Government to Takeover the Internet

[TheTman]

From Mozilla.org 2/26/15:

Today will go down in history as the day we won real protections for net neutrality.

After a long campaign, this morning the FCC voted for what we demanded, and
what a few big cable companies did not want: strong, enforceable net
neutrality rules based on classifying broadband as a Title II
communications service. Huge sums were spent lobbying Congress to try to
limit what we can create and build and do online.

We accomplished what seemed impossible: we stood together, took on the goliaths, and won.

This was no small feat. It was the biggest show of public engagement the FCC
had ever seen -- a mass movement of historic proportions. Millions of
public comments flooded Washington on this issue. By banding together,
we've helped to keep the Web open and accessible for everyone, equally.

What's next? We've known all along that cable companies would turn to the
courts if they lost with the FCC, and that's exactly what they're
preparing to do, but they likely have a very difficult road ahead. The
President himself spoke in favor of strong rules to protect net
neutrality. The FCC chairman, a former cable and wireless industry
lobbyist, led the FCC to a vote on the rules we asked for. And anti-net
neutrality bills in Congress have fizzled.

We have built a powerful and unified grassroots movement, and we aren't going anywhere.

We all know this won't be the last time we will need to join together to
protect the Web from those that want to control it. With the net
neutrality fight underway in the European Union, this victory in the
U.S. will hopefully boost efforts there. Mozilla's policy experts are
also keeping an eye on legislation about surveillance, privacy, and
online safety and security just on the horizon.

A handful of growing empires will no doubt try again to take more control
of what is possible and what is imaginable on the Web. I hope we can
call on you to stand with us when the time comes. Strength in numbers --
that's how we win.

Thanks again for your work to make today's outcome possible and for all that you do to protect the open Web.

Mark

Mark Surman
Executive Director

[muggsy]

Is this the Net Neutrality bill? If so, I'm all for it.

I was sure that you would be.

[muggsy]

There was a time in life when my every need was met. I was fed, clothed, and sheltered. By the age of eighteen I couldn't wait to leave my parents home. I was seeking freedom. Now the government wants run my life by telling me what light bulb I have to use and how much water my toilet can flush, what I can and can't eat or drink and how much. I'm draw the line at single ply toilet paper and if the government tries to mandate that, I'm taking up arms. Fokking liberal A-holes.

[diablo53]

Everyone's internet just went up $5 to $10.

Sure, let's make it fair for everybody, and we'll let the government manage it all. Oh, and we can all pay extra for that "fairness." I just don't understand the argument "Let's limit big providers by keeping a monopoly at bay and keeping prices in down. And we all can pay extra for that service."

Kinda like "Let's keep health care costs down by forcing everyone to buy health care insurance."

[Longitude Zero]

Now the US views the Internet the same way that China and N. Korea does. WOW. The FCC is now having an unholy relationship with Communistic governments. Government regulation and control NEVER leads to better service. It ALWAYS lead to worse service at a higher cost.

[JohnR]

Mozilla's response is the typical pure Marxist anti-bourgeoisie claptrap. Mao would be proud, Lenin would be proud, Castro would be proud.

[ScottM]

Those of you late to the thread should do your homework first instead of parroting the same pre-spun anti-government tripe. And those of you here since the beginning still need to read that article I linked. Seriously guys, don't pretend to be more informed and enlightened than liberals if you don't spend any calories going beyond the bobble heads.

[deadeye]

I guess I am old and jaded. Don't really care who says what anymore. Since this administration has come along words are cheap and mean very little. I have however seen the cluster ---- that happens when the government takes over anything. Throughout our history. Why would this be any different? I would be willing to bet Soros, Buffet or the unions have their hands in this up to their elbows. Internet tax is right behind this. Wanna bet?

[Bawanna]

If you like your internet you can keep it.

[ScottM]

Deadeye are you just jaded just about government are are you willing to give equal time to industry? That's what I find inaccurate - folks who are anti-government, free-market worshippers can be so blind to how industry screws us at every turn of the coin. And vice-versa as well; how dyed-in-the-wool, starry-eyed anti-business folks can be so blind to cases where politicians game the system to their advantage.

Guys, it's happening all around us, and blaming one without the other, and then failing to do our own direct research and discern issues below the spin is just plain intellectual sloth.

Personally, I do believe there will be a "tax" passed on by bandwidth providers. It will be from them making up for lost fees we already pay in the form of higher content-provider fees (which are paid down to the bandwidth providers to guarantee "equal" delivery".

If the above doesn't make any sense, read the article. This whole thing is a far cry from "government bad, innovation good".