Franken, Kerry lead charge to defend FCC's net neutrality rules in the Senate

[babylonsister]

Franken, Kerry lead charge to defend FCC's net neutrality rules in the Senate
By Sara Jerome - 02/23/11 02:16 PM ET


Four Senate Democrats wrote to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday to oppose GOP efforts to defund net neutrality rules through spending legislation.

The letter included Senate Commerce Communications subcommittee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

"Telephone and cable companies do not own the Internet. But if (the anti-neutrality effort) is successful, they will," the letter said.

The spending bill that passed the House on Saturday included language to prevent the FCC from using funds to implement its controversial net neutrality rules, which it passed in December over strong objections from Republicans.

"We ask you to object to any similar efforts here in the Senate. Such action aims to strip the FCC of its legal authority over modern communications and hand control of the Internet over to the owners of the wires that deliver information and services over them," the letter says.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/145769-four-senate-dems-objects-to-defunding-net-neutrality

[boppers]

1. Telephone and cable companies already own their networks.

Nobody owns the Internet.

Why is it so hard for legislators to wrap their heads around such a simple thing?

[Kurovski]

2. They can't let go of their belief that free speech is only for the wealthy.

veddy, veddy bad men.

[BlueIris]

3. Useful.

I guess.