Congressman Introduces Bill To Limit FCC Powers 176
An anonymous reader writes "Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) introduced a bill on Wednesday that would limit the FCC's power to regulate ISPs in a supposed effort to keep the internet free. The bill's text is currently not available on the Library of Congress webpage or on congress.gov, but a purported copy has been spotted on scribd. Representative Latta's press release nevertheless indicates that the bill is intended to prevent the FCC from re-classifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II. Latta is one of the 28 representatives who lobbied the FCC earlier this month and were shown to have received double the average monetary donations given to all House of Representative members from the cable industry over a two year period ending this past December."
Does anyone actually believe this? (Score:5, Informative)
The congresscritters are owned by lobbyists at this point, without question. Lock, stock, and barrel.
Even if things don't go the way they want, they'll just keep introducing legislation to try and get what their masters want. CISPA is the most blatant example of this.
Re:Good Sign (Score:1, Informative)
If one of the largest telecom shills in congress is introducing anti-FCC legislation, this means the telecoms might be fearing a potential turn-around at the FCC.
Just a month ago it seemed like this was all but impossible to think - maybe some home for REAL net neutrality rulings from the FCC?
Oh for fucks sake. TELECOM = Phone companies. He received donations from CABLE companies. Completely different tech, somewhat related industry.
The difference here is the telecoms ARE regulated. The Cable companies are not. The Cable companies are currently killing the telecoms because they have far less regulation. Telecoms all over the country are hurting because of this and lobbying heavily to get their regulation lifted. (I've worked for both. I currently work for a Telecom)
The FCC is instead trying to bring the cable companies under the same regulatory umbrella as the telecoms (or at least something similar.) This congressman, conservative, doesn't like regulation obviously. So his goal is instead to keep Cable unregulated and likely down the road he wants to lift regulation on the telecoms. The FCC has the opposite approach. They want to regulate both industries even more.
The actual best solution is likely somewhere in-between. If you could see the enormous amount of regulation Telecoms were under, you'd likely think it was insane. Stupid things left over from 50 or more years ago... But cable companies are completely unregulated. They don't even keep plant records (track of what wire and equipment is in the ground) so if they get bought out, or go out of business, the new owners have no idea whats out there.
The entire industry could use an overhaul. It's something congress should sit down and do. But since everything gets treated like a black and white all or nothing issue these days, I doubt that's going to happen.
Re:Good Sign (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Good Sign (Score:3, Informative)
"Comcast and TWC do not compete against each other in any area"
We suffer from a cartel among service providers who keep their prices high and their service lousy by foregoing competition, and regulation is necessary to prevent this.
Contact Bob Latta (Score:5, Informative)
http://latta.house.gov/contact/ His number is Washington DC is Phone: (202) 225-6405. His Ohio toll free number is 800-541-6446.
Send him an email, or ring him. Please be polite.