Related info: Net Neutrality day is here: a guide to today’s vote
02/12/15 Video: One of the five FCC commissioners talks with Larry King about the new proposed regulations, details of which are being kept secret until after the plan has been adopted on February 26th.
Pai completely dodges the larger, more important issue of functional net neutrality. He dumbs down the term to the vague definition of "government regulation" to deliberately obfuscate the matter. Net Nuetrality has a lot more to do with business (specifically ISPs) control of the internet that could harm both consumers and the larger internet technology marketplace than the blanket term government regulation. Title II (a power specifically granted to the FCC by Congress) would regulate the the internet and ISPs as common carriers, similar infrastructure to companies like power, water, and rail. Essentially, if you create the market or structure, ie the network, you have to provide equal access otherwise the entire network is at risk to monopoly or potential harm due to a lack of incentive for advancement. Transparency in government regulation and oversight is important but this closed door decision is not uncommon, It is designed to limit the influence of the very businesses that the Commission (and others like the FAA, FEC, and SEC) are attempting to regulate. It could be argued that "hands-off" regulation, championed by big tech business (Verizon, Comcast, AT&T) are one reason that internet speeds and penetration in the US are just now catching up to European and Asian markets, if those companies had a monoply already then what incentive was their to improve their infrastructure or provide better services. Vermont is a good example of this failing with the issue of last mile service. Government regulation may seem cumbersome and limiting but it is necessary to insure businesses and others are doing what they are supposed to do: provide the the best/safest/fastest/affordable service possible while adding to the market/environment as a whole. The goal and challenge of regulators is to make sure those regulations that insure that service promise are effective and efficient for both businesses and consumers. Pai misses the point, which hopefully makes you ask where does his loyalty lie: with consumers, who he is by duty supposed to defend and help, or with businesses who could unfairly profit from his poor regulating and communication?
ReplyDeleteWell said, 10:41!
Deleteyah, what he said......
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