FCC votes for net neutrality, a ban on paid fast lanes, and Title II

Internet providers are now common carriers, and they're ready to sue.

Read the whole story

 

[bruindrummer]

This Wheeler guy is blowing my freakin' mind. I just about spit out my cheerios when he was appointed as I was under the apparently misguided impression that he was in the pocket of the big ISPs. All he's done since then is look out for the little guy and stick it to the evil corps.

Mr. Wheeler, thank you for providing a small bump in my otherwise faltering faith in our legislative system.

 

[Jackattak]

prairiedog[/url]":1dovxdk8]Here I thought Pai was the biggest knob, when it turns out it's O'Reilly all along. How do these reptiles become commissioners to begin with?

Just like Palpatine, the Dark Side clouds much.

 

[tacothursday]

Curious of impact on mobile hotspot applications on smartphones. Still blocked / upsell?

 

[knbgnu]

Ironicending[/url]":lqi27b64]Wheeler is not a dingo!

Apparently, John Oliver should just call everyone a dingo. "YOU ARE A DINGO, AND YOU ARE A DINGO, AND YOU ARE A DINGO, EVERYONE'S A DINGO!"

Also, it makes me happy to just imagine him saying that.

 

[Midnitte]

kd9280[/url]":2qcaholi]Pai and O'Reilly spoke for 20 minutes each.

The three Democratic commissioners spoke for 20 minutes total.

Republican commissioners made history by inventing the FCC filibuster.

 

[Ray Sanders]

Does anyone know if there is a minimum threshold below which the ISP is relieved of some of the rules ?

I ask because the ISP I used for broadband is small. They have less than 1,000 customers. If the new rules are onerous, it may cause them to reconsider their business model.

TIA

 

[kdemello1980]

O'Rielly sounds a lot like Joe Barton when he apologized to BP in 2010 over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

[kdemello1980]

knbgnu[/url]":2a62gk42]

Ironicending[/url]":2a62gk42]Wheeler is not a dingo!

Apparently, John Oliver should just call everyone a dingo. "YOU ARE A DINGO, AND YOU ARE A DINGO, AND YOU ARE A DINGO, EVERYONE'S A DINGO!"

Also, it makes me happy to just imagine him saying that.

Needs more bees.

Or pea soup.

 

[Wheels Of Confusion]

So with today's other vote the picture becomes clear. Republican commissioners at the FCC want to reduce competition for network buildout while maintaining the ability of incumbent ISPs to shut out competing online services that use their pipes.

Because Republicans are all about promoting competition, you see.

 

[Peevester]

kdemello1980[/url]":3u79glzv]

knbgnu[/url]":3u79glzv]

Ironicending[/url]":3u79glzv]Wheeler is not a dingo!

Apparently, John Oliver should just call everyone a dingo. "YOU ARE A DINGO, AND YOU ARE A DINGO, AND YOU ARE A DINGO, EVERYONE'S A DINGO!"

Also, it makes me happy to just imagine him saying that.

Needs more bees.

Or pea soup.

Indeed. Here you go.

 

[bthylafh]

prairiedog[/url]":39088i2e]Here I thought Pai was the biggest knob, when it turns out it's O'Reilly all along. How do these reptiles become commissioners to begin with?

THANKS GWB.

 

[THavoc]

EDNYLaw[/url]":24a1nsgl]

THavoc[/url]":24a1nsgl]This is great news!

Now, those that said it was 300 plus pages of regulations will finally shut up when they see it was only 8 pages and that they were lied to this whole time by their talking heads.

If only that were true. I'm sure they're so embedded in a Groupthink paradigm that, even presenting the actual, physical document will not obviate their insane rantings.

Now we just have to hope that the congressional republicans don't get their shit together and successfully pass a law banning Title II classifications for ISPs (of course, it would take the compliance of the President and/or a few Senate Democrats to override the President's veto). Although I have a feeling that this will be like a mini version of the ACA fight with constant attempts to repeal, ultimately stifled by the fact that it's actually working and consumers are benefiting.

This may not be a perfect resolution (local loop unbundling) but it's sure as hell better than where we started.

Wooo, it's Ed!

