“CNET has a great article: New Hampshire voters: Net Neutrality? Huh? that exposes what we all know — that net neutrality is a niche special interest issue that is not at all on the minds of average Americans.”

Oh, now, please… “the American people aren’t aware of the issue or the term.” Really, Scott? I’m an average American, you fool!!!

Read CNet’s article. They interviewed folks on the streets in sub-zero temperatures and expected what for answers? And four out of five gave something else more importance? My good gosh, why shouldn’t they? But, five interviews makes for a reality check about the “bogus” nature of the Net Neutrality argument? Grandstanding Scott… you’re simply grandstanding by blowing five interviews incredibly out of proportion. You’ve certainly lowered yourself.

While we’re on the topic, since it’s so bogus, the FCC [is going] to Probe Comcast Data Discrimination

“The Federal Communications Commission will investigate complaints that Comcast Corp. actively interferes with Internet traffic as its subscribers try to share files online, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Tuesday.

The FCC’s response will be an important test of its willingness to enforce “Net Neutrality,” the principle that Internet traffic be treated equally by carriers. The agency has a broadly stated policy supporting the concept, but its position hasn’t been tested in a real-world case.”

Perhaps that will be another reality check…

Post from: EveryJoe

Average Americans – Precisely

Damn… I’ll give them the fact that they have the right to shape traffic, it’s their equipment and they’re providing a service! Which many pay for dearly.

They have a TOS that those who pay for their services agree to from jump-street. If you violate them, you lose, it’s simple!

But here’s the problem and it’s not as if millions of you haven’t seen or read this;

“Comcast’s technology falsely impersonates its customers. Even if Comcast has the right to manage its networks, does it have the right to impersonate its customers to achieve network control? Clearly Comcast engaged in such a deceitful practice to avoid customers noticing and complaining. Such behavior may very well fall within the type of unfair or deceptive trade practices regulated by the Federal Trade Commission.”

Begging the question – why could they not just go after those violators one by one and eliminate them? Hell, their technology can falsify a packets’ identity, it ought to be kindygarten stuff to go after a handful of excess content downloaders! Be open and honest and post their names publicly after you’ve gone through a proper legal process to identify and stop them and move the heck on… but don’t screw the innocent!

That’s why our founding fathers wrote what they wrote. Oh, sorry, I forgot, the Constitution was declared unconstitutional, wasn’t it? My mistake.

Post from: EveryJoe

It’s Simple – What Comcast Did Was Wrong

F.C.C. Planning Rules to Open Cable Market

“The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to impose significant new regulations to open the cable television market to independent programmers and rival video services after determining that cable companies have become too dominant in the industry, senior commission officials said.

The finding, under a law that gives the commission expanded powers over the cable television industry if it becomes too big, is expected to be announced this month. It is a major departure for the agency and the industry, which was deregulated by an act of Congress in 1996.”

Oh, and Mr Cleland, take note of a previous article and decision by Mr. Martin;

F.C.C. Set to End Sole Cable Deals for Apartments

“Exclusive contracts have been one of the most significant barriers to competition,” Kevin J. Martin, chairman of the commission, said in an interview. Cable prices have risen “about 93 percent in the last 10 years,” he said. “This is a way to introduce additional competition, which will result in lower prices and greater innovation.”

Am I reading this correctly? There appears to be a problem with competition? No, No, No! Tell Kevin he’s wrong Scott!

Post from: EveryJoe

Good News!

Kudos to you Mark!

Post from: EveryJoe

Mark Klein Whistleblower

To Scott Cleland, an analyst with Legg Mason Precursor Group, the special treatment that allows cable operators to shut out other providers follows neither history nor logic.

“Cable is the fifth wire into America’s homes,” Cleland says. “The principle of nondiscrimination applies to the other four. The electric company cannot tell you what kind of brand of appliance to buy, the gas company can’t tell you what kind of furnace or stove to buy. The water company can’t tell you what kind of faucet or sink to buy. The telephone company can’t tell you what kind of or brand of phone to buy or who to do business with over your phone. Why should cable?”

I guess it had something to do with the level of competition that broadband has developed in these past eight years eh? And… to think, now you’re a really big, Big Shot once again on Capitol Hill huh?

[edit: Yep. Had something to do with competition! "But since about 2002, broadband competition has exploded." Time for a consensus of the people, not claims, Scott. Here's a good thought, or is it fact? "The US has the only national broadband overbuilder in the world, cable, which reaches 94% of the country." Really??? Oh, and that "overbuilder" still owes us $200 Billion worth of infrastructure! That would bring the USA up to par with the rest of the world...]

