Bad analogy. AT&T was regulated in exchange for being granted anti-trust exemptions.
As for cell phones the FCC doesn't regulate business practices or terms of service.
To the extent the FCC does regulate them their authority comes from the cell companies' use of the publicly owned airwaves and radio spectrum.
Needless to say, internet based voice services like Skype, WhatsApp, FB Messanger, FaceTime, etc. aren't regulated at all.
They allow the majority of the public to upload communications, and they restrict it for anyone who expresses a position or opinion they think should be banned.
Only after the person doing the uploading agrees to their contract (TOS) which sets the terms for use of the service, including the terms under which the owner of the platform can refuse to post their content.
If the person doesn't like the terms they can go post elsewhere.
Communications systems utilized by the *PUBLIC* cannot be "private property".
Again, why is it only a subset of communications companies that are subject to this?
As Roberts said "No one can be allowed to own the law."
And he meant it literally. The law was created and paid for by the public so you can't restrict access.
YouTube wasn't.
So if a cell phone company started cutting off service to Homosexuals and other assorted Liberal perverts, you think the FCC would twiddle it's thumbs?
Only after the person doing the uploading agrees to their contract (TOS) which sets the terms for use of the service, including the terms under which the owner of the platform can refuse to post their content.
Terms of service which discriminate should be no more legally valid than "no blacks allowed" signs in restaurants.
So far as I"m concerned, all opinions should have equal rights on all communications systems.
If the person doesn't like the terms they can go post elsewhere.
Blacks can go find another restaurant that serves them.
Again, why is it only a subset of communications companies that are subject to this?
So far as i'm concerned, it should apply to *ALL* communications companies that serve the public. Everyone should have equal rights.
The law was created and paid for by the public so you can't restrict access.YouTube wasn't.
Uh yeah, it was. The internet was created by government funding. Meaning public funding. YouTube can't work without the internet, which requires interstate commerce and numerous other government agencies to make it happen, including the FCC.
It requires government approval and cooperation to keep it working. If Google wants to censor content, they need to be denied the internet, or any other government controlled communications infrastructure.