McCain on Net Neutrality.

Started by Cythieus, October 23, 2009, 09:59:57 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Cythieus

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced a bill in the Senate on Thursday that would effectively allow Internet service providers to slow down or block Internet content or applications of their choosing.  The move came the same day as the federal government decided to move forward on an official Net neutrality policy that would prevent ISPs from making those types of decisions. 

The FCC's new rules would prevent ISPs, for example, from blocking or slowing bandwidth-hogging Web traffic such as streaming video or other applications that put a strain on their networks or from charging different rates to users.  McCain's bill, the Internet Freedom Act, would block the Federal Communications Commission from making Net neutrality the law of the land. The rule preventing ISPs from slowing down certain types of content would create "onerous federal regulation," McCain argued in a written statement.

According to a report at NetworkWorld, McCain "called the proposed Net neutrality rules a 'government takeover' of the Internet that will stifle innovation and depress an 'already anemic' job market in the US."  But supporters of Net neutrality argue that the rule is needed to ensure that Internet providers don't censor content, or slow down traffic to Web sites that are in competition with their business allies. 

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski argued that "reasonable and enforceable rules of the road" were needed "to preserve a free and open Internet." 

"The Internet's openness has allowed entrepreneurs and innovators, small and large, to create countless applications and services without having to seek permission from anyone," he said. 

But, the FCC chairman said, there have been "some significant situations where broadband providers have degraded the data streams of popular lawful services and blocked consumer access to lawful applications." 

Two Republicans on the FCC also voted on Thursday to go ahead with the rule-making process, which will be open for public comment until January 14, but voiced misgivings about the plan. 

NET NEUTRALITY A 'MARXIST PLOT'?  As the NetworkWorld article notes, McCain was on the opposite side of the Net neutrality debate from President Barack Obama during last year's presidential campaign. During his White House campaign, President Barack Obama came out strongly in favor of Net neutrality, which is backed by companies such as Google, Amazon, Yahoo!, eBay and consumer advocacy groups, but opposed by telecommunications, wireless and cable companies.  Republicans appear to be shifting against Net neutrality and aligning themselves with the telecoms and cable companies. 

This week, media watchdog Media Matters criticized conservative news host Glenn Beck for what it said was Beck's allegation that Net neutrality is a "Marxist plot," and that the point of Net neutrality is to "control content," a perspective that prompted MediaMatters and other observers to question whether Beck understands the principle of Net neutrality. 

In his announcement today, McCain appeared to agree with the notion that Net neutrality represents regulation and control, rather than a lack thereof. 

His bill "will keep the Internet free from government control and regulation," McCain said, as quoted by Phil Goldstein at Fierce Wireless. "It will allow for continued innovation that will in turn create more high-paying jobs for the millions of Americans who are out of work or seeking new employment. Keeping businesses free from oppressive regulations is the best stimulus for the current economy."

This makes me wonder why this man hasn't been banned from the senate for being senile. This is just more proof that he's not as for the people as he claimed to be. This is all a stunt to basically help them let big companies line their pockets.

Notice how he called it the Internet Freedom Act? I bet a bunch of dummies eat this up too.

http://rawstory.com/2009/10/mccain-net-neutrality/

Callie Del Noire

#1
I have already admitted to my republican leanings (I'm the rare unappreciated 'Moderate Republican' we're almost as scarce as the 'conservative democrat. :D ) but I never understood why the Republicans were so against Net Neutrality.

Seems like preventing the providers from playing games with bandwidth encourages commercial enterprises.


Of course I've always thought that the US providers were chronically lazy in updating our infrastructure compared to most other '1st line' nations. If they are so intent on charging so much why aren';t they UPDATING the structure as fast as other countries?

Cythieus

Quote from: Callie Del Noire on October 23, 2009, 10:11:40 PM
I have already admitted to my republican leanings (I'm the rare unappreciated 'Moderate Republican' we're almost as scarce as the 'conservative democrat. :D ) but I never understood why the Republicans were so against Net Neutrality.

Seems like preventing the providers from playing games with bandwidth encourages commercial enterprises.


Of course I've always thought that the US providers were chronically lazy in updating our infrastructure compared to most other '1st line' nations. If they are so intent on charging so much why aren';t they UPDATING the structure as fast as other countries?


Oddly, I am probably more conservative than liberal, but I don't claim either party.

Callie Del Noire

Quote from: Odin on October 23, 2009, 10:18:46 PM
Oddly, I am probably more conservative than liberal, but I don't claim either party.

I think it comes from spending a good chunk of my adult life as a western north carolina resident (before ditching it for tax free Florida).. the Democrats in NC tend to favor the established 'machine' which is mostly in eastern NC..

