Gizmodo published a piece on Republican legislation that could neuter the Federal Communications Commission, and leave consumers with no one watching their back vs the interests of telecom companies.
President Obama recommended a plan that would reclassify internet providers under Title II of the Telecommunications Act, giving the government agency more authority to quash telecom giants’ plans to create “internet fast lanes.” This would seem to go around that and take away the power the FCC has to get the desired effect for big Telecom. In an article in the Washington Post, Sprint has said they would be fine with tough Net Neutrality laws, in an effort to stand out against the like of AT&T and Verizon.
From the article:
Republicans in the House and Senate have introduced net neutrality bills that would strip the Federal Communications Commission of its ability to effectively regulate the internet.
The new legislation is, at its root, a way to deregulate the telecom industry by curbing the FCC’s powers. And unsurprisingly, this kind of legislation is being championed by politicians with financial ties to the telecom industry.
Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Fred Upton (R-Mi.) is a key force behind the bill. Upton, who has investments in AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon, said in a statement, “By turning the FCC away from a heavy-handed and messy approach to regulating the Internet, this draft protects both consumers who rely on Internet services and innovators who create jobs.” The House Energy and Commerce Committee also includes Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) who has invested in AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon.
Read the full story on Gizmodo
Are businesses like cnn, foxnews, network tv channels, amazon, probably facebook and virtually every recent IPO including linkedin – heck even twitter and numerous other businesses with deep pockets that are NOW getting into original content – along with Netflix enough to challenge proprietary “internet fast lanes.”?