74 Democrats just sold you out to AT&T, Verizon and Comcast

They signed industry-backed letters telling the FCC to abandon efforts to protect Internet users by prohibiting big companies from blocking Internet traffic.

Not only is this letter an attack on net neutrality, but by signing the industry letter, they are attempting to drastically undercut the FCC's ability to make a fast, affordable and open Internet available to everyone in America. They are actually taking a position against the interests of rural and low-income communities.

This is unacceptable.

We need to make sure these members of Congress know that their constituents are paying attention and will hold them accountable when they undermine net neutrality protections.

Sign our petition to these representatives telling them that you're upset by their decision to side with the wealthy telecommunications corporations over their constituents.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/74_dems/?r=5592&id=9443-746708-l4AUbIx

What this comes down to is a principle known as "net neutrality." Net neutrality means that Internet users, not Internet service providers, should be in control. It ensures that Internet service providers can't speed up, slow down, or block Web content based on its source, ownership, or destination.

Of course broadband providers are insisting that we should just trust them and there's no need for consumers to be protected by net neutrality rules. But we cannot trust AT&T, Verizon and Comcast to protect a free and open Internet any more than we could trust BP to protect the oceans.

Without strong net neutrality rules, we might have to rely upon the good will of large telecoms to protect our access to the diversity of political perspectives. We might have to trust companies like Comcast, which actively and secretly interfered with users' ability to access popular video, photo and music sharing applications. We might have to trust companies like AT&T, which censored anti-Bush comments made by Pearl Jam's lead singer during a concert.

A free and open Internet is an important part of 21st Century democracy, but these 74 House Democrats signed a letter that undercut the efforts of the FCC to make sure the Internet stays free and open.

In other words, they decided to stand with wealthy corporations rather than stand up for your interests.

a public utility priced at the lowest point possible in a not for profit manner.

Msongs

(Can you find the typo?)

Though truth be told I' don't believe anything will change. :shrug:

Disappointed, but not surprised.

The following Democratic members of the House signed the industry-backed letter:

Bobby Bright (AL-02), Mike Ross (AR-04), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Ed Pastor (AZ-04), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Jim Costa (CA-20), Laura Richardson (CA-37), Joe Baca (CA-43), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Allen Boyd (FL-02), Corrine Brown (FL-03), Alcee Hastings (FL-23), Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), Sanford D Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), John Barrow (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Wally Minnick (ID-01), Bobby Rush (IL-01), Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Baron P Hill (IN-09), Dennis Moore (KS-03), Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Frank Kratovil, Jr. (MD-01), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2), Elijah Cummings (MD-07), Gary Peters (MI-9), William Lacy Clay Jr (MO-01), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Travis Childers (MS-01), Bennie G Thompson (MS-02), Gene Taylor (MS-04), G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Heath Shuler (NC-11), John Adler (NJ-3), Albio Sires (NJ-13), Harry Teague (NM-2), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Gregory Meeks (NY-06), Joseph Crowley (NY-07), Ed Towns (NY-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-11), Michael McMahon (NY-13), Scott Murphy (NY-20), Bill Owens (NY-23), Michael Arcuri (NY-24), Daniel Maffei (NY-25), Steve Driehaus (OH-01), Charlie Wilson (OH-06), Marcia Fudge (OH-11), Zachary T. Space (OH-18), Dan Boren (OK-02), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Robert Brady (PA-01), Chaka Fattah (PA-02), Kathleen Dahlkemper (PA-03), Jason Altmire (PA-04), Christopher Carney (PA-10), Allyson Schwartz (PA-13), Tim Holden (PA-17), Lincoln Davis (TN-04), John Tanner (TN-08), Al Green (TX-09), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20), Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), Solomon Ortiz (TX-27), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Gene Green (TX-29), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Glenn Nye (VA-02), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Nick Rahall (WV-03)

http://www.policybytes.org/Blog/PolicyBytes.nsf/dx/TitleII_FCC_24May2010.pdf/$file/TitleII_FCC_24May2010.pdf


Many of those signatures are unintelligible. .