So why haven't you been lending your legal insights into these discussions? Much like Wheels and global warming, reading your legal take on things proves insightful.

I could really enjoy your take on this whole 'unconstitutional' thing.

 

[a2270480]

Is it just me or do both of the Republican responses to this feel like just a really long winded "Thanks Obama" trying to make the entire organization look like a victim that didn't want this but was oppressed into it by "The Administration".

 

[Papageno]

Oh NOES, teh GUBMINT is taking over the 'net to help make Obama President for LIFE!!1! "Real America" is DOOMED, I tells ya! DOOMED!

 

[THavoc]

PapagenoF[/url]":3lewxshi]Oh NOES, teh GUBMINT is taking over the 'net to help make Obama President for LIFE!!1! "Real America" is DOOMED, I tells ya! DOOMED!

You forgot about the Sharia Law thing and taking away guns.

 

[undervillain]

When you have to discredit the millions of comments made by concerned and interested citizens by claiming they are "radical protesters", you really shouldn't be allowed in public office anymore. O'Rielly should be ashamed.

 

[Cydonos]

*slow clap for America* (from Canada)

 

[THavoc]

Cydonos[/url]":22igrwry]*slow clap for America* (from Canada)

Stupid Canadians! It's all your fault!

Blame Canada!!
/s

 

[TimmyD]

Jackattak[/url]":dp4h4cqi]

foreignreign[/url]":dp4h4cqi]Wait wait what.

Let me start by issuing apologies. First, I am just sick about what Chairman Wheeler was forced to go through during this process. It was disgraceful to have the Administration overtake the commission’s rulemaking process and dictate an outcome for pure political purposes. It is so disturbing to know that those efforts were about illegitimately pushing a larger political cause mostly unrelated to technology. This administration went so far beyond what has ever been attempted, and its inappropriate interference in the commission’s activities will forever change this institution.

Additionally, I am sorry to the staff members that were forced to prepare a half-baked, illogical, internally inconsistent and indefensible document. For an institution that prides itself on quality of work and legal and technical expertise, this document is anything but. I guess that an artificial deadline to meet the radical protestors’ demands means that it is more likely that this item gets overturned by the courts because the work and thoughtful analysis needed to actually defend this completely flawed agenda is not included in the text.

Today, a majority of the commission attempts to usurp the authority of Congress by re-writing the Communications Act to suit its own “values” and political ends.

Am I actually reading this? This isn't a joke?

How can this guy even begin to say this with a straight face? This is just flat out disgusting.

"Radical protesters"

HAHAHA what is this, Hunger Games? We're all Precinct 13? Mocking Jay, beyotch!!!

Demands? Our demands basically amounted to this: Don't fuck up our Internet connections!

Is that too much to ask, O'Reilly?

If he wants to be mad, he should direct it towards Verizon.

 

[Papageno]

THavoc[/url]":1fddbptw]

PapagenoF[/url]":1fddbptw]Oh NOES, teh GUBMINT is taking over the 'net to help make Obama President for LIFE!!1! "Real America" is DOOMED, I tells ya! DOOMED!

You forgot about the Sharia Law thing and taking away guns.

And making all our children gay through Common Core. I also think it ties into Benghazi somehow, but it's hard to keep track of all these things if you don't have a Fox News IV drip going at all times.

EDIT: I also forgot about the War on Christmas, silly me.

 

[EDNYLaw]

THavoc[/url]":2nnpydcr]

EDNYLaw[/url]":2nnpydcr]

THavoc[/url]":2nnpydcr]This is great news!

Now, those that said it was 300 plus pages of regulations will finally shut up when they see it was only 8 pages and that they were lied to this whole time by their talking heads.

If only that were true. I'm sure they're so embedded in a Groupthink paradigm that, even presenting the actual, physical document will not obviate their insane rantings.

Now we just have to hope that the congressional republicans don't get their shit together and successfully pass a law banning Title II classifications for ISPs (of course, it would take the compliance of the President and/or a few Senate Democrats to override the President's veto). Although I have a feeling that this will be like a mini version of the ACA fight with constant attempts to repeal, ultimately stifled by the fact that it's actually working and consumers are benefiting.

