On the Net Neutrality Vote

[WestHoustonDem]

From PPC Chair Emeritus Stan Merriman who submitted this for houstondemocrats.com. I'm unable to post it on houstondemocrats.com because of HCDP restrictions. Feel free to forward and reprint.

In a committee vote on Wednesday, a Republican Majority, with the support of a few Democrats, including Houston's Gene Green, defyied a solid Democratic block of opposition on the Committee, voted to end Network Neutrality on the internet, supporting the corporate lobby led by AT@T, Time Warner and other telecoms. When asked by Stan Merriman why he would sell out internet Democracy, his explanation totally focused on the benefits for the Telecom Companies, with no mention of harm or benefits to consumers/citizen users of the internet.
Below are explanations of the consequences of this vote, should it become law, provided by internet advocacy groups:

Network neutrality would help ensure that Internet serves the interests of diversity of speech. As the new Savetheinternet (http://www.savetheinternet.com/) coalition put it, network neutrality is the equivalent of the Internet’s First Amendment.

He describes what’s at stake for giant telephone companies:

…an unfettered open road is directly at odds with the broadband business plans of AT&T (formerly SBC), Comcast, Time Warner, and Verizon. The cable and telephone industry see enormous revenues as operators of a private Internet toll-road.

And how the rest of us stand to suffer as a result of telco plans to dismantle Network Neutrality:

With the federal non-discrimination policy now toast, the phone and cable companies could embark in earnest with plans to — in their words — “monetize” digital distribution. Through their sole control over America’s residential broadband pipes (they have more than 90% of the market), they planned to set up a multi-tiered and pay-as-you-go private internet highway.
Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldn’t have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer.
Net Neutrality allows everyone to compete on a level playing field and is the reason that the Internet is a force for economic innovation, civic participation and free speech. If the public doesn't speak up now, Congress will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign by telephone and cable companies that want to decide what you do, where you go, and what you watch online.
This isn’t just speculation -- we've already seen what happens elsewhere when the Internet's gatekeepers get too much control. Last year, Canada's version of AT&T -- Telus -- blocked their Internet customers (http://www.twu-canada.ca/cgi-bin/news/fullnews.cgi?newsid1122447600,4516,) from visiting a Web site sympathetic to workers with whom Telus was negotiating. And Shaw, a major Canadian cable company, charges an extra $10 a month (http://www.freepress.net/news/14860) to subscribers who dare to use a competing Internet telephone service.

[Lisa0825]

1. .

:mad:

[PDittie]

2. Gene Green sold out on this for

$12,000. On the Sopranos they call that a 'hoo-er'.

And a cheap one at that.