US Rep Barton (R-Texas) Asks FCC To Stop Vote On Open Internet Rules (net neutrality)

[UpInArms]

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A senior House Republican on Tuesday asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski to stop a commission vote, slated for Thursday, on proposed open Internet rules.

House Energy and Commerce Ranking Republican Joe Barton of Texas said in a letter to Genachowski that the rules could have "potentially catastrophic effects on investment and deployment of broadband services throughout the country."

The rules would prevent Internet companies such as Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and AT&T Inc. (T) from selectively blocking or slowing certain Web content and would require providers to disclose how they manage their networks.

Barton's letter is just the latest in a flurry of protests sent to the FCC about the proposed rules.

Big telcos warn that new regulations will hamper their considerable investment in Internet networks around the country, putting in danger a top priority of President Barack Obama to blanket the country with high-speed Internet.

<snip>

The aggressive lobbying on both sides of the issue isn't likely to change the outcome of the FCC vote. The proposed rules fulfill a campaign promise from Obama, and Genachowski has more or less secured the support of the two other Democrats on the independent commission.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091020-717230.html

[skoalyman]

1. Wonder how much att and the rest payed him to cut his own throat?

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[givemebackmycountry]

2. What is about Repukes and their penchant for heart clenching melodrama?

"potentially catastrophic effects on investment and deployment of broadband services throughout the country."

Everything is a "catastrophe" to them, everything is a threat to them that will "ruin" the institution of this or that.
They are like a long running soap opera, everyday we have a new "crisis" that will end freedom in America.

Republicans are fucking drama queens.

[UpInArms]

6. can never hear the use of the word "catastrophic" without thinking about PNAC

In Rebuilding America’s Defenses…they insisted on pouring 3.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) into the Defense budget — and that is the exact number that the Bush Administration’s budget had requested and got from the Republican Congress.<2>

Under Bush, and his “National Security Strategy” of 2006, America became a nation, which for the first time in its history endorsed a doctrine of preemptive attack. And all the neocons needed to achieve this warped “dream state” was another Pearl Harbor. In their Rebuilding America’s Defenses…statement, the PNAC eerily wrote, “...The process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event — like a new Pearl Harbor?”

[troubledamerican]

7. What is it about Texas that is the fountain of all evil?

Has anything good EVER come from Texas?

[tomm2thumbs]

11. heheheh

The Republican-influenced areas are landmines of stupidity...

[Anakin Skywalker]

14. Yeah! Conservatism is the New Refuge

for CRYBABIES! I am so f*cking sick of hearing teabaggers moaning about their rights being taken away.

[msongs]

3. internet needs to be a PUBLIC utility nationwide asap nt

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Barton, your party lost the election.

You are no longer in charge. Accept it.

[NC_Nurse]

5. F*ck that.

[NYC Liberal]

8. Cable companies have been granted monopolies for years

and yet they chose not to upgrade their infrastructure or expand their coverage. And the speeds in this country are absolutely pathetic for what they ought to be.

I have no sympathy for them.

[earcandle]

9. Public services need to be publically owned, or highly regulated, as if publically owned. The

public interest is at stake. 

[zoff]

10. What internet network?

Is that the network that places us behind South Korea & Japan in internet speed?

[Quantess]

16. Good point.

[boppers]

12. I'm willing to pay $500 a month for unfiltered internet, but are you?

I'm saddened that folks who don't even understand a three way handshake have (uninformed) opinions on the topic, but hey, if this goes through, why not charge every household for their usage?

[No Elephants]

13. When did we give up on separation of powers?

[Jack Fate]

15. Fuck the "Big Telcos" and the GOP!

There will be free, neutral internet, or there will be NO internet.