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Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

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Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#71
post #36

One of the problems with Net Neutrality is that techies (us) and the media have both had a hard time explaining it clearly. Meanwhile those opposed have been able to come up with analogies that while false and misleading, are easily understood. What is the best way to explain the concept that can be quickly understood by those that are non-technical?

If all roads were owned by companies, should it be OK for UPS to charge FedEx or ambulances more to drive on its roads? This is imperfect, obviously, but I think it gets close to the core issues fairly concisely. Frankly, I, as a citizen, think you should be allowed to sell the pipe, what goes over the pipe, or what the consumer connects to the pipe, but only one of the three. I like that this has reasonably clear di…

Yes, UPS should because different vehicles cause different amounts of wear to the roads and take up different amounts of space.

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#72
post #36

One of the problems with Net Neutrality is that techies (us) and the media have both had a hard time explaining it clearly. Meanwhile those opposed have been able to come up with analogies that while false and misleading, are easily understood. What is the best way to explain the concept that can be quickly understood by those that are non-technical?

I mean, the real problem is that we have a private utility. I think things like net neutrality can have market solutions if we divorce the last mile operators (to become a utility) from customer ISPs, who merely operate a contract with various backbone networks to connect their clients to servers they want. With last mile paid by taxes, ISPs are only dealing with the cost of backbone transit rates, where there is vib…

In New Zealand, our broadband market is structurally separated.

The the access provider for both the copper and fibre network (right to the customer premises) is a regulated wholesale only provider, which is required to provide open access to its network on a non-discriminatory basis between all access seekers (retail telecommunications companies).[0]

This almost entirely resolves the net neutrality debate in New Zealand.

[0] This is a slight simplification: Chorus is the network owner for the copper network, and about 70% of the fibre network. The other 30% of fibre network is also built, owned and operated by wholesale only providers on a comparable basis.

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#73
post #36

One of the problems with Net Neutrality is that techies (us) and the media have both had a hard time explaining it clearly. Meanwhile those opposed have been able to come up with analogies that while false and misleading, are easily understood. What is the best way to explain the concept that can be quickly understood by those that are non-technical?

The most useful analogy I've seen is the "ala carte internet" one.

"Get Facebook, Twitter, and Google for just $9.99/mo!"

"Add on the video package and get Netflix and Hulu for only $24.99/mo more!"

"News junkie? Get BBC, NY Times, CNN for $7.99/mo."

The reality is of course much more nuanced than that (what's more likely is we'll see these sites being offered bandwidth cap exemptions and faster loading; not outright blocks if you don't pay up), but it conveys the message in a easy-to-digest fashion for the lay person. They're used to this already with their cable packages.

Example: http://i.imgur.com/rL33yEm.jpg

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#74
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That trick of procedurally gavelling open a session and immediately closing it to avoid the recess disgusts me beyond words. The GOP basically opted to treat the Constitution as a dead letter through tricks such as these and refusing to even dignify Garland's nomination with a hearing. Besides the political ramifications I think it's sad that a guy who's widely regarded as a decent hardworking jurist will have his le…

The idea of recess appointments is an anachronism in an age with instant digital communications and airplanes.

No it isn't. Congress is only in session part of the time. Lawmaking - as opposed to politicking - currently requires a quorum and that legislators actually go on the record with both arguments and votes. It's where the rubber of governance meets the road and politicians can't pander to all and sundry while shrugging off criticism by saying 'they misspoke' and so on, but must instead commit to some sort of position (even if they obfuscate that by engaging in bullshit legislative tricks like poison-pill amendments). When Congress is in session it's doing (in theory at least) the Nation's business. When it's in recess the politicians can rest, schmooze their constituents, and so on - conducting their own political business rather than the nation's.

Now all this sounds very fine and idealist, but for lawmaking to be valid and have credibility then there needs to be some sort of formality to the process so that the citizenry can find out what their elected representatives are actually doing on their behalf, eg by consulting the Congressional record. Of course much of what happens in the legislative chamber is theatrical most deals are negotiated and brokered behind closed doors, but the lack of accountability that inheres in such arrangements is why there is a requirement for formalities in the first place.

