net neutrality

The following is from our friends at the Media Access Project. I blogged about this the other day:

Media Access Project (MAP) has been a strong voice of opposition to Comcast's
attempt to acquire NBC Universal, and has been busy providing guidance to
organizations and policymakers on the complex legal ramifications of the
proposed deal.

This merger would be the most prominent example of vertical integration in the
broadband era - it would lead to the union of the nation's largest cable TV
operator and Internet service provider with a major content provider.

The acquisition would be a dangerous deal for all Americans. At the local level,
it would cause an unacceptable level of consolidation in media ownership and
advertising in 11 of the biggest media markets around the country - including
San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, and other cities.

The deal would also:

It really stinks when some of those who we elect turn against us. It is important that the "net" is open to all whether you have money or not. Everything in life is not always subject to a "free market", or what some mega rich corporations want to exploit.

I really do not need to comment here but as a local blogger friend of mine consistently says, it is time for the oligarchy to end. It is amazing to me how some huge mega companies can spend hundreds of millions of dollars to advertise and promote their product under the guise of making life easier while all the while they seem to be profiting at the expense of communities. What is more shameful is how some "elected" tolerate such activity seemingly ignorant of community voices by sponsoring legislation to encourage such corporate behavior. Here are some links that are well worth your time if you are interested in community media:

att-is-a-big-steaming-heap-of-failure

How NTIA dismantled public interest provisions

This PDF file Free Press Reply comments
In particular, pages 26-29 where Free Press examines Verizon's practice of dumping rural customers onto smaller companies who then go bankrupt.

link to apprising Whats wrong with the broadband

This is the NTIA PDF
BTOP RULES notice of funding availability

Short Deadlines for stimulus funds hits munis hard

Don't forget this is about your access to technology, to channels of communication, to community, to information, to be included. Make sure your legislators are not forgetting that.

Our Friend Chuck Sherwood, sent us this link that ties in PEG channel interest:
from Image and Media Partners
Enjoy!

Esme Vos MuniWireless writes:

"The conventional wisdom among my friends who are Net Neutrality fanatics is that a change of regime will finally bring about tough net neutrality legislation, ushering in a Golden Age of cutthroat competition in the US market for broadband services, leading to faster speeds, lower monthly costs for Internet access, no throttling, no deep packet inspection, no blocking of applications and so on...."

Read More

No matter party is "in" , it seems there is little really done to end the buying and selling of legislation.

OPEN LEFT:
Matt Stoller writes:
"Yesterday, if you listened closely, you could hear the sound of John McCain selling off the internet to his campaign backers, the cable and telecom interests. After being shocked by a 3-2 vote punishing Comcast for illegal behavior at the FCC, cable interests are freaking out and using every tool at their disposal to reinstitute discipline among wavering Republicans." More

FROM buisnessandmedia.org

Jeff Poor reports:

FCC Commissioner: Return of Fairness Doctrine Could Control Web Content
McDowell warns reinstated powers could play in net neutrality debate, lead to government requiring balance on Web sites.

There’s a huge concern among conservative talk radio hosts that reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine would all-but destroy the industry due to equal time constraints. But speech limits might not stop at radio. They could even be extended to include the Internet and “government dictating content policy.”

Read the rest of the story here