:grr:

Bobby Bright (AL-02),

Mike Ross (AR-04),
Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01),
Ed Pastor (AZ-04),
Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8),

Dennis Cardoza (CA-18),
Jim Costa (CA-20),
Laura Richardson (CA-37),
Joe Baca (CA-43),
Loretta Sanchez (CA-47),

Allen Boyd (FL-02),
Corrine Brown (FL-03),
Alcee Hastings (FL-23),
Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24),

Sanford D Bishop, Jr. (GA-02),
John Barrow (GA-12),
David Scott (GA-13),

Leonard Boswell (IA-03),

Wally Minnick (ID-01),

Bobby Rush (IL-01),
Debbie Halvorson (IL-11),

Baron P Hill (IN-09),

Dennis Moore (KS-03),

Charlie Melancon (LA-03),

Frank Kratovil, Jr. (MD-01),
Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2),
Elijah Cummings (MD-07),

Gary Peters (MI-9),

William Lacy Clay Jr (MO-01),
Russ Carnahan (MO-03),

Travis Childers (MS-01),
Bennie G Thompson (MS-02),
Gene Taylor (MS-04),

G. K. Butterfield (NC-01),
Heath Shuler (NC-11),

John Adler (NJ-3),
Albio Sires (NJ-13),

Harry Teague (NM-2),

Tim Bishop (NY-01),
Gregory Meeks (NY-06),
Joseph Crowley (NY-07),
Ed Towns (NY-10),
Yvette Clarke (NY-11),
Michael McMahon (NY-13),
Scott Murphy (NY-20),
Bill Owens (NY-23),
Michael Arcuri (NY-24),
Daniel Maffei (NY-25),

Steve Driehaus (OH-01),
Charlie Wilson (OH-06),
Marcia Fudge (OH-11),
Zachary T. Space (OH-18),

Dan Boren (OK-02),

Kurt Schrader (OR-05),

Robert Brady (PA-01),
Chaka Fattah (PA-02),
Kathleen Dahlkemper (PA-03),
Jason Altmire (PA-04),
Christopher Carney (PA-10),
Allyson Schwartz (PA-13),
Tim Holden (PA-17),

Lincoln Davis (TN-04),
John Tanner (TN-08),

Al Green (TX-09),
Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15),
Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20),
Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23),
Solomon Ortiz (TX-27),
Henry Cuellar (TX-28),
Gene Green (TX-29),
Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30),

Glenn Nye (VA-02),

Rick Larsen (WA-02),
Nick Rahall (WV-03)

...and give the telecoms props for carefully targeted 'support'.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Children's Book Council
Cambridge Brewing Co
Comprehensive Business Consultants. . THIS one looks possible


please. . .

More on the story here. This is a repeat of what happened with a-la-carte cable legislation a couple years ago.

He is talking about Congress. CBC can only be the Congressional Black Caucus.

I see a couple of members of "The Family", most of the Blue Dogs.

I'd forgotten what a corrupt old drone he is. I'm amazed he's still in office.

a few months ago. He needs to be reminded that if it wasn't for the free and open internet, he might not be in a position to cast a vote at all. Online activists worked hard to get him elected.

Tim Bishop, my old Rep. in NY Dist 1 again on the list of Dems voting for all the wrong issues. I called his office a few times when a bill would be coming up that was important. I would ask 'how is he going to vote' and usually was told something like 'there is a vote on that today? I don't know, but I'll give him your message'. Another one online activists defended against tea-baggers when he was nearly physically assaulted at a town hall meeting.

Iow, they both benefit from the internet, then forget about it when their real bosses tell them how to vote. Disgusting!

Damn my Florida Democrats! This state is the bluest of blue dog, so bad even Charlie Crist looks appetizing in my weaker moments!

