Net neutrality could spur the next big political movement

[applegrove]

BY MARGUERITE REARDON

https://www.cnet.com/news/net-neutrality-could-spur-the-next-big-political-movement/

"SNIP...........

Schatz and other outspoken Democrats have been critical of plans to dismantle the 2015 regulation that requires all internet content to be treated equally. Sens. Ed Markey (Massachusetts) and Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut), as well as FCC Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn, are among the voices calling for the regulations to remain in place.

.......

Schatz isn't alone. Millions of net neutrality supporters flooded the FCC with comments on the issue during a public comment period last summer. Grassroots organizers report more than 200,000 calls were made to Congress in the 24 hours following the release of Pai's proposal. Groups like Fight For the Future are organizing protests at Verizon stores the week before the Dec. 14 FCC vote.

CNET talked to Schatz about Pai's proposal. He said tech savvy constituents should stand up and be counted. He also said he's hopeful that a powerful political movement is about to be born. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation.

Q: What do you think the effect on the internet will be once the rules are repealed?
Schatz: We are now in a situation in which we will have to rely on market forces to maintain a free and open internet. And nobody really knows whether that will work or not. One thing we do know is we didn't need to do this to ourselves. This was a solution in search of a problem.

What do you mean by that?
Schatz: There is no lack of profitability or investment among these telecommunications companies. There is nothing that an open internet order did to them that diminished their success. They have been having a couple of great years since net neutrality rules were put in place.


.............SNIP"

[byronius]

1. Nationalize the fuckers.

Pardon my french, but fuck those evil motherfuckers. They need to be put out of their evil misery.

[lindysalsagal]

2. The party that steals the interwebs dies.

It's not a threat:it's a prediction.

I already emailed my Congress critters:

www.congress.gov. they'll find your congressperson's site by zip code. GO!

[JHan]

5. Your congressman or woman can do nothing about this.

The FCC chair is appointed by the President.

Ajit Pai isn't a politician, he's an attorney with a high profile in the telecomm industry.

The lesson here is that who you vote for President matters.

[lindysalsagal]

7. They can get a microphone and a camera and yell and scream about it.

[JHan]

8. It's not up to them.

Some reps in Congress are concerned about this, but the decision is in the FCC's hands.

[LongTomH]

3. There is a big, progressive movement underway and this will just give it a boost!

[applegrove]

4. Yes. And it will really matter to the young voters because it is important.

[JHan]

6. The point should have been made to folks that this is one of the powers the President has.

" Millions of net neutrality supporters flooded the FCC with comments on the issue during a public comment period last summer. Grassroots organizers report more than 200,000 calls were made to Congress in the 24 hours following the release of Pai's proposal. Groups like Fight For the Future are organizing protests at Verizon stores the week before the Dec. 14 FCC vote. "

I don't know what pressure a rep in Congress can put to bear on the FCC - FCC commissioners are not elected. Who knows though? Maybe Ajit will be "pressured" but I doubt it, he has been an attorney with a high profile in telecomm industry and an advocate against net neutrality. He was nominated by Trump and confirmed in the senate.

FCC policies weren't talked about much last year because substantive policy talk was next to non-existent.