This may not be a perfect resolution (local loop unbundling) but it's sure as hell better than where we started.

Wooo, it's Ed!

So why haven't you been lending your legal insights into these discussions? Much like Wheels and global warming, reading your legal take on things proves insightful.

I could really enjoy your take on this whole 'unconstitutional' thing.

What's unconstitutional thing are you referring to? Are you talking about the other decision regarding preemption of state laws in reference to state bans on municipal broadband buildouts?

 

[KingSkippus]

I'm so glad that AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast are lining up to sue to overturn this. After all, with their fine history of fighting for the best interest of their consumers and their sterling reputation of custo—

Aw, screw it. I can't even say that sarcastically.

As one of those four million people sending petitions and calling my state legislators and filing comments, allow me to heartily say, "Thanks, FCC!" And yeah, great job, Tom Wheeler, standing up to your former bosses and proving that not everyone who was associated with The Industry is irredeemably slimy.

 

[mikesmith]

God, I thought appointing Wheeler was a terrible move, I have to say, he proved me wrong, he's far better a public servant than I ever would have guessed.

He even implemented neutrality for wireless networks, something that hadn't been even put into the older legally unsound regulations of past commissions.

 

[ThrillHill]

So many people thought Tom Wheeler was a dyed-in-the-wool company man ready to do the cable industry's bidding. I'm guilty of this as well. In reality, he was this guy:

Thank you Agent Skinner Wheeler


EDIT: punctuation

 

[MisterAlex]

I'm as stunned and amazed as Captain Janeway.

(Warning: Star Trek spoilers...)

 

[THavoc]

EDNYLaw[/url]":j4xq9ly2]

THavoc[/url]":j4xq9ly2]

EDNYLaw[/url]":j4xq9ly2]

THavoc[/url]":j4xq9ly2]This is great news!

Now, those that said it was 300 plus pages of regulations will finally shut up when they see it was only 8 pages and that they were lied to this whole time by their talking heads.

If only that were true. I'm sure they're so embedded in a Groupthink paradigm that, even presenting the actual, physical document will not obviate their insane rantings.

Now we just have to hope that the congressional republicans don't get their shit together and successfully pass a law banning Title II classifications for ISPs (of course, it would take the compliance of the President and/or a few Senate Democrats to override the President's veto). Although I have a feeling that this will be like a mini version of the ACA fight with constant attempts to repeal, ultimately stifled by the fact that it's actually working and consumers are benefiting.

This may not be a perfect resolution (local loop unbundling) but it's sure as hell better than where we started.

Wooo, it's Ed!

So why haven't you been lending your legal insights into these discussions? Much like Wheels and global warming, reading your legal take on things proves insightful.

I could really enjoy your take on this whole 'unconstitutional' thing.

What's unconstitutional thing are you referring to? Are you talking about the other decision regarding preemption of state laws in reference to state bans on municipal broadband buildouts?

Mostly those claiming it infringes on State's Rights and the FCC isn't allowed, etc.

 

[miguelgarcia]

Radical!! He called millions of people radical!! You've got to be kidding me. What a corrupt POS.

 

[CrackedLCD]

TimmyD[/url]":1xdapf25]Woo-Hoo!!

"The Internet is not broken. There is no problem for the government to solve," (Pai) said.

So ISPs deliberately congesting peering points and refusing to upgrade them is not a problem?
If it wasn't broken, we wouldn't need Title II in the first place.

He's obviously never used my home DSL. Even after I went nuclear and filed a complaint with the FCC, nothing beyond a DNS flush was done and they called it a day. Yesterday I received a followup "case closed" letter from the FCC and coincidentally I couldn't access Google Maps or Inbox at the time at all due to their congestion.

 

[Dilbert]

prairiedog[/url]":h98y8tia]Here I thought Pai was the biggest knob, when it turns out it's O'Reilly all along. How do these reptiles become commissioners to begin with?

Naw it was Barzini all along.

 

[Dassassin]

We have our own set of competition problems up here in Canada, but it is so good to see some reasonable legislation come into effect down south. Allow this to be the first "'Merica!" I shout without deep sarcastic undertones!

