Excellent Debate on FCC Decision from Democracy with Background and Pro & Con/Net Neutrality

[KoKo]

Well worth the watch about the Issue and those Opposing and Supporting for Background and Debate!

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Debate: As FCC Votes on Internet's Future, What's the Best Way to Protect Net Neutrality?

Published on May 15, 2014

http://www.democracynow.org - The Federal Communications Commission is voting today on new rules that may effectively abandon net neutrality, the concept of a free and open Internet. The FCC proposal would let Internet providers charge media companies extra fees to receive preferential treatment, such as faster speeds for their products and content. Under previous regulations struck down earlier this year, providers were forced to provide all content at equal speeds. Just steps from the vote, demonstrators have set up an "Occupy the FCC" encampment calling for federal regulators to reclassify broadband service as a public utility, which would allow for the requirement of net neutrality rules. The CEOs of 28 U.S. broadband providers and trade groups have asked the FCC not to classify broadband as a utility, arguing that regulating broadband would "impose great costs, allowing unprecedented government micromanagement of all aspects of the Internet economy."We host a debate on net neutrality with two guests: Timothy Karr of the media reform group Free Press, who backs greater regulation; and Joshua Steimle, a tech entrepreneur who argues the government should not be entrusted with regulating the Internet.

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Watch the full discussion uninterrupted on Democracy Now!:
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/5/15...

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[Ed Suspicious]

1. The problem with the libertarianish sounding guy's argument is his misses the plain and simple fact

of the matter of the government is what we got. Full stop. This is a "one of two ways" situation. Either we go position ourselves against profit motive and just hope and pray that the Corps are good guys. We've already heard their intention. If not for the ISPs predictable intention of exploiting advantage for profit motive, we wouldn't be having the conversation, so the ISP as insurer of fair and open internet is not a possibility. We're left with the government. Government regulation, though not fool-proof, is our only hope at neutrality as we know and envision it. It is the only place where we have a say. There is too little competition rely upon that market force, and all competition will likely collude similarly to the way wireless providers Verizon and AT&T collude (without actually colluding I suppose) to charge more for data, eliminate unlimited data, and charge higher rates while providing less data service. Also they currently throttle wireless data. So that's out. Government is it. It's all we got. Without regulation from the government the conversation is over. Finito. Finished. So libertarian man, stay out of the conversation if you have nothing helpful to add. Your simply distracting and serving the ISPs with your convolutions.

[KoKo]

2. Agree..he was libertarianish sounding. But..good to hear what they think..and your post

is a good rebuttal.

From your post:

There is too little competition rely upon that market force, and all competition will likely collude similarly to the way wireless providers Verizon and AT&T collude (without actually colluding I suppose) to charge more for data, eliminate unlimited data, and charge higher rates while providing less data service. Also they currently throttle wireless data. So that's out. Government is it. It's all we got. Without regulation from the government the conversation is over. Finito. Finished. So libertarian man, stay out of the conversation if you have nothing helpful to add. Your simply distracting and serving the ISPs with your convolutions.

There's now a Track Record of "Market Forces/Free Enterprise Capitalism" benefiting the 1% over the rest of us American Working Force. Yet they still keep singing that "same old song."

He wasn't quite as bad in his presentation as some of them...but, the contrast between the two points of view...was interesting...I thought/

Thanks for your reply!

[Ed Suspicious]

3. No, I agree he seemed like a reasonable fellow. He was just wrong. That's why I was able to

string together a semi-cogent argument without giving in to my usual urge to name-call and go sarcastic as is my usually compulsion when I hear the libertarian argument on any issue. It was a good interview.