Precisely What “They” Don’t Want!
Come on folks, - “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent US government agency, directly responsible to Congress.”
Jason asks: “What’s the Department of Justice got to do with Net Neutrality?” And answers “Well, essentially nothing at this point, except that the FCC asked the Antitrust Division for its opinion.”
From Wikipedia; “The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is a Cabinet department in the United States government designed to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.”
The Anti-Trust Division of the DOJ? Again, from Wikipedia; “The United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division is responsible for enforcing the antitrust laws of the United States. It shares jurisdiction over civil antitrust cases with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and often works jointly with the FTC to provide regulatory guidance to businesses. However, the Antitrust Division also has the power to file criminal cases against willful violators of the antitrust laws.”
United States Anti-Trust Law? As before, from Wikipedia; “United States antitrust law is the body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior (monopoly) and unfair business practices. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both, or generally to violate standards of ethical behavior. Government agencies known as competition regulators regulate antitrust laws and may also be responsible for regulating related laws dealing with consumer protection.”
Consumer Protection and Consumer Law;
“Consumer protection is a form of government regulation which protects the interests of consumers. For example, a government may require businesses to disclose detailed information about products—particularly in areas where safety or public health is an issue, such as food. Consumer protection is linked to the idea of consumer rights (that consumers have various rights as consumers), and to the formation of consumer organizations which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace.
Consumer protection law or consumer law is considered an area of public law that regulates private law relationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services. Consumer protection covers a wide range of topics including but not necessarily limited to product liability, privacy rights, unfair business practices, fraud, misrepresentation, and other consumer/business interactions.”
So… now I’ll tell you precisely what it is that “they” don’t want! It’s contained in today’s “Statement from ALA President Loriene Roy on Net Neutrality,”
For a moment before I tell you, consider that I had the ability to look up all the above information and learn something from it.
“ALA believes that an open network, free from discrimination, is essential to giving the public access to any lawful content within the library. Access to this information creates an informed public that is better equipped to participate in the digital age.”
An informed public!!! That is what “they” don’t want… anyone who can argue against them intelligently. 1984!
In the words of Save The Internet;
“The DOJ ruling once again proves the point: Powerful corporate and government gatekeepers are working together to dismantle Internet freedoms and impose their will upon the Web.”
Who does the Web benefit? Us, you and I, consumers, people!
Tags - Telco Government Conspiracy Ripping Off America DOJ Needs To Shutup Its Really About The Bush Administration Net Neutrality
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3 opinions for Precisely What “They” Don’t Want!
HOTI Dave
Sep 11, 2007 at 12:40 pm
And on behalf of Hands Off the Internet, which includes ISPs such as AT&T in our coalition, we agree that an open and free Internet is important. If you haven’t seen the full page ad we took out last year on this very point, check it out here: http://handsoff.org/hoti_docs/print_ads/FCC_Principles_BartonAd.pdf
However, we don’t think that Save the Internet’s vision of a free Internet is all that free. They want one which is heavily regulated, and ISPs are not allowed to make deals to enable the smooth delivery of video and audio for customers who want it.
mark
Sep 11, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Know what Dave? You and HOTI have made a complete mockery of the First Amendment with your pathetic spin. What you’ve said here is so far from the truth - here - start with this - AT&T wants an open and free internet??? Ed Whitacre sure as hell doesn’t! Neither do any of his cronies left behind to do his bidding. Please… this is what is truly disgusting about this, you and HOTI treat the average American citizen like they’re idiots.
It ain’t happening here!!!
Ain’t Free Speech Grand? :)
HOTI Dave
Sep 12, 2007 at 6:49 am
Mark — I’m not really sure how to respond, except to say, hey, you’ve got it in writing there: HOTI members most certainly support an open Internet. Ed Whitacre’s comments from 2006 were taken out of context (I can explain if you would like to hear, but it takes some time) and if it makes you feel any better, he’s not even the head of AT&T anymore.
I mean, we’re well aware that people are willing to believe the worst about ISPs, especially since computer networks are so complicated, explanations are vague, and telecom and cable companies have made mistakes in the past. That sure makes it easy for activist groups like Save The Internet to spin a web of distrust around telecoms and cablecos.
I would say you’re caught in it, although I don’t expect this conversation will change your mind. I just encourage you to read up on the network engineers who don’t take such an extreme view. A good example is this post by George Ou: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=512
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