Meet the Republicans trying to sell the internet to the highest bidder

Last edited Thu Jun 19, 2014, 02:24 AM - Edit history (1)

by Marcos Da Silva - June 18, 2014

In May, 28 members of the House of Representatives lobbied the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to drop net neutrality, the idea that Internet service providers should treat all data that travels over their networks equally. The lawmakers proposed instead a system that would allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to provide better access to some websites willing to pay a higher premium, creating new ways for ISPs to manipulate how internet users access websites and erecting new barriers to entry for small businesses.

The FCC heard them loud and clear and also proposed allowing the creation of Internet fast lanes, but hope is not lost. Congressional Democrats have heroically come to the rescue, unveiling legislation yesterday that would force the FCC to ban Internet fast lanes.

However, the bill may face strong opposition from those 28 lawmakers, who include House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and Republican Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of the House Leadership. They received more than 2.3 times the amount in campaign contributions from the cable and satellite TV production & distribution sector than the average for all members of the House of Representatives...

Walden — the top sector recipient by far at $109,250, and its most vocal supporter — had the audacity to claim that keeping the internet neutral is an “unwarranted and overreaching government intrusion into the broadband marketplace.” Walden also happens to be Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and most importantly, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, which has jurisdiction over the FCC...

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/meet-the-republicans-trying-to-sell-the-internet-to-the-highest-bidder/

There is a lot more at the link, but I thought that last part I emboldened really tells the tale here. The GOP representatives are doing what they do best, graft and extortion.

They oversee the FCC, can cut its funding, deny seating opposing voices and change the rules so the FCC has no teeth. The FCC was created by FDR to prevent exactly what has happened while some of the public took for granted what was once won, couldn't be lost.

I was making this OP on one tab on my browser when I found another OP with a much different take and made a reply of this. Please visit that thread as well to comment on what Moliere's OP says...

Former FCC Commissioner: “We Should Be Ashamed Of Ourselves” For State of Broadband In The U.S.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025119931

The main problem I have with this commissioner is that he is still singing in the free market choir that always leads to money = speech. It's a religion that has distorted freedom of speech and thought, and will stifle the intent of the First, to allow people to freely dispute TPTB. The free market will only speak for itself and profit. That is exactly what is being done with tiering.