No Mr. Martin, you cannot… if you hadn’t noticed, or conveniently forgot, the people run this country, not Verizon (or AT&T for that matter)!

Martin working to revise 700 MHz open-access provisions

“Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is aggressively pushing for prompt revisions to the 700 MHz open-access rule—even before the agency completes a review of the various regulatory challenges to the full 700 MHz decision, according to industry sources who suggest the behind-the-scenes activity is tied to Verizon Wireless’ lobbying.

Martin, according to sources, failed late last week to make changes to the 700 MHz open-access conditions after a backlash from one or more of his FCC colleagues. Sources said Martin is now attempting to use a different policymaking vehicle—a declaratory ruling—to modify the auction’s open-access guidelines in a way that responds to concerns raised by Verizon Wireless executives at a Sept. 17 meeting with Martin, his staff and Fred Campbell, chief of the FCC’s wireless bureau.

Key industry players are worried Martin wants to water down the open-access conditions outside of the normal public-comment process.”

Google explains it better than I;

“Under these circumstances, the Commission should declare that Verizon may not sidestep the mandatory procedures of the Communications Act and the Commission’s rules by denying the public the right to understand and respond to its reconsideration positions – or enjoying two bites at the proverbial apple.”

Martin needs to be removed from his position – NOW! Problem? He’s working in the best interests of monopolistic corporations who flaunt or ignore the basic rights of the American consumer and is becoming a party to the breaking of law. Simple.

We, as a nation, also need to give serious consideration to doing something about the power of Verizon, such as finding a new carrier. This is in OUR power!

[This is my personal opinion. b5media is not, has not, been involved in this thought process or posting.]

Post from: EveryJoe

Call For An Immediate Resignation Or Removal Of Kevin Martin As FCC Chairman

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!