 

[Meailda]

THavoc[/url]":1s5crsuh]

EDNYLaw[/url]":1s5crsuh]

THavoc[/url]":1s5crsuh]This is great news!

Now, those that said it was 300 plus pages of regulations will finally shut up when they see it was only 8 pages and that they were lied to this whole time by their talking heads.

If only that were true. I'm sure they're so embedded in a Groupthink paradigm that, even presenting the actual, physical document will not obviate their insane rantings.

Now we just have to hope that the congressional republicans don't get their shit together and successfully pass a law banning Title II classifications for ISPs (of course, it would take the compliance of the President and/or a few Senate Democrats to override the President's veto). Although I have a feeling that this will be like a mini version of the ACA fight with constant attempts to repeal, ultimately stifled by the fact that it's actually working and consumers are benefiting.

This may not be a perfect resolution (local loop unbundling) but it's sure as hell better than where we started.

Wooo, it's Ed!

So why haven't you been lending your legal insights into these discussions? Much like Wheels and global warming, reading your legal take on things proves insightful.

I could really enjoy your take on this whole 'unconstitutional' thing.

Ed has been around T. You must have just been missing him.

 

[THavoc]

PapagenoF[/url]":1txrrsxf]

THavoc[/url]":1txrrsxf]

PapagenoF[/url]":1txrrsxf]Oh NOES, teh GUBMINT is taking over the 'net to help make Obama President for LIFE!!1! "Real America" is DOOMED, I tells ya! DOOMED!

You forgot about the Sharia Law thing and taking away guns.

And making all our children gay through Common Core. I also think it ties into Benghazi somehow, but it's hard to keep track of all these things if you don't have a Fox News IV drip going at all times.

EDIT: I also forgot about the War on Christmas, silly me.

Ahh, I had forgotten about the evils of Common Core, as if he was the first president to suggest education standards!

Yes, the War on Christmas / Christians. That too. Silly you!

 

[sarusa]

There are already at least three separate senate/congressional committees investigating how this could possibly have been allowed to happen.

What's the world come to when telecom companies can't trust that their tens of millions of dollars worth of bribes won't buy the legislation they want? Is that really a world we want to live in? [crying bald eagle with old glory background.jpg]

 

[THavoc]

Meailda[/url]":3q9unr61]

THavoc[/url]":3q9unr61]

EDNYLaw[/url]":3q9unr61]

THavoc[/url]":3q9unr61]This is great news!

Now, those that said it was 300 plus pages of regulations will finally shut up when they see it was only 8 pages and that they were lied to this whole time by their talking heads.

If only that were true. I'm sure they're so embedded in a Groupthink paradigm that, even presenting the actual, physical document will not obviate their insane rantings.

Now we just have to hope that the congressional republicans don't get their shit together and successfully pass a law banning Title II classifications for ISPs (of course, it would take the compliance of the President and/or a few Senate Democrats to override the President's veto). Although I have a feeling that this will be like a mini version of the ACA fight with constant attempts to repeal, ultimately stifled by the fact that it's actually working and consumers are benefiting.

This may not be a perfect resolution (local loop unbundling) but it's sure as hell better than where we started.

Wooo, it's Ed!

So why haven't you been lending your legal insights into these discussions? Much like Wheels and global warming, reading your legal take on things proves insightful.

I could really enjoy your take on this whole 'unconstitutional' thing.

Ed has been around T. You must have just been missing him.

Haven't seen any posts from him in a while tho.

Makes me a sad panda.

 

[EDNYLaw]

THavoc[/url]":2in6w2m0]

EDNYLaw[/url]":2in6w2m0]

THavoc[/url]":2in6w2m0]

EDNYLaw[/url]":2in6w2m0]

THavoc[/url]":2in6w2m0]This is great news!

Now, those that said it was 300 plus pages of regulations will finally shut up when they see it was only 8 pages and that they were lied to this whole time by their talking heads.

If only that were true. I'm sure they're so embedded in a Groupthink paradigm that, even presenting the actual, physical document will not obviate their insane rantings.

