Internet
Congressional Anti-Internet Freedom Bills- by Stephen Lendman
Net Neutrality is the last frontier of press freedom. With it, consumers have open access to an array of equipment, content, applications and service, free from corporate control. Public interest groups want it preserved. Giant telecom and cable companies want control to:
• establish toll roads, or premium lanes;
• charge extra for speed and free and easy access;
• control content to stifle dissent and independent thought;
• co-opt this essential public space for profit; and
• subvert digital and political democracy.
As a candidate, Barack Obama promised to "(s)upport the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet."
Obama made lots of promises he broke, notably not delivering promised change. Instead, he's been the standard bearer for corrupt political/business as usual, elevating it to more extreme levels at home and abroad.
He governs more like a crime boss in league with Wall Street, America's military industrial complex profiteers, and other corporate favorites.
He systematically spurns democratic values, freedoms, and rule of law principles. Betraying working Americans, he implemented austerity, not vital aid when most needed in hard times.
He ignores growing poverty, hunger, homelessless and despair.
He champions expanded militarism, imperial wars, and state-sponsored terrorism.
He praises murdering American citizens abroad in cold blood. Anwar al-Awlaki broke no laws, but never got due process to explain. He was killed for opposing US imperial lawlessness globally. That perhaps also makes millions at home targets.
He systematically spurns fundamental human and civil rights.
He supports open-ended banker bailouts, other generous corporate handouts, and tax cuts for super-rich elites already with too much.
Will Internet freedom fare better on his watch? It prevents providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.
Losing it will stifle innovation, limit competition and control. It will also restrict or prevent free access to information.
If lost, consumers will be sacrificed to benefit powerful telecom and cable giants. In fact, they lobby furiously to destroy Internet freedom for greater profits and control of online content.
Many congressional members support them. On February 6, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R. TX) introduced "SJ Res. 6: A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications with respect to regulating the Internet and broadband industry practices."
The bill was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. No further action so far was taken.
Forty Republican senators co-sponsored it, including Lamar Alexander (R. TN, Susan Collins (R. ME), Lindsey Graham (R. SC), Charles Grassley (R. IA), Orrin Hatch (R. UT), John McCain (R. AZ), Mitch McConnell (R. KY), Rand Paul (R. KY), Richard Shelby (R. AL), and Olympia Snowe (R. ME), and 30 others.
All get generous industry handouts (read bribes) to support legislation harming their constituents.
Writing for freepress.net, Tim Karr headlined "High Noon for Internet Freedom," saying:
This "arcane 'resolution of disapproval' now wend(s) its way through the Senate." If passed, it'll void a recent FCC rule, "seek(ing) to preserve long-held Internet standards that protect users against blocking and censorship."
"The FCC is in essence building an Internet Iron Curtain that will restrict more of our freedom....It is just another example of a federal agency defying the will of the people."
It's making a "vampiric leap from its traditional jurisdiction - the terrestrial radio and land line telephones that have fallen into disuse - onto the gifts piled neatly under our trees. The iPads and iPhones, Androids, Wiis, Webbooks and WiFi will all feel the federal bite in a way they never have before...."
"(T)he FCC is effectively nationalizing the Web," says Blackburn, adding that "the new Congress will prove a swift antidote to the federal bloodsucker you found at your throat this Christmas."
Free Press "will challenge the arbitrary nature of rule provisions that provide less protection for mobile wireless Internet access than they do for wired connections."
Open Internet rules "came with the understanding that there is only one Internet, no matter how people choose to reach it."
New FCC rules "fail to protect wireless users from discrimination, and they let mobile providers block innovative applications with impunity."