Unfortunately, he'll win again. He'll probably be on both the Democratic and Republican lines. I guess I'll have to make a trip to his offices assuming he's anywhere near them. Fortunately it won't be a long trip.

n/t

those whores.

And wait till the Ars Technica crowd revs up. It will be a sight to see!

This IS the third rail of American politics. Feel the heat slackers!

And the local paper to see if they intend to ask him about it as well.

Thanks for posting annabanana, this is one fight we can not be shy about.

K and R

edited to correctly spell congress critter's name.

actually I'll sign yours either way
K&R

And commented:

Just whose side are you on? David (we the people) or Goliath (corporate America)?

Who's yer daddy? The voters you're supposed to represent or the corporations that buy your souls???????

:-(

I don't know if it's worse when Republicans run everything and fuck us over, or when the Democrats take their turn.

Go to the source of the problem. Reverse the court ruling that allowed corporations unlimited contributions to political campaigns: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Don't stop until this is reversed, repealed and run into ground and buried. Until you do, we are in a losing fight. After that, attack corporate personhood.

It's the same battle, but until this is won, net neutrality is lost. Believe me. It won't hurt to take notes and take those democratic corporatists down.

We are going to lose every freedom that we have until or if that Supreme Court ruling is reversed.

The wealthy are going to vote themselves the country while we're still trying to organize against that one ruling. Everything else is now a distraction.

So, they should get their money from the corporate goons as well.
My vote can't be bought anyway.

where they own the recently opened tallest skyscraper in the city, take note that the entire Philly congressional delegation is on the list. :banghead:

is like all the others I signed to support a public option and 'real' financial services reform. The will of the people be damned in this corporate/political climate. We already have a controlled internet. I have AT&T Yahoo. When I try to access my google e-mail account Yahoo deliberately drags the speed way down. This is a fact. Without mandatory net neutrality they will start to do this according to political ideology. They will also restrict our access to their competition.

Bobby Bright (AL-02), Mike Ross (AR-04), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Ed Pastor (AZ-04), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Jim Costa (CA-20), Laura Richardson (CA-37), Joe Baca (CA-43), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Allen Boyd (FL-02), Corrine Brown (FL-03), Alcee Hastings (FL-23), Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24), Sanford D Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), John Barrow (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Wally Minnick (ID-01), Bobby Rush (IL-01), Debbie Halvorson (IL-11), Baron P Hill (IN-09), Dennis Moore (KS-03), Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Frank Kratovil, Jr. (MD-01), Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2), Elijah Cummings (MD-07), Gary Peters (MI-9), William Lacy Clay Jr (MO-01), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Travis Childers (MS-01), Bennie G Thompson (MS-02), Gene Taylor (MS-04), G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Heath Shuler (NC-11), John Adler (NJ-3), Albio Sires (NJ-13), Harry Teague (NM-2), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Gregory Meeks (NY-06), Joseph Crowley (NY-07), Ed Towns (NY-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-11), Michael McMahon (NY-13), Scott Murphy (NY-20), Bill Owens (NY-23), Michael Arcuri (NY-24), Daniel Maffei (NY-25), Steve Driehaus (OH-01), Charlie Wilson (OH-06), Marcia Fudge (OH-11), Zachary T. Space (OH-18), Dan Boren (OK-02), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Robert Brady (PA-01), Chaka Fattah (PA-02), Kathleen Dahlkemper (PA-03), Jason Altmire (PA-04), Christopher Carney (PA-10), Allyson Schwartz (PA-13), Tim Holden (PA-17), Lincoln Davis (TN-04), John Tanner (TN-08), Al Green (TX-09), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20), Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), Solomon Ortiz (TX-27), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Gene Green (TX-29), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Glenn Nye (VA-02), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Nick Rahall (WV-03)

I wonder what the excuse for this horrible vote will be told at re-election....

...it was FULL of angry replies. The next day I went back and all the replies were gone. Out of sight, out of mind I guess ...