Now we just have to hope that the congressional republicans don't get their shit together and successfully pass a law banning Title II classifications for ISPs (of course, it would take the compliance of the President and/or a few Senate Democrats to override the President's veto). Although I have a feeling that this will be like a mini version of the ACA fight with constant attempts to repeal, ultimately stifled by the fact that it's actually working and consumers are benefiting.

This may not be a perfect resolution (local loop unbundling) but it's sure as hell better than where we started.

Wooo, it's Ed!

So why haven't you been lending your legal insights into these discussions? Much like Wheels and global warming, reading your legal take on things proves insightful.

I could really enjoy your take on this whole 'unconstitutional' thing.

What's unconstitutional thing are you referring to? Are you talking about the other decision regarding preemption of state laws in reference to state bans on municipal broadband buildouts?

Mostly those claiming it infringes on State's Rights and the FCC isn't allowed, etc.

I'm not even sure how there would be an argument. Under the Commerce Clause, the federal government has the exclusive right to regulate commerce among the states. I don't think there's any way someone can argue (without just being flat out wrong) that the internet is not interstate commerce.

Just to prove the interstate commerce point, I'll mention a case, the name of which I've forgotten, that said that a single farmer growing wheat (I believe) in contravention to a law stating not to grow wheat was actually affecting interstate commerce. The reasoning behind the judicial decision was, when you take it in the aggregate and add up all the people like this farmer, who are growing wheat in contravention to the law, their actions have a perceptible effect on interstate commerce.

So, I really don't understand how there can be any real question as to whether the FCC has this authority. The federal government is reserved this authority by the Constitution under both the Supremacy Clause and Commerce Clause. The FCC is the ultimate rule maker of communication transmissions (subject to congressional law making, of course).

 

[JLewPE]

While I'm happy that this has finally happened, this feels like the hollow victory Adam Carolla achieved by getting the Podcast Patent Troll case settled. We've worked ourselves back to zero. Somehow our country is being hijacked by monied interests, and somehow simple common sense is being 1984-ed into "extreme leftist commie pinko" thinking.

Thank you FCC for getting us back to zero.

 

[THavoc]

oldtaku[/url]":2z20gf7j]There are already at least three separate senate/congressional committees investigating how this could possibly have been allowed to happen.

What's the world come to when telecom companies can't trust that their tens of millions of dollars worth of bribes won't buy the legislation they want? Is that really a world we want to live in? [crying bald eagle with old glory background.jpg]

Think of the children!

Gotta put a few of them in the picture holding a flag, no?

 

[Meailda]

Allow me to also say that I sit corrected. I never thought Wheeler and crew were going to do the right thing. I f you are ever in Annapolis mister Wheeler I will find you and buy you a drink.

 

[Papageno]

oldtaku[/url]":3oo8br79]There are already at least three separate senate/congressional committees investigating how this could possibly have been allowed to happen.

What's the world come to when telecom companies can't trust that their tens of millions of dollars worth of bribes won't buy the legislation they want? Is that really a world we want to live in? [crying bald eagle with old glory background.jpg]

What has the world come to, indeed! They bought those public officials fair and square, dammit.

 

[duncansil]

The following diatribe by Republican Commissioner Michael O'Rielly should appear beside the dictionary entries of; Mentally Restricted, Paid Lackey, Sore Loser & Classic Republican ...

"Let me start by issuing apologies. First, I am just sick about what Chairman Wheeler was forced to go through during this process. It was disgraceful to have the Administration overtake the commission’s rulemaking process and dictate an outcome for pure political purposes. It is so disturbing to know that those efforts were about illegitimately pushing a larger political cause mostly unrelated to technology. This administration went so far beyond what has ever been attempted, and its inappropriate interference in the commission’s activities will forever change this institution.

Additionally, I am sorry to the staff members that were forced to prepare a half-baked, illogical, internally inconsistent and indefensible document. For an institution that prides itself on quality of work and legal and technical expertise, this document is anything but. I guess that an artificial deadline to meet the radical protestors’ demands means that it is more likely that this item gets overturned by the courts because the work and thoughtful analysis needed to actually defend this completely flawed agenda is not included in the text."