Tech firms write to U.S. FCC to oppose 'net neutrality' plan
I think as has always been the case, money talks more then words ever could in a political system. If these 100+ tech companies each put in a few dollars, they would have enough lobbying money to swing the argument in the right direction. We are only at the current point in the anti-net neutrality argument because ISP's and telecommunication providers have been lobbying Washington rather successfully.
It's a sad fact he with the biggest cheque book wins, especially when it comes to reform. Look at the whole music/movies piracy argument, it extends as far back as the late nineties; publisher groups, the likes of the RIAA suing people and skewing the legal system by throwing money at the right people who have the power to vote and act upon such decisions. It's happening all over again, except this time the repercussions will be far worse then any anti-piracy bill.
I'm not saying lobbying is the only solution, but if the entities on the wrong side of the argument are doing it, does it matter if Google, Amazon, Facebook and other companies issue statements and express concerns to congress if it will only fall on deaf ears or be brushed off as a selfish act?
It kind of reminds me of when Labor were in power in Australia before the recent election and were in the process of rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) which was a fibre to the premises plan the current party has basically scrapped. Google Australia issued a statement saying the current Government needs to understand the value of such a network, but they were shrugged off. If they opened up their cheque book and started donating to particular Government interests and districts, would they have been taken more seriously? Maybe.
Hey, can someone rewrite Reuter's headline for them?
These companies don't oppose Net Neutrality. They oppose Wheeler's anti-net-neutrality plan.
Apparently, Wheeler (the FCC chairman) used to work as a lobbyist for the cable and wireless industry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Wheeler_(lobbyist)).
That seems as a bit of a conflict of interest.
Link to letter: http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4422119/letter_to_FCC.pdf
Can anyone spot any big names that are absent, other than Apple?
The letter stops short of asking the FCC to classify broadband and the internet with common carrier status. Bummer.
Can someone with a bit of knowledge help me get a grip on Mozilla's Net Neutrality plan? I'm reading through this:
https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/files/2014/05/Mozilla-Pet...
and the blog announcing it: https://blog.mozilla.org/netpolicy/2014/05/05/protecting-net...
Anybody think this is a bad idea? Seems to be a safer bet than the more dangerous brush strokes others are painting the issue with.
If tech has balls, they can get net neutrality back fast (couple of days): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7714204
I'd like to see those 100 firms contribute to a co-op ISP which competes in the most profitable markets of Comcast and AT&T, etc.
In case you want to spread the importance of this to the general public, there's a simple video from vihart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAxMyTwmu_M
It seems significant to mention that the tech firms are opposing ineffectual net neutrality plans. Not opposing net neutrality.
edit: formatting
You think the people in politics understand the idea of "net neutrality" LOL. I'd be surprised if most Senators/House members knew the difference between USPS and email. Now if you were to tell them that the internet would go away unless they contributed $100mil maybe they'd open an IE6 window to Wikipedia to understand whats going on.
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Since this has been dragging on for about a decade now, what has been the effects in the US? Also, will net neutrality force cable companies to unblock port 25?
Would be better says to oppose the "fast track" plan.
Dont know if this law is for or against, however the moment My isp starts charging both sides i would switch.
That is not what i pay for.
I would assume in the bigger picture this would not be very good for ISP's
One set of corporate overlords is taking our side to enlarge their own coffers. Rejoice, peons !
So is this really going to get Wheeler to stop the push? I don't think so the broadband provider have their hands up his ass up to his mouth.
Fuck you Wheeler.