Today, the Obama administration officially published the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) so-called net neutrality rules in the Federal Register. These rules would undo a decade of free-market, hands-off Internet policy that has made the Internet the greatest engine of economic growth, creativity, and innovation the world has ever seen. They would set us down a path to reducing the Internet into a government-regulated, government-controlled public utility. The effective date is November 20, 2011. The House has already voted to overturn the rules. The Senate now has two months to do the same – and they must.
In the same way they must pass a budget, or at least, introduce one.
Right?
Right?
President Barack Obama, infamously promised – at Google headquarters – “I will take a back seat to no one in my commitment to net neutrality.” He recently bragged about bypassing Congress to get his way, saying: “Until Nancy Pelosi is speaker again, I’d like to work my way around Congress.”
Free from regulation, the Internet has been a bright spot in our weak economy, with tech sector unemployment at just 3.3 percent. The net neutrality order will start us down the path to crippling it with regulations. A study from NYU found the rule will destroy between 100,000 and 200,000 jobs.
And the end goal is even more extreme. Robert McChesney, founder of Free Press, a group with deep ties to the Obama administration, the FCC, and the FTC has let slip where the plan leads:
“At the moment, the battle over network neutrality is not to completely eliminate the telephone and cable companies. We are not at that point yet. But the ultimate goal is to get rid of the media capitalists in the phone and cable companies and to divest them from control.”
Now comes a clear test for the U.S. Senate. There is no clearer example of outrageous abuse of regulatory power than the FCC’s net neutrality order. It came just weeks after an election in which all 95 candidates who campaigned on the issue lost. It implemented a concept already clearly rejected by Congress and by federal courts. And it rewarded special interests, both left-wing ideological groups and companies like Google and IAC/InterActiveCorp that are close to the administration.
The Senate is expected a vote on S.J.Res.6, a Joint Resolution of Disapproval to overturn the net neutrality order. Under the Congressional Review Act, the resolution cannot be filibustered and Harry Reid cannot keep it off of the Senate floor. That means that if just four Democratic senators join all 47 Republicans they can stop this outrageous power grab, and protect the free market Internet – daring Obama to veto and take full political responsibility.
Well, it would have taken only 4 Democratic senators to join Republicans to pass Cut Cap and Balance, and Mitch McConnell and the Republicans never applied pressure. Can we count on them to do so here?
Because sadly, presupposing Senate Democrats care about doing the “right thing” is a fool’s game.
The only hope we have is if they vote out of a sense of political expedience. But I’ll take that just the same.
(h/t JHo)
But how can you be against neutrality? It’s like being against the Fairness Doctrine. It’s like being against Social Justice.
How do you live with yourself, you monster?
Barack is really serious about fucking up this whole “freedom” and “liberty” thing, isn’t he?
Barack is really serious about fucking up this whole “freedom” and “liberty” thing, isn’t he?
If the one part of the economy that you didn’t control was also the one part of the economy that consistently showed decent performance, you’d squish it ASAP. They’re just doing the only thing they know how to do.
For the children. Because that’s what they think all of you are.
Barack is really serious about fucking up.
Reader’s Digest version of DarthLevin’s comment.
Who gave the FCC the authority to do this? I thought they were supposed to regulate the airwaves, because the bands for radio and television are finite, and “belong to the public.”
We already know they don’t regulate cable teevee channels, because they can’t.
The internet is outside their control, and that’s the end of it.
Because sadly, presupposing Senate Democrats care about doing the “right thing” is a fool’s game.
The only hope we have is if they vote out of a sense of political expedience. But I’ll take that just the same.
Steyn has lately emphasized that we need to quit trying to elect the “right people” and make sure that we create an atmosphere such that whoever’s in office is forced to do the right thing, because it somehow ends up being good for the critters after all.
As in, do what we want or you’re toast with modly marmalade on it.
I’ve never seen that tech sector unemployment number before
“to elect the “right people” and make sure that we create an atmosphere such that whoever’s in office is forced to do the right thing, ”
he’s paraphrasing friedman”
Link
Someone should ask Thomas Friedman how much he admires the government-controlled Internet in China. Like our old friend Tom, there’s obviously a bit of Sinophile in Barry…
Nobody. Is that going to be a problem?
/Random Obamarrhoid
[…] Via Jeff: Related? You better believe it, bub. President Barack Obama, infamously promised – at Google […]