So, without me having to look it up, were you still there when Blair came aboard? I’m interested because this is what Blair said last year;

“The important thing is that from the perspective of investing in Internet applications and content, knowing that such access will continue to be available would be a critical variable in the investment decision. Without some basic guarantee of an improving, not degrading, open lane, investors in Internet applications would be less willing to invest in new applications.”

Just trying to see if its a Legg Mason thing or what, you know? Or – perhaps, its just simply about money like so many other things in our world today…

This is what you’re advocating Scott;

“What has replaced a well-known legal standard is the much more amorphous, and much less public, rule of discretion. That is, the carriers do what they want and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”

“Instead of a legal standard that could be applied by a regulatory body or a court in a public proceeding, we have the vaguest of terms applied by a private company in public.”

I truly hope you’re proud of yourself and your commitment to democracy. I believe I’d rather agree with Art Brodsky when he says;

“At some point, responsible leadership is going to have to wake up and realize that a private company’s discretion is no substitute for public standards. It might be a good idea for the FCC to spell out what rights they think consumers still have, and for Congress to make its own judgments. Discretion has its limits.”

Of course, then, the trick becomes “responsible leadership.”

[Image found at Legions Pictester (by Gandalf-in-a-boat)]

[one more edit: I've read your "Testimony" Scott. I think if you remove "Google," substitute "AT&T and Verizon," tweak it to the correct topic, and your argument might actually fly!]

Post from: EveryJoe

Scott, Scott, Scott…

You know what really is “arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by the substantial evidence and otherwise contrary to law?”

Verizon’s attempt to muddy the waters for all of us for the 700 MHz spectrum auction in January, that’s what…

No doubt a tactic to divert attention from an investigation into the Justice Department’s politically motivated and possibly Telco financed opposition to Net Neutrality.

Unfortunately, the more these companies try to confuse us all, the more obvious their contempt for the American consumer becomes. And, the more it begins to appear that what Save The Internet (an opinion shared by many) is saying may quite probably be true;

“The Justice Department filing parroted phone and cable industry arguments against Net Neutrality. It’s also part of an emerging pattern of collusion between the White House and those companies that control access to high-speed Internet service for more than 96 percent of residential users in America.”

Collusion between the White House and phone and cable companies? Naaaah… who’d believe that? Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America might!

Fortunately there is a consumer oriented organization who is willing to speak up and take action – Google, who says;

“It’s regrettable that Verizon has decided to use the court system to try to prevent consumers from having any choice of innovative services. Once again, it is American consumers who lose from these tactics.”

Karma, folks, karma… let’s make it happen that what these outfits are forcing on us becomes turned around and forced on them. Speak out against the monopolies! These are publicly traded companies!

Stand up to the politicians who support the fleecing of America, who support these companies, who might be accepting monetary rewards for inappropriate behavior from them.

Don’t believe this has anything to do with you making money online? Sit back, take no action and watch it happen. Of course by then it will be too late.

Post from: EveryJoe

In Your Face America!

“Regulation, Deregulation – Mindless Rhetoric”
“Broadcasters Are Supposed To Serve The Public Interests!”
“Protecting The Public Interest”
“Citizen Action Can Still Work”

via videosift.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Protecting The Public Interest

Eric had the nerve (audacity, balls, whatever) to stand in front of the Progress and Freedom Foundation Tuesday night and tell them;

“The Internet has created this remarkable set of free markets, open competition and competitive growth. … We need to keep it free and open, If it goes the other way, we have got a serious problem, because this thing is really phenomenal.”

Save The Internet and T Karr add;

Schmidt listed four “calls to action” for the future of the Internet:

* Defending freedom of speech;
* Promoting universal broadband access;
* Protecting Net Neutrality; and
* Pushing for government transparency

These four principles are not just critical to a better Internet, Schmidt said, but are the “basic principles” driving the great American experiment.

Please, pay attention to what Karr says towards the end of his post;

“AT&T and Verizon’s whole business model has been built upon a type of content control that’s anathema to the free flowing Internet. They stand in opposition to efforts to empower people to make their own decisions and to protect their privacy in doing so.

Such gatekeeping takes away the most basic and crucial tenet of the Internet — our freedom to connect online to a Web site of our choosing. It also tips the Web’s even playing field to favor larger corporations, while handicapping the Internet’s true innovators: outsiders and startups who can’t afford to buy in to the network provider’s protection racket.”

This is real folks… really real! We’re going to lose control of and lose the opportunity from, the Internet as we know it and enjoy it if these Telcos are allowed to have it their way! Get involved! Post it on your Blog! Or regret it forever…

Post from: EveryJoe

I Like Eric Schmidt More Every Day!