Annual FCC Shenanigans

[Jaxxoon R]

Since most Americans have only one option for broadband service, ISPs would have unchecked power to extract tolls from you and from businesses that wish to reach you . . . In short, [FCC Chairman Ajit Pai]’s proposal leaves Internet users and small businesses completely at the mercy of ISPs. No one in the government would be able to step in to prevent abusive blocking and throttling of Internet content, pay-to-play fast lanes, or privacy violations by ISPs.

Basically the big victory for net neutrality that everyone patted themselves on the back for a while ago is about to be for naught.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/04/f ... sp-privacy

[DaMan]

The invisible hand of the free market will fix this when the job creators get their tax cuts.

[SouthernLion]

Fuck the FCC.

[Rachael]

Fuck the FCC.

No way - they're there to PROTECT us. (Or supposed to be, anyway) - that would be like saying "fuck the FTC" - well, if you really want to be screwed out of your money endlessly, go for it, but that's really a bad direction to go. If anything, those agencies need new leadership (i.e. not the willy nilly appointments we have) and they need to be buffed up more than ever before.

The whole point of such agencies is to protect us (i.e. YOU and me) from the inevitable harm that companies are already causing - and would cause even worse right now if not for their existence as they are now.

[scalliano]

So, why don't they?

[Trance]

'cause p-p-p-politiiiiiiics

[Rachael]

As I said, the shoddy protections that are in place now are way better than absolutely none at all. But yeah - Trance pretty much summed that up.

[wildweasel]

'cause p-p-p-politiiiiiiics

The thing that's currently going on is that, because the FCC haven't been hearing an overwhelming amount of feedback from the people that Net Neutrality is worth keeping, the voices (more importantly, the wallets) of the telecom corporations are currently speaking louder than ours. Unless the American people can drown them out, they may come to the conclusion that there is absolutely nothing wrong with your ISP charging you additional money to get better speed on Netflix, or locking you out from websites outside of the US unless you upgrade to an "international" service. Both of those are absolutely things that could happen without FCC's protection, and right now, the FCC are dangerously close to concluding that that's not their problem.

[DoomRater]

Man if only there was actual choice in who your internet provider was, the free market could actually, potentially sort itself. But since there's often no choice for rural people (and maybe one or two choices in a city), certain protections need to be in place.

Those who don't get it can be asked if they can switch their power company. Switching from propane to pellets is entirely doable if you're willing to invest in the technology needed to use wood pellets for heat and cooking, but it's simply not affordable to switch power sources (and propane generators and similar wood pellet generators would be equally prohibitive to invest in, not to mention the wind and solar panel situation).

[Graf Zahl]

Welcome to the Third World...

[DoomRater]

Oh that's right, a lot of developing nations are getting shoe donations instead of donations towards a renewable power grid. Equally despicable.

[SouthernLion]

Fuck the FCC.

No way - they're there to PROTECT us. (Or supposed to be, anyway) - that would be like saying "fuck the FTC" - well, if you really want to be screwed out of your money endlessly, go for it, but that's really a bad direction to go. If anything, those agencies need new leadership (i.e. not the willy nilly appointments we have) and they need to be buffed up more than ever before.

The whole point of such agencies is to protect us (i.e. YOU and me) from the inevitable harm that companies are already causing - and would cause even worse right now if not for their existence as they are now.

*Lifts finger to argue but stays silent, defeated.*

Yeah.. well. I mean..

Alright.

[Popsoap10]

I would like to add that in some circles, there is a festering attitude that ANY sort of government regulation, no matter how small or reasonable, should be removed. Oftentimes in the name of a free market or freedom of choice.

I never understand these kinds of arguments against net neutrality. Suggesting that ISPs be able to do what they please, when they do shit like this, makes me very unconvinced that they are acting in everyone's best interests.

[Rachael]

It all comes down to one simple thing: Corporations are there to make money. They're there to make their CEO's and stockholders rich. That's all. They care about nothing else.

If anyone EVER thought that ethics and personal responsibility was part of a corporation's plan, a very rude awakening awaits you.

It's an aristocracy - and it works the same way as ones in past history, even recent times, that have been violently overthrown. Having their "reign" so to speak ended by the government is the best thing that people who participate in such things can hope for - the alternative is definitely not something anyone wants. (Except for maybe crazy people...)

[Matt]

Crazy, or are other members of another aristocracy who are manipulating the peons to destroy their rivals.