Net Neutrality Update Net Neutrality Update
The latest round of noise surrounding Net Neutrality has been prompted by the November 7 election results, and the seemingly partisan slant to this nonpartisan issue...
While the issues surrounding Net Neutrality could have an overwhelming affect on the internet as we know it today, it's falling lower and lower on the computer user news radar. Issues such as this have a way of fading away and people forgetting them until it's too late. So we continue our vigil to follow the twists and turns of the issues, hopefully to keep you informed.
The latest round of noise surrounding Net Neutrality has been prompted by the November 7 election results, and the seemingly partisan slant to this nonpartisan issue...
With Tuesday's Democratic slam in the elections, could we see a sharp U-turn in the legislative agenda for computer users? Historically, Republicans have been the computer users' friend in anti-spam and other online crime fighting agendas. Judging by Democrat pre-election hype, we could see some intense scrutiny of all the bills on the docket.
In this BetaNews piece, Scott Fulton examines the possibles ramifications of the democrats taking charge of our online safety.
... see: www.betanews.com
Fortunately for Net Neutrality proponents, Democrats sweeping Congress is boon to the cause, as their predecessors railed against it at telecom request.
... see: blogs.webpronews.com
Jason Lee Miller for Insider Reports says:
Whether the Network Neutrality debate is officially settled amongst charged, polarized stakeholders is an issue that will be tabled for the moment. Until this week, the issue was bottled up in a Republican-controlled Congress, as Democrats met defeat in both committee and the House floor. But a sweeping left-wing victory may change that.
... see: www.webpronews.com
The Democratic Party brought us the Telecommunication Act of 1996, among many other gifts to large telecommunications companies at the expense of citizens' rights and taxpayer dollars. With notable exceptions like Sherrod Brown, most of the Democrat newcomers are quite conservative. We'll see if they have the character and conscience to overcome the lobbying pressure that will follow.
... see: www.savetheinternet.com
Though not a main focus of any panel at this week's FTC conference on "Protecting Consumers in the Next Tech-ade," the issue of net neutrality came up Monday and Tuesday, to little surprise. After discussing the FTC's recently-settled case against Zango, FTC Commissioner Jon Liebowitz Monday transitioned into net neutrality briefly, noting, "The net neutrality debate is so important."
... see: blog.clickz.com
After TuesdayÕs election, expect lawmakers to make relatively few major changes in technology- and telecommunication-related law, but net neutrality and government surveillance programs could be exceptions.
Some observers expect renewed partisan debate on net neutrality and government surveillance. Leaders on both sides of the net neutrality debate tactfully say they believe Congress acts in their favor, but in recent months, the issue has largely divided, with most Democrats supporting a law that would prohibit broadband providers from blocking or slowing competing Internet content and most Republicans opposing such a law.
... see: www.cio.com
"The Net at Risk," a PBS documentary produced by award-winning journalist Bill Moyers examines how promises by the big telco companies of a super high-speed Internet in return for deregulation and tax breaks have gone unfulfilled while the public has paid the price.
On Moyers web site, you can watch footage from the documentary, and join in discussions. Neutrality pundits Mike McCurry, co-chairman of Hands off the Internet, a coalition of telecommunication-related businesses, and Ben Scott, policy director of the nonpartisan public interest organization Free Press will respond to the program, each other, and to viewers' comments.
... see: Citizens Class on The Net at Risk.
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