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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

FCC Commissioner: Public Being Misled About Net-Neutrality Plan

The Federal Communications Commission is misleading the public about its 332-page plan to regulate the Internet, a Republican member of the commission said Tuesday.

The net-neutrality plan could in fact open the door to new fees and taxes, as well as government control over the prices that Internet providers charge their customers, Commissioner Ajit Pai told reporters.

The claims echo attacks from Republicans on Capitol Hill, who are also scrambling to thwart the new regulations. Committees in the House and Senate have launched investigations into whether President Obama inappropriately influenced the FCC's decision, and Republican lawmakers are working on their own alternative net-neutrality legislation to override FCC action.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who unveiled his plan last week, has denied that it would impose new fees or regulate prices. But it's difficult to determine who is right, because the commission won't release the actual text of the regulations until after it approves them on Feb. 26.

"I believe the public has a right to know what its government is doing, particularly when it comes to something as important as Internet regulation," Pai, one of two Republicans on the five-member commission, said. "I have studied the 332-page plan in detail, and it is worse than I had imagined."

More here

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

new link on Drudge: Dems on FEC move to regulate Internet campaigns, blogs, DRUDGE...

Anonymous said...

Anyone surprised that the gov't would lie? Didn't think so.

lmclain said...

ahhhh... the old "we have to pass it to know what's in it..."
How many times do they think we'll fall for THAT one?
Answer?
The sheep will fall for ANYTHING.

Anonymous said...

DO NOT PASS IT. I will gladly budget my own money and just buy as much speed that makes me happy. Those who want more speed can voluntarily pay more for the better product, as it should be. That's how it is now, and I now have a choice of 4 providers in healthy competition with each other.

Let this pass, and you will have one provider who will dictate what you will get and how fast you will get it.

If you don't want that, write your congressmen; even the ones named Mikulski and Cardin! Especially write Andy Harris, as he's kind of on the fence on this as well.