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U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

reuters.com

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Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#41

Post by xenadu02 »

zavi wrote: post #36
facetube wrote: post #35

You were warned. You repeatedly claimed this wasn't the place for politics, that the reaction to Trump's Russia-assisted election was an overreaction. Here it is: it's on your shore, and it will rapidly intrude on your career and livelihood. I hope you're happy.

Me?

Yes, you.

If you think Verizon, ATT, and Comcast don't look at all the money sloshing around the SV/SF tech scene with envious eyes then you're a fool.

They started with Netflix. They will proceed to squeeze the big players like Google. Soon the average startup will be forced to pay a per-ISP toll to reach that ISP's customers.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#42

Post by caseysoftware »

Paul-ish wrote: post #21

Isn't this what happens when you do everything through the executive, rather than legislative, branch? If net neutrality were required by law, the FCC chairman would to some degree be compelled to enforce it.

This is an important and fundamental point.

When things are just rules or policies, they can be enacted and removed with a stroke of a pen or by a handful of people voting. When it's the law, they at least have some external pressure to enforce it..

.. sometimes.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#43

Post by doctorshady »

saboot wrote: post #33
MS_Buys_Upvotes wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It had nothing to do with money. Pai is a former Verizon lawyer. He did exactly as he was expected to do.

Tom Wheeler was a lobbyist for the Telecom industry..

Yes, but this was decades ago. Pai's tenure was more recent. On top of that, he has a few years in as an FCC commissioner where he's consistently voted down every pro-consumer act, and even outright refused to meet with Tom Wheeler during his time there.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#44

Post by chillwaves »

kablaa wrote: post #14
saboot wrote: post #6

Kind of depressing how easily all that past effort and public campaigning gets brushed aside for Telecom concerns

For every bill we manage to push back, they just make another one with a slightly different name. They are taking advantage of the fact that people can only get up in arms so many times.

They are paid to fight, our side is just volunteers. Who have to work being productive to make a living.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#45

Post by dang »

facetube wrote: post #35

You were warned. You repeatedly claimed this wasn't the place for politics, that the reaction to Trump's Russia-assisted election was an overreaction. Here it is: it's on your shore, and it will rapidly intrude on your career and livelihood. I hope you're happy.

Please don't post inflamed political rants here. If you have a substantive point to make, please make it thoughtfully. Otherwise please don't comment here.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#46

Post by pubby »

LoonyBalloony wrote: post #18
doctorshady wrote: post #2

Is there anything that can be done here? Pai and his little buddy O'Rielly have an easy majority on the FCC here, and I doubt they'll listen to any comments. Short of like, the Trump government being dismantled before then, how do you get rid of such a transparently corrupt head of a federal agency?

Electoral reform. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GFG0sXIig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Erph1L_XwVQ

None of those ideas solve the problem of campaign financing being legalized bribery, the problem of politicians lying and flip-flopping to gain votes, or the problem of wealth, power, and the establishment deciding who can't win by manipulating the press.

The only system I know of that avoids these problems is to hold randomized lotteries for government positions and skip the election process entirely.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#47

Post by chillwaves »

oculusthrift wrote: post #20
LoonyBalloony wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Didn't vote for Jill but the drug war comes to mind. Also money influencing our representatives.

point is they are clearly different on this issue. so it has real consequences.

It's amazing to me that you blame people for choosing differently (and not for the current admin). Who you would rather than a) the people who actually supported the current admin and b) the people too apathetic to bother.

That's really how you want to make your mark? Going after people for disagreeing with you in a non violent, democratically sanctioned way?

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#48

Post by peferron »

wyager wrote: post #25

This is a somewhat unpopular opinion on HN, but I think net neutrality is only a mediocre local optimum. We can do much better without it. Look at Denmark; they top the global ITU ITC ranking for internet service, and how do they do it? By totally deregulating ISPs while setting government policy to allow for competition (instead of trying to force ISPs to follow some arbitrary notion of good behavior in the abject l…

Hey, your roof is leaking. I'll help you demolish it. Then you can rebuild a new roof with state-of-the-art insulation and integrated solar! Of course, I'll only help with the demolition, not the rebuilding, but surely that's OK. When do we start?

Snark aside, it looks like the current government is interested in repealing net neutrality, but not in increasing competition. So, at the end of the day, instead of a leaky roof we're going to end up with no roof at all. I doubt AT&T and friends would have supported the repeal of net neutrality if they thought it would lead to meaningful new competition.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#49

Post by akinalci »

Part of me wants to make a really nice website to shine a spotlight on these corporate shills and track their offenses. Obviously, we can legitimately argue about the merits of some laws and regulations, but others are obvious corporate power grabs that objectively leave us worse off. And to officials who sell us out but are sure to be re-elected, like Marsha Blackburn, she needs to know that there are people who recognize her as a traitor to the interests of the American people.

Re: U.S. FCC chairman plans fast-track repeal of net neutrality: sources

#50

Post by wfo »

oculusthrift wrote: post #16

thanks jill stein voters. :) tell me again how both parties are the same

Specifically, all non-Clinton voters and non-voters in a tiny number of relevant states. For everyone else, their votes never counted.

To blame it on Stein specifically is of course insane and purposely incendiary without any other purpose really; the number of non-voters who just let it happen or "are not into politics" is orders of magnitude more significant and they are much more responsible. Stein voters at least voted against Trump, they just chose not to vote strategically so that their votes were expressive of their preferences but ineffective. Non-voters couldn't even be bothered to express their preference. Geeks love to avoid politics and pretend they are above it, or they aren't interested in it because it involves people not technical facts and this is what happens when we do.

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