Posted on 06/18/2010 10:46:30 AM PDT by jazusamo
Complete title:
FCC Moves to Regulate Internet--Even Though the Law Calls for Internet to be 'Unfettered by Federal or State Regulation'
(CNSNews.com) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on Thursday to begin the formal process of bringing the Internet under greater federal control a move sought by both President Barack Obama and FCC Chairnman Julius Genachowski--even though federal law calls for an Internet "unfettered by Federal or State regulation."
This step comes after the federal D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in April rebuked the FCC in its attempt to enforce a controversial regulatory doctrine called Net Neutrality, which would allow the government to prevent private Internet providers from deciding which applications to allow on their networks.
The court said that the FCC did not have the authority to prevent Comcast, specifically, from blocking certain peer-to-peer Web sites.
The FCC is now trying to reclassify the Internet to broaden its authority over the Web. Currently, the FCC only has ancillary authority, meaning it can regulate Internet access only in the process of regulating another service that it has direct authority over, such as television or cable.
The 3-2 party-line vote on Thursday at the FCC began the formal process of reclassifying the Internet as a telecommunications service instead of an information service its current classification. This is necessary because, as an information service, the government has little power to regulate Internet networks.
As a telecommunications service, such as a telephone network, the Internet would fall under a much broader regulatory scope giving the government the power to enforce universal service requirements, making them pay into a federal universal service fund used to provide communications services to poor areas.
The FCC will now begin the mandatory public comment period, where it will solicit input from private companies and citizens about whether it should reclassify the Internet and, if so, how it should do it.
The Commission has three options for going forward. First, it can decide not to reclassify the Internet at all, continuing to treat it as an information service. Second, the FCC can completely reclassify the Internet as a telecommunications service, granting the Commission broad powers over it. Third, it could seek a middle ground, reclassifying the Internet as a telecom service but exempting Internet providers from most of the regulations associated with other telecommunications services.
This last approach, presented at the hearing as the third way, is the preferred avenue of Genachowski, who unveiled the plan in May.
The third way approach would still allow the government the authority to heavily regulate the Internet because it would be classified as a telecom service. However, under this approach, the FCC claims it will exercise forbearance, a regulatory doctrine whereby the government promises not use its regulatory authority in most cases.
Commissioner Michael Copps, at the FCC, sought to frame the issue in terms of consumer protection, claiming that consumers find themselves in quite a box because government, he claimed, had been all but shorn of the authority to regulate Internet service.
Copps said he was worried about relying purely on the private sector for Internet-based innovation, saying that the problems of such an approach could be seen in the 2008 financial collapse and the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
We need to reclaim our authority, Copps said.
Net Neutrality appears to parallel the tragedy of the commons.
That is a chilling graphic. It wouldn’t be so chilling if the possibility wasn’t so real.
Yes, they’re going to take over the internet.
What is going to stop them?
Vote them all out in November!
My thoughts exactly. Seize control. Destroy the competition.
Obama needs to be impeached, tried for treason and shipped to Gitmo to rot with his muslim buddies.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/thirdway/index
#
Quote:
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/68003
FCC Moves to Regulate InternetEven Though the Law Calls for Internet to be Unfettered by Federal or State Regulation
Friday, June 18, 2010
By Matt Cover, Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com)
SNIPPET: This last approach, presented at the hearing as the third way, is the preferred avenue of Genachowski, who unveiled the plan in May.
The third way approach would still allow the government the authority to heavily regulate the Internet because it would be classified as a telecom service. However, under this approach, the FCC claims it will exercise forbearance, a regulatory doctrine whereby the government promises not use its regulatory authority in most cases.
Commissioner Michael Copps, at the FCC, sought to frame the issue in terms of consumer protection, claiming that consumers find themselves in quite a box because government, he claimed, had been all but shorn of the authority to regulate Internet service.
Copps said he was worried about relying purely on the private sector for Internet-based innovation, saying that the problems of such an approach could be seen in the 2008 financial collapse and the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
We need to reclaim our authority, Copps said.
More on THE THIRD WAY:
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/thirdway/index
#
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2329925/posts
Third Way
Various ^ | September 1, 2009 | n/a
Posted on September 1, 2009 6:06:44 PM PDT by Cindy
I heard a news brief referencing “The Third Way.”
Let’s take a look ON THE INTERNET.
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.