Yesterday Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski issued a statement on Network Neutrality and Internet reclassification that is difficult to interpret in any way other than “I’m not interested in walking the Media Marxist Net Neutrality plank.”
Chairman Genachowski has called for another round of public comment on the two contentious components of Net Neutrality – and how they should be applied to both wired and wireless Internet. And did so in such a way as to make it very difficult for the pro-Net Neutrality Media Marxists like Free Press to raise any objection. After all, who can protest more input from the American people?
He made it difficult – not impossible. For no amount of Reality is insurmountable for the Media Marxists. These are the folks who continuously called for us to “Listen to the People” – until it became exceedingly obvious that the people weren’t with them.
So now their rallying cry becomes “Overregulation by Any Means Necessary.” They are demanding the FCC reclassify the Internet under ancient 1930s land line telephone rules – and that they do it immediately.
And that they do so against the will of 299 members of Congress, from both Parties, more than 150 organizations, state legislators and bloggers, seventeen minority groups, and the Washington, D.C. Circuit Court – led by a Democrat-appointee.
Free Press Research Director S. Derek Turner today said:
“Today’s announcement does nothing to change what the FCC must do next. The crucial first step for the agency is to reassert its authority and reclassify broadband access services under Title II of the Communications Act.”
Public Knowledge Co-Founder and President Gigi B. Sohn:
“Nothing in this public notice prevents the FCC from taking prompt action on its ‘Third Way’ proceeding.”
Media Access Project Associate Director Matt Wood:
“The record also shows that the Commission must retain authority over specialized services.”
Translation: “Forget what the people have to say! Overregulate – NOW!!!”
How very populist of them.
Another possible factor in Chairman Genachowski’s wise decision is the series of apparently productive stakeholder meetings currently underway. He may be curious to see what these multi-billion dollar investors in the industry come up with.
The Chairman indicated receptiveness to this sort of input in the opening line of today’s statement:
“Over the past months we have worked to preserve the freedom and openness of the Internet, based on the conviction that an open Internet is vital to innovation and private investment, competition, and free speech.”
Not to mention job creation. The communications industry is, after all, one of the few operational segments of the economy – it is hiring while most others are firing. So it would seem worthwhile to let the stakeholders contribute to the discussion in the same way they are contributing to our fiscal well-being.
The Media Marxists’ tiny Net Neutrality “coalition” continues to shed members. And the American people – and two branches of government – vocally oppose their agenda. So they are forced into their last refuge – unilateral regulatory fiat.
Thankfully, it appears Chairman Genachowski isn’t prepared to provide them safe harbor. Here’s hoping he never does.
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