So because there are formal rules on how laws are made, whether Congress is in session or not does matter. When it's only being kept in session by a technicality without any actual legislative work being performed, that says to everyone looking that the party engaging in such behavior regards rules as an obstruction to be got around rather than a standard for governing their own behavior, and that attitude is likely to promulgate itself among the population in various ways.

If you think recess appointments are a silly anachronism, amend the constitution. Unfortunately, I feel there's a particular faction in the country that actively aims at the undoing of the union in favor of a weak federation of states or several regional confederacies. That would not be so bad if the USA were its own planet, but as it's an imperial-scale power sharing the world with several rivals and many smaller national and corporate actors, a deconstruction of the federal system will create all sorts of power vacuums, and you know how that turns out.

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#75
post #36

One of the problems with Net Neutrality is that techies (us) and the media have both had a hard time explaining it clearly. Meanwhile those opposed have been able to come up with analogies that while false and misleading, are easily understood. What is the best way to explain the concept that can be quickly understood by those that are non-technical?

Netflix fees go up, Those tweets get a 0.047 cent AT&T surcharge Welcome to LobbyWorld!

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#76
post #36

One of the problems with Net Neutrality is that techies (us) and the media have both had a hard time explaining it clearly. Meanwhile those opposed have been able to come up with analogies that while false and misleading, are easily understood. What is the best way to explain the concept that can be quickly understood by those that are non-technical?

Netflix fees go up, Those tweets get a 0.047 cent AT&T surcharge Welcome to LobbyWorld!

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#77
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That trick of procedurally gavelling open a session and immediately closing it to avoid the recess disgusts me beyond words. The GOP basically opted to treat the Constitution as a dead letter through tricks such as these and refusing to even dignify Garland's nomination with a hearing. Besides the political ramifications I think it's sad that a guy who's widely regarded as a decent hardworking jurist will have his le…

Look it up. It was invented by Democrats, specifically Harry Reid I think. Live by the sword, die by the sword ...

I did - here's a decent summary: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12...

I agree that the Democrats made their bed on that one, but they were at least holding hearings for most of Bush's senior nominees rather than trying to obstruct all his appointments. The refusal to even hear a supreme Court nominee this year shocked me. It would be understandable if Scalia had died close to the election but his seat has been empty for nearly a year now.

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Incorrect. FCC commissioners serve a term and Wheeler's term was up June 30, 2018, so this is an early resignation and opens up a spot for Obama or Trump to fill.

According to sources on the hill, his resignation is part of a deal to ensure Jessica Rosenworcel gets confirmed for an additional term. They won't fill up the spot until the next administration.

That's what he was saying he'd do a week ago. The Senate convened on Saturday without acting on Rosenworcel (http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-tech/2016/12/tech-...) and Wheeler quit anyway, so Trump gets a 2-1 majority to start his term.

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

News to me - would love to know more if you can supply a link.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Review_Act The summary is that within 60 legislative session days of a regulation being issued Congress can go through an expedited process (in particular, not filibusterable) to pass legislation that blocks the rule from going into effect. The catch is that the legislation still needs to be signed by the president, or you have to override the veto. But if you get a new pre…

That's really interesting, thanks for sharing. I think your interpretation is basically correct.

Re: Tom Wheeler Resigns from the FCC

#80
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, the real problem is that we have a private utility. I think things like net neutrality can have market solutions if we divorce the last mile operators (to become a utility) from customer ISPs, who merely operate a contract with various backbone networks to connect their clients to servers they want. With last mile paid by taxes, ISPs are only dealing with the cost of backbone transit rates, where there is vib…

In New Zealand, our broadband market is structurally separated. The the access provider for both the copper and fibre network (right to the customer premises) is a regulated wholesale only provider, which is required to provide open access to its network on a non-discriminatory basis between all access seekers (retail telecommunications companies).[0] This almost entirely resolves the net neutrality debate in New Zea…

How well do you feel that this has worked? I was under the impression that telecom prices in New Zealand were pretty painfully expensive?
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