From FCC Head Wheeler, a Yellow Light For Internet Fast Lanes 149
An anonymous reader writes "FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has decided to back-pedal just a bit on his recent proposal to end the "Open Internet" regulation regime in favor of a system with more liberal rules that could include so-called internet fast lanes, by means of which major ISPs could favor or disfavor different kinds or providers of internet traffic. Says an article at USA Today, 'Wheeler's latest revision doesn't entirely ban Internet fast lanes, leaving room for some public-interest cases like a healthcare company sending electrocardiography results. But unlike his initial proposal last month, Wheeler is proposing to specifically ban certain types of fast-lanes, including prioritization given by ISPs to their subsidiaries that make and stream content, according to an FCC official who wasn't authorized talk about the revisions publicly before the vote. Wheeler is also open to applying some "common carrier" rules that regulate telephone companies, which would result in more stringent oversight of the ISPs in commercial transactions.'" Update: 05/13 16:37 GMT by T : Oops -- I missed this earlier, substantially similar story.
From Wikipedia: (Score:5, Informative)
From Wiki:
Thomas E. Wheeler is the current Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November, 2013. Prior to working at the FCC, Wheeler worked as a venture capitalist and lobbyist for the cable and wireless industry, with positions including President of the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA).
NOT. GOOD. ENOUGH. (Score:5, Informative)
Tom Wheeler needs to STEP DOWN.
the Obama Administration needs to be held to its promise of ACTUAL Net Neutrality. [wh.gov]
this is not over yet, not by a long shot.
his proposed rules mean shit all (Score:2, Informative)
They FCC used to classify the internet as a common carrier. They changed that in 2005 to an "information service", which they don't have rules to regulate. They already tried making up net neutrality rules, and a judge already smacked them down and told them they GAVE UP the ability to regulate broadband and that they'd need to reclassify to get it back. They can do this at any time.
Given that a court has already told them that their little rules don't apply, all these new proposals mean shit all. Any company can get around them by going to court, precident has been set. They should know this. They do.
The only reason they don't reclassify is because then they wouldn't get cushy lobbyist jobs when their time is up at the FCC.
By the way, you can email the FCC commisioners directly. Be polite! https://www.fcc.gov/contact-us [fcc.gov]
Also by the way, you should call your reps and bitch to them too. Keep up the pressure! http://whoismyrepresentative.c... [whoismyrep...tative.com]
I found my reps and put them into my phone. It's amazing how much more you call when they're right there.
Re:From Wikipedia: (Score:5, Informative)
A conflict of interest is "I used to work for a telephone company, now I head for the FCC, and will work for the industry AGAIN when I no longer run the FCC"