Which means Western NC gets the hind teat.. of course in the last year I got a very close view of how stupid the state republicans back home were.

Morven

It's not like "Net Neutrality" is all that new a concept; it's functionally identical to common carrier regulations on the railroads or parcels services, for instance.
NaNo word count: 50,180 (done with NaNo, but not with the story ...)
Ons & Offs (generalities and explanations) | New Ons & Offs (checklist) | Apologies & Absences

All Powerful Nateboi

Quote from: Callie Del Noire on October 23, 2009, 10:11:40 PM
I have already admitted to my republican leanings (I'm the rare unappreciated 'Moderate Republican' we're almost as scarce as the 'conservative democrat. :D ) but I never understood why the Republicans were so against Net Neutrality.

Seems like preventing the providers from playing games with bandwidth encourages commercial enterprises.


Of course I've always thought that the US providers were chronically lazy in updating our infrastructure compared to most other '1st line' nations. If they are so intent on charging so much why aren';t they UPDATING the structure as fast as other countries?

Because the Republicans aren't the Conservative party anymore. THat would be the Democrats (I'm not even sure what a real progressive party would look like anymore).

The Republicans are the "Make money have power" party these days.

Sabby

John McCain and the internet... next he'll be writing up legislation about those damned kids riding their skateboards on the sidewalk xD

Serephino

I'm a registered Democrat, but I don't really 'side' with either party.  When I went to register someone told me to look at people from each party and decide who I agreed with more.  I took one look at President Bush and said oh hell no.....  I could've gone Independent, but decided against it.

I won't say either side is perfect because I know better.  But most of the nuts seem to be falling out of the Republican tree lately.  Things like this internet bill, and many other stupid things make up most of this area on the forum. 

This one doesn't surprise me either.  Cable companies and internet providers are greedy.  We have Comcast because they're the only option for internet.  We have TV service through them too because if we switch to another company they'll double our internet bill.  They make me so mad I could spit fire...

The Republican Party has turned into the greedy man's party.  I know not every Republican person out there is like that, but it's the greedy assholes that are getting all of the attention.

I don't see what jobs McCain is hoping to create with this.  All it will do is make it easier to censor the internet, which conservatives have been trying to do for years.  It will also let them charge some people more, and if you ask me, it's already over priced.

I think the rules that already exist are fine.  I'm an adult, and if I want to watch porn I will.  Places like E and the site I post my adult fan fiction do everything possible to keep minors away.  That's the way it should be.  If I want to sit on youtube and watch Foamy the Squirrel I have every right.  My internet company should never be able to tell me what I can and can't do with the service I pay for.   

Cythieus

And in charging more, they keep it from more people too. We already have some of the most expensive costs for internet and some of the most restrictive measures out there. Talk to someone in England or Japan about their connection and how much they are capped for...

And realistically don't think McCain didn't do this out of greed, because the name he's using on the bill represents his kind of thinking that he can trick others into siding with him through simple naming. It was the same with the Patriot Act and any other piece of legislation that Republicans wanted to pass through. If you oppose the bill they'll claim you don't like freedom or whatever else.

Serephino

That was something that really got on my nerves too.  If you don't support them you're un-American.  I have a feeling our founding fathers are rolling in their graves right about now.

Cythieus

It's a common scare tactic, they resort to it pretty much every time someone disagrees with one of their shitty bills. Also heard this bill got shot down after one day. Looks like people are still on our side.

Transgirlenstein

QuoteTalk to someone in England or Japan about their connection and how much they are capped for...

Connections are so slow here at times that dialup would be better
Busy with freelance writing work.  Replies slow.  Feel free to prod me. 

Formally Tripping Satyr, Tripping Snake and QueenTrippingserpent.  Often known as Trip.

Ons/Offs: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=19217.0

Seeking Games!: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=71239.0

Cythieus

Quote from: Transgirlenstein on October 24, 2009, 01:44:39 PM
Connections are so slow here at times that dialup would be better

In England? I have a few friends there and they seem to love it, also the way your cell phones work is interesting too.

Japan is crazy out of control, I have heard of connections so fast, that harddrives couldn't spin fast enough to write info coming in during downloads and the buffer filled up and crashed windows. (This was on a Windows 98 machine, though)

Transgirlenstein

There are quiet a few places in London where its hard to get any sort of decent connection.  We got a connection near Canary Wharf and it is so slow in downloading anything its just silly.
Busy with freelance writing work.  Replies slow.  Feel free to prod me. 

Formally Tripping Satyr, Tripping Snake and QueenTrippingserpent.  Often known as Trip.

