Posted on 01/11/2015 12:06:17 PM PST by Libloather
The State of the Union address offers President Obama a huge platform to double down on his call to reclassify the Internet as a utility, advocates say.
Obama inserted himself into the net neutrality fight in November, when he urged the Federal Communications Commission to adopt strong regulations ensuring that the Internet remains a level playing field for businesses and the public.
But the White House has yet to say whether the issue will make it into his agenda setting speech.
“The President should reiterate his support for a free and open Internet,” Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) said, noting its economic importance. “We cannot afford to have Internet fast lanes or a two-tiered Internet system in this country.”
The speech on Jan. 20 will come a little more than a month before the FCC votes on new Internet rules, which have yet to be released.
Matsui and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) recently re-introduced legislation that would force the FCC to ban Internet service providers from negotiating deals with websites for faster service — precisely what the FCC is trying to block with its new rules.
Last November, Obama joined advocates in calling for the commission to reclassify broadband Internet similar to traditional telephones under Title II of Telecommunications Act, to enforce stronger rules.
Obama’s recommendation in a YouTube video has been viewed more than 800,000 times, and nearly four million people submitted comments to the FCC on the issue last year.
But the State of the Union address in front of both chambers of Congress provides a much larger stage. Around 33 million viewers regularly tune in, though viewership has declined in recent years.
The FCC is in the end stages of finalizing its open Internet rules meant to ensure all Internet traffic is treated equally. A mere mention in Obama’s speech would help build public support ahead of the FCC vote next month, advocates say.
“It would give everyone who is pushing for strong net neutrality rules an additional boost,” said Michael Weinberg, vice president of Public Knowledge. “If the president talks about an issue you care about, and he talks about it in a way that aligns with your beliefs, that is a great thing to happen.”
The administration has just begun highlighting issues that will make it into the speech, including a series of cybersecurity and Internet access initiatives to be highlighted this week. But the White House declined to preview whether net neutrality would make the cut.
“I think it’d be interesting if he mentioned net neutrality in the [speech] with everything else going on,” said Gabe Rottman of the American Civil Liberties Union. “His earlier call for Title II was surprisingly, and welcomingly, unequivocal.”
Weinberg, of Public Knowledge, emphasized that while a mention would be helpful, it is not vital since Obama has already made such a public recommendation. On top of that, Chairman Tom Wheeler is already hinting at siding with Obama.
Last week at the Consumer Electronic Show, Wheeler gave the strongest indication yet that he would use the authority, mentioning that mobile calling has successfully operated under similar regulations for years.
Internet service providers and Republicans have pushed hard against reclassification, arguing it would raise taxes and fees on consumers and stifle innovation. The contentious issue is expected to spur litigation, after courts struck down previous rules in the past.
Obama is expected to use a portion of the speech to highlight other issues in the technology world, including increased broadband Internet access, privacy and cybersecurity.
” free and open Internet”
that’s what I thought it already was
What an astonishing assertion is contained therein:
A Republican House staffer told the Wall Street Journal that nothing is off the table, including preemptive counter-legislation to block reclassification and cut the FCC’s budget, or invoking the Congressional Review Act, which grants Congress the power to overturn major rules created by federal agencies.
The version I saw in the paper WSJ used the words "or invoking the little-used Congressional Review Act..."
I pass this along because I am stunned that such legislation, little-used or not, HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN USED THAT I'VE SEEN.
Do you or any of the other more learned Freepers know what is meant by this? So we can throw out EPA regs as we choose? Can we not throw out Amnesty regs that we know are illegal?
How many other nuclear warheads do we have in our aresenal that the cowards in D.C. pretend were lost in the wash?
Tyrants. They hate the internet. And Obama is chief among them.
Its always about control and using computers and with internet (tower of Babel) communications and global connectivity that will eventually empower the beast system that is coming,
In the book of Daniel, “beasts” = tyrannical government/empires/nations opposed to God. He outlines the four main ones with the fourth being the final one at the end,
The Internet is a powerful tool and needed to be free only long enough to draw the world into it, this is one more step in that direction of requiring a global number to buy and sell and to be monitored for ‘hate speech’ the infrastructure is mostly in place, so now comes the demonic overlay,
Stories like this one, where the government wants to control and censor internet activity makes me think of this verse, and I’ve always been intrigued at why different translations have John as the one standing on ‘the sand of the sea’ while others have the dragon (Satan)
I have to wonder if its because its both, both efforts have benefited up until the very end, when its then completely controlled by the final beast of Revelation,
Computer chips are made from sand,
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” Revelation 13:1 KJV
“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.” Revelation 13:1 NASB
(crazy? maybe or maybe not)
How is “net neutrality” going to protect us from a Charlie Hebdo-type attack from anti-free-speech Muslims?
A vote to override a regulation has to be signed by the President or his veto overridden. Thus it’s probably never been used since those making regulations are doing the President’s bidding.
Thanks for the info.
No way they’ll get that kind of vote, as you say.
Unless of course they tie it to legislation enough craven Dems want too.
Astonishing to me that on top of everything else this filthy little scamster will leave his sticky fingerprints on the internet too.
Who realizes that every telephone bill for the last 20 years has had a dollar or two tax taken out of it to
Supposedly pay for this thing that 0bama proposes now?
And of course his proposals, if passed, will just add another tax on top of what is supposed to be paying for it already
Insanity
He only wants to do that so he can add surcharges to give free high-speed internet to welfare recipients.
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) said, noting its economic importance. “We cannot afford to have Internet fast lanes or a two-tiered Internet system in this country.”
Does this bimbo really think that Bill Gates, Barak
Obama and the political elite will have the same service
I get?
Don’t be dtupid lady.
they will push to make the internet a utility, forcing govt control and monitoring.
then come the fines for ‘illegal speech’ ... and loss of internet access for ‘repeated violations’
#1 What is it going to take to wipe the slate clean of ALL these regulations - information flow (Internet), healthcare, environment; and
#2 Can that be accomplished peacefully?
Also a corollary: If #2's answer is "no" then do we have the resolve to do what it takes to restore freedom in America and what's the best path forward? Texas secession?
I’m at my breaking point and not about to allow that. This is my country and my ancestors have been here since Colonial times. I don’t know who these Johnny-come-lately interlopers are, but I believe it’s time to take a real stand, consequences be damned. Cowardice is our biggest enemy...
Anyone can get an Obama phone if: 1)You are on the dole, 2) you are a Democrat, 3) you are in the business of being a pimp, a whore or a drug dealer or 4) all of the above.
This will kill Amazon and EBay...and small businesses that is on the net. This will shut down sites like FR and DU...
Public Knowledge...Ministry of Truth...
our biggest enemy ... is a lack of goals and planning
That pic reminds me....I was on the treadmill at our gym a couple of weeks ago....there are 7 big screen TVs.....EVERYONE of them was on Obama yapping about something...guy next to me was as pissed as I was...
Trust us?
Absolutely not.
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.