No really People, it is not over but it IS important to speak up. The SCOTUS has ruled that Comcast and their ilk can DESTROY Net Neutrality, meaning they can take your money and then dictate where you can and cannot go on the Net because SCOTUS said the FCC cannot dictate to them as they are "private corporations".

Ah, but there IS a way we can force Comcast and their buddies to abide by the FCC rules and that is to get Congress to say in essence the Internet is a utility, thus under FCC rules. I went to the FCC meetings in my area and after talking to them personally, most of their Commissioners WANT Net Neutrality. They recognize how important this is to innovation and further growth. They know access to information should be available to all.

But now it is time to speak up ~ and then go and find your state U.S. Congress Critter's Facebook accounts and tell the world how mad you are that they have turned their backs on us and the blocking of affordable and ope Internet services. They will erase them I am sure as Larsen did but ...keep it up. They have to know they are not on the right track.

Larsen is not my Congressman but a WA Democrat, Jay Inslee is a Democrat and he is stepping up, who represents one of the the highest income areas in our state. I made sure he heard my appreciation as well.

Cat in Seattle <---proud member of Reclaim the Media; www.reclaimthemedia.org

And incidentally Net Neutrality isn't about access to this or that particular site (that's a popular but simplified explanation -- as it stands an ISP can simply refuse to route to a particular netblock, though this almost never happens). What this really came from, what ISPs want to do, is to allow Quality of Service rules to favor particular protocols. For example, expedite streaming video packets at the expense of P2P filesharing packets. There is already in TCP/IP a standard hierarchy of precedence (eg, network control packets are more important than VOIP, which is more important than a media stream, which is more important than a text stream, etc.) But if the ISPs have the ability to individually implement QoS rules, they could block new disruptive technologies and stagnate innovation.

Many low income people already have a QED in place as they cannot afford hi-speed access and are relegated to 56k ~ and believe me there is a heueueueuge area of the population already being blocked as the slower speed makes it darn near impossible to access many websites ~ more and more every day as websites are built for higher speeds. Even middle class people in rural areas are relegated to this slower speed unless they can pay the ridiculous satellite fees that block them from even downloading a legitimate movie.

And while ISPs haven't actively blocked access, they know it works and can enforce their agendas if they wanted. Some ISPs like AOL and MSN sort of did this by having their "communities" where many of their subscribers did not know they could leave them and go out on the Net, it would not be hard to simply corral them and force them to pay more to leave their communities and/or deny them WWW access to chosen areas altogether.

I think most of us "geek-wannabes" (like me) know your much better explanation but because most people are not network administrators just like we may not be medical doctors, botanists or social workers, they often don't understand that when we try to explain it that way, and thus the "simplified" explanation they do understand.

These companies were given millions of our tax dollars through the Telecommunications Act to lay the infrastructure that has been sketchy at best in many areas, particularly low income and rural areas because they used the money to lay cable in higher income areas (except government and schools, which were higher up on the MAE). While these companies "own" these now, it is important to remind them they were helped by We The People who do still own the airwaves, and that they have some obligation to provide the affordable and available access what is now a necessity for most U.S. citizens.

Whatever way we try to explain it, it is important to make sure the FCC is making the rules and that we watch the FCC to ensure they make the right decisions as you indicate and make the Internet accessible for all. Just another reason why privatizing is a monster in SO many ways imo.

Cat in Seattle

in their respective districts. I can't vote republican so the only hope is a primary challenge. My rep, Debbie Halvrson, I know personally, has had a 100% voting record, til NOW. I have let her know this action will kill EVERYTHING. "Rescind your signature."

Petition signed.

K&R!

I couldn't agree with this letter more.

Privatization and ending industry regulations are a Conservative Corporate Republican holy grail. The danger of such ideology has been proven over and over again, most recently in the Gulf.

WHEN WILL YOU PEOPLE LEARN? NO AMOUNT OF WEALTH AND POWER IS WORTH THE CONSEQUENCES.

I AM DEAD SERIOUS, BTW.