So much for liberty. The FCC passes massive government internet regulation.

[Ace Boobtoucher]

From Politico:

The Federal Communications Commission voted along party lines Thursday to approve sweeping changes to how it regulates the Internet, capping more than a year of noisy debate that sparked millions of public comments and drew the attention of President Barack Obama and congressional leaders.
The agency’s three Democrats voted to approve Chairman Tom Wheeler’s net neutrality order, which would treat broadband like a utility to ensure all Web traffic is treated equally. The commission’s two GOP members, Republican lawmakers and the nation’s telecom giants oppose the rules, saying they will dampen innovation and investment. AT&T has already threatened a legal challenge.

Three unelected bureaucrats just bypassed Congress and passed a law regulating the private exchange of bits of information online. The internet is now regulated under rules that were established in 1934, long before the internet was ever a gleam in Alfonse Gorleone’s eye. There will be taxes. There will be licenses. There will be censorship. There will be a lack of innovation. It may not be tomorrow, but it’s coming to be sure. In short, the US government just dealt a massive blow to internet freedom.

 

[SabrinaDeep]

Freedom? That thing that everybody talks about and only a bunch fight for? I bet you someone will jump in here and tell you that you are exaggerating and that some sort of ruling of the Internet is necessary for our safety. You can't even tell a stupid gay that he's stupid or spank your children, imagine if they want you to use the Internet freely (in any sense).

 

[Loneski]

If anything, what you have just said is the complete opposite of what will happen. Without regulation in terms of net neutrality, fast lanes would be established. Small companies and innovate individuals would be unable to show their work. The internet should never be in the hands of any company. The speed and arguments against this are uninformed and are made by people who have no idea how modern technology works. Lets be honest, there isn't one ISP who actually cares about innovation, they want to further establish themselves as a monopoly while taking every cent they can. If you don't believe me, go look at PA and Verizon and how Verizon took tax payers money and gave nothing in return.

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

If anything the internet run by the government will function about as well as a soviet era used car. Anytime the govt gets involved with anything started by the private sector it becomes tainted and useless. Much like yourself.

And why weren't these 332 pages of regulations made available to the public before the decision was made?

 

[Loneski]

Lol, ahh yes the insults begin guess I'll put in a couple. For the past 3 decades who do you think keep the internet open as it currently is. Internet was certainly not started by the private sector. It was a computer to computer way of communicating over a network. The will be released in the upcoming days. But you certainly wont take the time to read it, because facts and actually acquire opinions after reading and researching multiple sources, isn't something I believe you do.

Also, I'm pretty sure the citizens of soviet Russia had more important things to worry about besides the quality of their cars. Such as the corruption and starvation that was occurring.

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

The quality of producing something as simple as a car or the internet, for that matter, should not be decided upon by bureaucrats.

This matter should have been decided in congress.

The ordinary citizens of Russia weren't deciding how and where to produce automobiles. Their overlords were. And that is the kind of mindset that has led to this decision. They (the liberal bureaucracy) deciding what is good for the peasantry without benefit of an advocate for the people. This is a giant power grab and you have to be stupid or brainwashed to believe any good can come from this illegal decision. AT&T is already planning to challenge. Hopefully somebody in congress with a real set of nuts will bring action as well.

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

Freedom? That thing that everybody talks about and only a bunch fight for? I bet you someone will jump in here and tell you that you are exaggerating and that some sort of ruling of the Internet is necessary for our safety. You can't even tell a stupid gay that he's stupid or spank your children, imagine if they want you to use the Internet freely (in any sense).

You must be a sage because the next poster did just that. I bow to your wisdom.

 

[Loneski]

It seems both of you, really have no idea what net neutrality is, and what was done to keep it intact.
In question to the "congressmen" who are against it. Its simple follow the money, many of them have high stocks in these companies and are getting huge "donations" from big ISP to go against this. Guessing you would be ones who would like a tier set of what sites you can visit and how much you have to pay to actually get normal speed to reach them. Thus, by allowing it to be categorize as a utility these "fast" and "slow" lanes are destroyed, and moves for more local, smaller companies to come and provide internet service. With net neutrality, Google and Microsoft and others wouldn't exist. Much better to get information on this, by visiting tech sites and actually reading what experts have to say. This transcends politics and in today's day in age, the internet needs to remain open, while innovations are being made by all. So this allows Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and others to not step and hault innovation that would create competition for them.

 

[Loneski]

With all the respect in the world, if it wasn't for net neutrality, it would make it much harder for fans and others to reach your site. As it would toggled in terms of speed.

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

Bullshit. George Soros is for net neutrality and has bankrolled the lobbyists behind it. If life has taught me anything worthwhile it is that anything that evil scumbag is in favor of, I should be against. Future generations will look back at this day and hang their heads in shame.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/s...y-groups-staff-to-white-house/article/2560702
http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldfurchtgottroth/2014/10/12/fcc-plans-stealth-internet-tax-increase/

The opposite of “Freedom” is “being subject to arbitrary rules you can’t control.”

The only rules that the broadband providers hold over consumers is whether you purchase their service or not. You however do not have control over the rules, no matter what provider you choose, implemented by the FCC. The government is the monopoly on rules you can’t control. In the free market, you can always switch your provider; however, you can’t switch FCC regulations…you moron.

You know whats worse than “arbitrary rules you can’t control”? “Arbitrary rules you can’t read or control from an entity you can’t disobey.”