Ons/Offs: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=19217.0

Seeking Games!: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=71239.0

Cythieus

Quote from: Transgirlenstein on October 24, 2009, 01:49:21 PM
There are quiet a few places in London where its hard to get any sort of decent connection.  We got a connection near Canary Wharf and it is so slow in downloading anything its just silly.

Is it like a free city wide wireless? (some places have that I know)

You know that the average American City doesn't and you can pay as much as 14.99 PER HOUR to use the net in some places. While there are free places like McDonalds and Burger King, its hard to get net just anywhere. Some places like IHOP have it and surprised me though.

Transgirlenstein

Nope, its the actual internet service we have in our home.
Busy with freelance writing work.  Replies slow.  Feel free to prod me. 

Formally Tripping Satyr, Tripping Snake and QueenTrippingserpent.  Often known as Trip.

Ons/Offs: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=19217.0

Seeking Games!: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=71239.0

Doomsday

It's funny because during the election John McCain basically told America that he didn't know shit about computers.

Cythieus

Oh yeah, but since when has not knowing something about the subject meant you couldn't oppose the other side :P

MercyfulFate

Quote from: Darkly Dreaming Doomsday on October 26, 2009, 01:52:45 AM
It's funny because during the election John McCain basically told America that he didn't know shit about computers.

He was also against torture (being tortured, you'd expect that) then shifted to being against his own bill against torture.

Money works miracles.

Morven

The desire to be president started to win against his principles.
NaNo word count: 50,180 (done with NaNo, but not with the story ...)
Ons & Offs (generalities and explanations) | New Ons & Offs (checklist) | Apologies & Absences

Blank

I have a bit of a computer background, so when I saw this I was like "Ok, what's happening here?"  I kind of liked McCain before, but now that respect is gone.  I'm a fairly strong advocate of the basic principles of net neutrality.  We should have equal access to internet based on the service we pay for.  The internet shouldn't be censored (it can't really be anymore anyways due to overseas servers).

However I think there should be some sort of mechanism to limit or moderate how many people have or use the internet.  Bandwidth isn't exactly a limitless resource.  I mean, what will we do when all the tubes get clogged up?  However as it is, the ISPs have a nasty grip on our service.  I heard of a service where the cable company was charging per Megabyte. <<; Egh.

Callie Del Noire

Quote from: Blank on October 27, 2009, 02:44:49 AM
I have a bit of a computer background, so when I saw this I was like "Ok, what's happening here?"  I kind of liked McCain before, but now that respect is gone.  I'm a fairly strong advocate of the basic principles of net neutrality.  We should have equal access to internet based on the service we pay for.  The internet shouldn't be censored (it can't really be anymore anyways due to overseas servers).

However I think there should be some sort of mechanism to limit or moderate how many people have or use the internet.  Bandwidth isn't exactly a limitless resource.  I mean, what will we do when all the tubes get clogged up?  However as it is, the ISPs have a nasty grip on our service.  I heard of a service where the cable company was charging per Megabyte. <<; Egh.

I think some cable system up in NY or such tried it. Lasted 3 weeks I think.

Cythieus

Quote from: Blank on October 27, 2009, 02:44:49 AM
I have a bit of a computer background, so when I saw this I was like "Ok, what's happening here?"  I kind of liked McCain before, but now that respect is gone.  I'm a fairly strong advocate of the basic principles of net neutrality.  We should have equal access to internet based on the service we pay for.  The internet shouldn't be censored (it can't really be anymore anyways due to overseas servers).

However I think there should be some sort of mechanism to limit or moderate how many people have or use the internet.  Bandwidth isn't exactly a limitless resource.  I mean, what will we do when all the tubes get clogged up?  However as it is, the ISPs have a nasty grip on our service.  I heard of a service where the cable company was charging per Megabyte. <<; Egh.

The thing is that even with the way its worded, I don't think that censorship in the sense we usually think of it is the problem. I think its more of things like Coke pays X ISP, Pepsi doesn't, you are using X ISP and go to Coke's site and get accelerated speeds but go to Pepsi's and it slows down tremendously.

Callie Del Noire

Quote from: Odin on October 27, 2009, 03:02:12 PM
The thing is that even with the way its worded, I don't think that censorship in the sense we usually think of it is the problem. I think its more of things like Coke pays X ISP, Pepsi doesn't, you are using X ISP and go to Coke's site and get accelerated speeds but go to Pepsi's and it slows down tremendously.

Or they 'automatically' get rerouted to Coke's site everytime they use the ISP connection/browser. The ability to decide where you go and what you choose shouldn't be set by the big companies looking to fatten their wallet.

Cythieus

Yeah, which to McCain somehow means stimulating the economy. Which is dumb because when you think about it all the small businesses online would suffer.