John Tyler, 1804. ME 11:33

"As for what is not true, you will always find abundance in the newspapers." --Thomas Jefferson to Barnabas Bidwell, 1806. ME 11:118

 

[palladin9479]

Please keep political rants and attacks off this forum as it's distracting from the topic at hand. Your free to discuss the value of something but that is not carte blanche to attack entire ideologies.

 

[yhikum]

FCC appears to be riding a "popularity" wave as of now as they are being viewed as "saviors" of common man from controlling ISP flock. Yet, as the regulations are passed we do not see any effect nor details of what changes are coming. If this freedom of internet is so valuable and expected we should probably hear more about what exactly happens from now on, right? All we have right now are speculations with certainty of prices for service going up due to ISPs needing to be compliant with FCC requirements being a utility.

One way to deal with such future would be to re-negotiate a contract with your ISP to lock price of service for next year or two-year term if at all possible. Due to contract ISPs will not charge additional costs beyond what is agreed (however, new tax will be applied). Hence, we will not see price spikes for some time till majority of people will be off the contract and find themselves in position of obtaining a new contract with higher payments.

 

[d_kuhn]

LISTEN, you guys are missing the point here, Internet is now considered as a Utility. Which means they can now charge like they do with electricity, water, etc etc. So in other words, the more we use, the more we pay? Dude, I don't even know if this net neutrality thing was even a good idea... Beware folks~ =(

ISP's have always been able to do this... they just choose not to because customers don't like it, except for cellular where the service cost is high. With Net Neutrality ISP's are free to try pushing metered service again... but it'll likely continue to be just as unpopular as it used to be.