 

[Loneski]

You really are the biggest dumbass I have ever had the misfortune of talking to. First off, where I live it's Comcast or bust, so tell me how that isn't a monopoly. What part of this goes beyond political bullshit did you not understand. You know whats worse than your arbitrary rules? Rules set up to make sure they squeeze you out of every cent. What we have today is not a free market, the FCC is here to make sure these ISP don't outstretch their rule. I'm still laughing at the whole you can switch isp.

Typical, narrow minded mindset, what ever guy A is for Im against. Funny, how you believe that with ISP you have power over your content.

Here follow the money and go beyond your narrow minded "OH GOD ITS GEORGE SOROS" and see the overall picture.

http://gizmodo.com/how-much-money-big-cable-gave-the-politicians-who-overs-1657002442
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...donors-lawmakers-lobby-fcc-on-net-neutrality/
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000000461

and many more......

 

[xfire]

I resent the government for making sure my ISP can't control which sites I can and can't access. I was also rather looking forward to my ISP deciding whose bandwidth they can throttle and slow down to a crawl. Yeah, big loss for the average American.

 

[BlkHawk]

Ace you really need to read the tech sites on this issue, not the regular news sites, and nothing from the politicians. This is an issue that neither of them comprehend. I have been in the computer/network tech field for 20+ years, I know a lot people in the tech fields, I haven't found one of them against this. Reservations yes, but actually against it, no.

Could the government screw it up? Sure, but I can promise you if moderate regulation isn't implemented, ten years from now our internet connections will be fucked. We have a voice in government, however their simply is not enough viable competition for our choice in who we do business with to effect current corporate goals on this issue.

Each area of the nation is essentially limited to one backbone provider, with some exceptions. It may appear that you have a choice because you have different ISP's to choose from, but in many cases the backbone is through the same company, varying on what region you live in.

 

[Loneski]

Do know for the average American this means nothing. The system that has been in place, which I assume non of you have any issues with is the one that remains intact. How about a system where the internet is actually free. Where no one regulates anything, the internet is an entity that shouldn't be controlled by anyone. Having a system that continues what currently happens is neither a step forward or backwards. But given that chance for trotting of any kind is something I have a huge problem with.

 

[Loneski]

Ace you really need to read the tech sites on this issue, not the regular news sites, and nothing from the politicians. This is an issue that neither of them comprehend. I have been in the computer/network tech field for 20+ years, I know a lot people in the tech fields, I haven't found one of them against this. Reservations yes, but actually against it, no.

Could the government screw it up? Sure, but I can promise you if moderate regulation isn't implemented, ten years from now our internet connections will be fucked. We have a voice in government, however their simply is not enough viable competition for our choice in who we do business with to effect current corporate goals on this issue.

Each area of the nation is essentially limited to one backbone provider, with some exceptions. It may appear that you have a choice because you have different ISP's to choose from, but in many cases the backbone is through the same company, varying on what region you live in.

Thank you so much, finally a voice of reason.

 

[xfire]

Do know for the average American this means nothing. The system that has been in place, which I assume non of you have any issues with is the one that remains intact. How about a system where the internet is actually free. Where no one regulates anything, the internet is an entity that shouldn't be controlled by anyone. Having a system that continues what currently happens is neither a step forward or backwards. But given that chance for trotting of any kind is something I have a huge problem with.

The ability to beam free WIFI anywhere is real. But oh, we can't do that, because Socialism! Anyone taking their cues from Fox needs their head examined.

- - - Updated - - -

Do know for the average American this means nothing. The system that has been in place, which I assume non of you have any issues with is the one that remains intact. How about a system where the internet is actually free. Where no one regulates anything, the internet is an entity that shouldn't be controlled by anyone. Having a system that continues what currently happens is neither a step forward or backwards. But given that chance for trotting of any kind is something I have a huge problem with.

The ability to beam free WIFI anywhere is real. But oh, we can't do that, because Socialism! Anyone taking their cues from Fox needs their head examined.

 

[Loneski]

Couldn't of said it better myself.

 

[Straight Shooter]

If anything the internet run by the government will function about as well as a soviet era used car. Anytime the govt gets involved with anything started by the private sector it becomes tainted and useless. Much like yourself.

And why weren't these 332 pages of regulations made available to the public before the decision was made?

As numerous posters have already said, you have no understanding of what net neutrality is. I suggest you do your research before you come back on here spouting your misinformation. The FCC is not regulating the internet, they're just regulating the ISP's. These are two separate things. Most of the internet is outside of the FCC's authority. Title II has nothing to do with regulating content. All this ruling does is put rules in place to make sure ISP's treat all online traffic equally.

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

Free speech cannot exist without privacy, and the U.S. government has been shown to be unworthy of guarding the privacy of its citizens. Only the latest revelation of many, Glenn Greenwald’s new book No Place To Hide reveals that the U.S. government tampers with Internet routers during the manufacturing process to aid it’s spying programs. Is this the organization we trust to take even more control of the Internet? Should we believe that under Net Neutrality the government will trust the telecoms to police themselves? The government will need to verify, at a technical level, whether the telecoms are treating data as they should. Don’t be surprised if that means the government says it needs to be able to install its own hardware and software at critical points to monitor Internet traffic. Once installed, can we trust this government, or any government, to use that access in a benign manner?

While privacy and freedom of speech may not be foremost on your mind today because you like who is running the government right now, remember that government control tends to swing back and forth. How will you feel about the government having increased control of the Internet when Republicans own the House and Senate and Jeb Bush is elected President, all at the same time?

~Forbes

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]