Statement from the President on the National Broadband Plan

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/statement-president-national-broadband-plan

For Immediate Release March 16, 2010 Statement from the President on the National Broadband Plan

America today is on the verge of a broadband-driven Internet era that will unleash innovation, create new jobs and industries, provide consumers with new powerful sources of information, enhance American safety and security, and connect communities in ways that strengthen our democracy. Just as past generations of Americans met the great infrastructure challenges of the day, such as building the Transcontinental railroad and the Interstate highways, so too must we harness the potential of the Internet. Expanding broadband across the nation will build a foundation of sustained economic growth and the widely shared prosperity we all seek.

I commend Chairman Julius Genachowski, the Commissioners, and the FCC staff for their hard work in developing the National Broadband Plan.

My Administration will build upon our efforts over the past year to make America's nationwide broadband infrastructure the world’s most powerful platform for economic growth and prosperity, including improving access to mobile broadband, maximizing technology innovation, and supporting a nationwide, interoperable public safety wireless broadband network.

stepping back in time...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2009/09/fcc_to_introduce_rules_that_pr.html

“FCC To Introduce Net Neutrality Rule”
September 18, 2009

SNIPPET: “Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, plans to propose a new so-called net neutrality rule Monday that could prevent telecommunications, cable and wireless companies from blocking Internet applications, according to sources at the agency.

Genachowski will discuss the rules Monday during a keynote speech at The Brookings Institute. He isn’t expected to drill into many details, but the proposal will specifically be for an additional guideline on how operators like AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast can control what goes on their networks. That additional guideline would prevent the operators from discriminating, or act as gatekeepers, of Web content and services.”

Previously...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396661/posts

“Should an Independent Regulatory Agency Head Be Visiting the White House This Often?”
TechLiberation.com ^ | 11/29/09 | Adam Thierer
Posted on November 29, 2009 9:16:07 PM PST by Major Matt Mason

SNIPPET: “Move over, health care reform, climate change, and the economy. Judging by White House visits by various government agency heads, the Obama administration instead appears preoccupied with the re-regulation of communications, media, and the Internet. The Administration has just released logs of all visitors to the White House and Executive Office Buildings from Obama’s inauguration through August—including a staggering 47 visits by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski. By contrast, no other major agency head logged more than five visits. Chairman Genachowski obviously has an audience with those at the highest levels of power, including the President himself, but this raises questions about just how “independent” this particular regulator and his agency really are.”

That word “harness” reminds me of something you would do to a horse, so I went over to DICTIONARY.com to look at all the meanings of the term “harness.”

Note: The following text snippet is a quote:

har·ness
–noun
1.
the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal.Compare yoke1 (def. 1).
2.
(on a loom) the frame containing heddles through which the warp is drawn and which, in combination with another such frame or other frames, forms the shed and determines the woven pattern.
3.
the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung.
4.
Electricity. wiring harness.
5.
armor for persons or horses.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle.
7.
to bring under conditions for effective use; gain control over for a particular end: to harness water power; to harness the energy of the sun.
8.
Archaic. to array in armor or equipments of war.
—Idioms
9.
in double harness. double harness (def. 2).
10.
in harness,
a.
engaged in one’s usual routine of work: After his illness he longed to get back in harness.
b.
together as cooperating partners or equals: Joe and I worked in harness on our last job.

ADDING to post no. 4 and post no. 5:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395142/posts?page=8#8

stepping back in time...

Note: The following post is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374198/posts

Net Neutrality For Campaign Donors ( Top Donor awarded FCC chairman position )
Big Government ^ | October 28, 2009 | Capitol Confidential
Posted on October 29, 2009 6:35:38 PM PDT by opentalk

Just how far is the Obama administration willing to go to reward big donors? In the wake of yesterday’s explosive report regarding “scores of top Democratic donors” being rewarded with “VIP access to the White House, private briefings with administration advisers and invitations to important speeches and town-hall meetings,” it’s a question that’s on the minds of many politically-engaged Americans, and one likely to grab yet more attention, thanks to this article in today’s USA Today. It notes that:

“More than 40% of President Obama’s top-level fundraisers have secured posts in his administration, from key executive branch jobs to diplomatic postings in countries such as France, Spain and the Bahamas, a USA TODAY analysis finds.”

USA Today goes on to report that one top-level fundraiser apparently awarded with a plum job is Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski.

The paper reports that Genachowski raised more than $500,000 for Obama—which critics charge may have helped him “buy” a position that now puts him at the center of one of Washington’s most heated policy debates, namely that regarding net neutrality.

Genachowski, a strong proponent of the policy and a darling of far left groups like Save The Internet, has recently garnered criticism for what some see as an effort to ram net neutrality through with little to no debate. The proposed policy has recently become the focus of criticism and concern from everyone from internet service providers to groups typically regarded as Obama administration-friendly, such as the Asian American Justice Center, National Council of La Raza, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the National Urban League. 72 House Democrats and three Democratic Governors have also raised concerns about the proposed policy.

Last week, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced legislation to block the FCC, led by Genachowski, from enacting net neutrality rules. In a statement, McCain suggested that net neutrality amounted to a “government takeover of the Internet.” He added that enacting the regulation favored by Genachowski, which he dubbed “oppressive,” would “stifle innovation, in turn slowing our economic turnaround and further depressing an already anemic job market.” On Tuesday, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced similar legislation to block net neutrality in the House. Genachowski critics argue that her move evidences further existing forceful, bipartisan opposition to Genachowski’s preferred policy, and will enhance scrutiny of the FCC Chairman’s agenda—as may the USA Today revelations.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.