[abb]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/congress-to-fcc-do-whatev_b_564630.html

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent a letter to Genachowski giving him the green light to “reclassify” broadband under Title II of the Telecommunications Act — the only way the FCC can protect an open Internet and get high-speed service to low income and rural America.

http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/05052010/Genachowski.FCC.2010.05.05.pdf

The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Genachowski:
May 5, 2010

Broadband is not just a technology; it is a platform for social, economic, and educational
opportunity.

As a result, we are concerned that the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to protect broadband consumers and implement important aspects of the National Broadband Plan has been called into question by the opinion of the United States Court of Appeals in Comcast Corporation v. Federal Communications Commission. Specifically, questions have been raised about the Commission’s authority to move forward with its efforts to promote broadband adoption and deployment in unserved and underserved areas, safeguard consumer privacy, provide consumers with complete and accurate information about broadband service
offerings, protect an open Internet, and strengthen public safety communications and
cybersecurity.

We believe that it is essential for the Commission to have oversight over these aspects of
broadband policy, because they are vitally important to consumers and our growing digital
economy. For this reason, in the near term, we want the agency to use all of its existing authority
to protect consumers and pursue the broad objectives of the National Broadband Plan.

To accomplish these objectives, the Commission should consider all viable options. This
includes a change in classification, provided that doing so entails a light regulatory touch, with
appropriate use of forbearance authority.

In the long term, if there is a need to rewrite the law to provide consumers, the
Commission, and industry with a new framework for telecommunications policy, we are
committed as Committee Chairmen to doing so.
We believe both Congress and the Commission have roles to play in fostering the rapid
deployment and dissemination of broadband across the country. We look forward to working
with you and making progress in this process.

Henry A. Waxman
Chairman
House Committee on Energy and Commerce Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

[abb]

http://www.freepress.net/press-release/2010/5/5/free-press-cheers-fcc-decision-take-steps-protect-consumers
Free Press Cheers FCC Decision to Take Steps to Protect Consumers

http://www.freepress.net/about_us/board
Boards of Directors

[Art in Idaho]

Broadband is not just a technology; it is a platform for social, economic, and educational opportunity.

Man, that woke me up! Especially from Waxman. . .

[Ender Wiggin]

‘strengthen public safety communications”

Government taking control of content when they want to.

[CHEE]

How will this action impact Hugh's Net (satellite Internet)?

[ConjunctionJunction]

and get high-speed service to low income and rural America.

I bet I know what that means: free ObamaBroadband is here!

[Natural Born 54]

The want to bring broadband to all the less fortunate folk. That says to me that a tax or a mandate of some kind is going to jack up the price of internet usage for those of who already pay so those that aren’t and don’t will get a free ride on our buck. Anyone else see that? That’s one way to curb the free flow of information. Price the internet out of reach by charging by the minute at high rates. Already that way in some areas of Europe. Hope I’m wrong.

[ridesthemiles]

In a real world-—Waxman & NObama would be indicted & tried for treason.