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from the hopefully-not-paying-lip-service dept.
Fluffeh writes:
"When the D.C. U.S. Court of Appeals struck down the FCC's Open Internet Rules, a White House Petition was put up to 'direct the FCC to classify ISPs as "common carriers"'. With over 100k signatures, there is now an official response.
Absent net neutrality, the Internet could turn into a high-priced private toll road that would be inaccessible to the next generation of visionaries. The resulting decline in the development of advanced online apps and services would dampen demand for broadband and ultimately discourage investment in broadband infrastructure. An open Internet removes barriers to investment worldwide.
The petition asked that the President direct the FCC to reclassify Internet service providers as "common carriers" which, if upheld, would give the FCC a distinct set of regulatory tools to promote net neutrality. The FCC is an independent agency. Chairman Wheeler has publicly pledged to use the full authority granted by Congress to maintain a robust, free and open Internet a principle that this White House vigorously supports."
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @02:05PM
From the desk of a former FCC Commissioner
February 13, 2014
Columbia Journalism Review
http://www.cjr.org/essay/from_the_desk_of_a_former _fcc.php?page=all&print=true [cjr.org]
(Score: 2, Troll) by clone141166 on Wednesday February 19 2014, @02:16PM
Lengthy but interesting read. Mod parent up.
(Score: 1) by inyoutees on Wednesday February 19 2014, @02:30PM
Agreed. Article linked above is well worth your time
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bucc5062 on Wednesday February 19 2014, @03:02PM
I also read the White House response and found it contrite and filled with disdain. The author said little and what was said was coached more as "be quite and go away little boys and girls, we know whats good for you". The moments when I have hope for this country become increasingly further and further apart.
I'd write to my representatives, but as a democrat living in a southern state my representatives are either Tea Party extremists, or good ol boy southern conservatives that just Love sucking at the teat of corporate largess. Sad day indeed.
The more things change, the more they look the same
(Score: 1) by bucc5062 on Wednesday February 19 2014, @03:56PM
The system its self is fine. The response to this petition sucked. I read multiple paragraphs that read like pabulum to a baby. Not until the last paragraph was there any real reference to the original petition and the response was at best tepid, but mainly non-responsive. The President has the ability to direct the FCC, he appointed the commissioner, this answer showed he does not care. it would have been just as good for the response to be, "No, I wont do that, good day". At least it would not have wasted my time on vacuous words with little import. What surprises me the most is that this should no a no-brainer crossing political boundaries at the people level. We, We want neutrality whether that We is a Democrat, Republican, Green or other party. We do not want the internet controlled by a few big entities and the President has the ability to act, first as an Executive, and then as part of the legistrative body to ensure We don't lose control of the Internet.
So, Mr. President, your response was weak, and said more in who you really want to support then you think. You gave Us platitudes while you continue to give true power to the few who pay your bills.
The more things change, the more they look the same
(Score: 1) by cykros on Thursday February 20 2014, @04:44AM
If you're writing to a Tea Party Extremist, you should be pushing for the removal of government granted monopolies for ISP's. These are what give the real teeth to allowing ISP's to break net neutrality, as while not quite trivial, it'd be entirely possible for municipal, co-op, or simply independent and network-neutrality-supporting private service providers to compete with the filtered systems, and very likely win in large areas. I don't see how anyone could call themselves a libertarian anything and not see the sense in that.
I see your dilemma though, as you surely won't be getting their support for more regulations, in most cases. You're not without options though.