FCC CHAIRMAN: INTERNET TO BE PUBLIC UTILITY

Breitbart ^ | February 4, 2015 | UPI

[Jim Robinson]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) — The Federal Communications Commission will seek more influence on Internet regulation to ensure net neutrality, its chairman said Wednesday.

In an editorial published on {link:the website of the magazine Wired: “http://www.wired.com/2015/02/fcc-chairman-wheeler-net-neutrality?mbid=social_twitter”,nw}, Tom Wheeler explained new rules, proposed this week, “to preserve the Internet as an open platform for innovation and free expression. This proposal is rooted in long-standing regulatory principles, marketplace experience, and public input.”

The new rules will cast {link:high-speed Internet service as a public utility: “http://www.cnbc.com/id/102376526″,nw}, an unidentified person, who was consulted the FCC {link:on the proposal, told CNN: “http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/02/technology/net-neutrality-fcc/index.html”,nw}. The change would give the FCC more power to regulate arrangements between Internet and content providers, and would change current policy in which Internet providers charge content companies, such as Netflix, for direct access to customers through broadband.

The FCC would have the power to ensure broadband companies do not create “slow lanes” for public internet traffic, a concept known as net neutrality.

Wheeler’s plans are in accordance with President Obama’s statement in November...

[vetvetdoug]

When Comcast went all out supporting Obama and the networks and cable spewing the liberal mantra, I removed the TV and cable from the home and haven't missed the garbage that emanated from it. I can do the same with the Internet going back to snail mail and catalogs and paying bills like we did before the Internet. Social media be damned.

[isthisnickcool]

Cruz/Walker 2016

[GeronL]

the beginning of the end of freedom online

[GeronL]

of course, that is one of the whole points

[Jim Robinson]

It means that when regulated by the federal government it’ll be taxed and censored to death.

[Democrat_media]

Yes and amazing that many here argued for this net neutrality bs. It's just socialism or government control of the Internet as the FCC is doing here. for a hundred years the left/democrats had a monopoly on information CBS,NBC,ABC,PBS, NYTimes , newspapers all socialist propaganda outlets. The socialists/democrats used this monopoly on information to grow the government and move the country to the left and import 80 million 3rd world poor.Then the Internet came along and allowed other points of view .so now they are trying to ruin and censor the Internet and they call it net neutrality (just more socialism)

[GeronL]

There would be no “neutrality” as a public utility when people who buy internet service are paying more to subsidize service for Holders’ people.

[Shadow44]

“You know how the internet has blossomed and flourished for the past 30 years on its own? Well, it’s about time we killed it with censorship and regulation.”

[Lazamataz]

We can create an alternate internet. Nothing is so special about The Internet. Remember FidoNet?

[CGASMIA68]

how does the FCC regulate that which does not terminate in the CONUS

[Dr. Thorne]

Agreed. Someone should ask JEB! about this. I can imagine his reaction.

"Well the FCC are the experts. Too much freedom is dangerous. And whatever else Obama says..."

[CGASMIA68]

Obama and his ilk fear the www just as the Chi Coms,Fidel,Hugo and all other dictators do..

[Jim Robinson]

For one thing, they’ll regulate the assignment of domains and IP addresses.

[MaxMax]

Our Government is to big if they're sitting around thinking up useless ideas like this.
Their idea of freedom will be one sided, as in, Faggots over Bakeries.

[CGASMIA68]

I worked for Ma Bell for 35 plus and this is total BS.
This admin is in total fear of the people

[Jim Robinson]

Remember the IRS scrutinizing conservative non-profit applications?

[Star Traveler]

LOL ... forwarding messages between BBSs through dial-up is far from the Internet ... :-) ...

[CGASMIA68]

too well

[Star Traveler]

I’m betting you’ll still be on it and also posting here, after it goes into effect ... :-) ...

[Political Junkie Too]

Although the internet began as a loose connection of government and university servers, it has grown way beyond that to be mostly private-sector business servers now, right?

So wouldn't this ruling by the FCC be essentially nationalizing the internet by effectively seizing control of private property in the name of business servers and fiber optic cables?

Shouldn't there be at least a Fifth Amendment takings issue here?

-PJ